Agenda item

To receive a report from the Director of Place and Economy on the Grand Western Canal Conservation Area Appraisal.

Cabinet had before it a report * from the Director of Place and Economy on the Grand Western Canal Conservation Area Appraisal.

·         The Grand Western Canal had an adopted Conservation Area since October 1994. However, it was without a Conservation Area Appraisal.

·         A Conservation Area Appraisal had now been undertaken to meet the requirements of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), and guidance published by Heritage England.

·         This was in the form of a draft Grand Western Canal Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan, which was the document included in Appendix 1 of the report.

·         The draft Grand Western Canal Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan would need to be subjected to a statutory public consultation before it was finalised and brought back to the Cabinet and Council for its approval and adoption.

·         A summary of the history of the Grand Western Canal’s development, and assessment of its historic and architectural interest also included proposed changes to the current designated boundary of the conservation area, ensuring that an area justifies inclusion within the conservation area because of the special historic or architectural interest, and that the concept of conservation is not devalued through designated areas that lack special interest.

·         The proposed changes to the conservation area are included in Section 7.6 of the document.

·         The Planning Policy Advisory Group (PPAG) considered the draft Grand Western Canal Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan at the meeting on 15^th May 2024 and had endorsed the recommendations in this report to the Cabinet.

Discussion took place regarding:

·         The results after the consultation.

·         What involvement had Devon County Council had and their response and if so to include that in the report.

·         The development and the impact it had on the Conservation area and houses in the surrounding areas.

·         To maximise the consultation to give time for responses and for the Director of Place and Economy to consider an 8 week consultation.

·         The statement of conservation area as there was no definition of this in the document and the public perception of this. 

·         The woodland not being historical.

·         Clarification as to whether the County Park Manager was aware of this report and recommendations.

·         The concerns of the residents in the Tiverton, Cranmore Ward.

·         When would the consultation start on the Grand Western Canal Conservation area?

·         All Members to be engaged with the consultation to ensure everyone had the opportunity to respond.

RESOLVED that:

1.    The draft Grand Western Canal Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan (Appendix 1 to this report), including proposed alterations to the extent of the Grand Western Canal Conservation Area made through Section 69(2) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (as amended), be  approved for public consultation.

2.    That delegated authority be given to the Director of Place and Economy in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration to finalise the material and arrangements for consultation.

(Proposed by Cllr S Keable and seconded by Cllr J Buczkowski) 

Note: *Report previously circulated

Reason for Decision:

The Appraisal met the Council’s obligations required by the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.