To consider Report No. EPSH2234 (copy attached), which seeks approval of the next steps in relation to the St Michael’s Abbey, Farnborough Hill, Farnborough Street and Aldershot West Conservation Areas.

The Cabinet considered Report No. EPSH2234, which set out proposed Conservation Area appraisals and management plans, following a review of the St. Michael’s Abbey, Farnborough Hill / Farnborough Street and Aldershot West Conservation Areas. The Chairman welcomed Mr George Britton, who was representing local residents in the Highgate Lane and Chingford Avenue area and had requested to address the Cabinet on the proposed boundaries of the new Farnborough Street and Farnborough Hill Conservation Areas.

Members were informed that it was proposed that the former Farnborough Hill Conservation Area should be split to form the separate Farnborough Hill and Farnborough Street Conservation Areas. It was confirmed that consultation exercises had been carried out on the draft appraisals and management plans and that the responses received were summarised within the Report. It was proposed that, in the case of each of the Farnborough Conservation Areas, properties and roads that were not considered to justify conservation area designation by virtue of special  architectural  or historic interest should not be included within their boundaries.

The Cabinet heard from Mr Britton, who was speaking on behalf of local residents from Highgate Lane and Chingford Avenue. Mr Britton considered that the appraisal process had been flawed and that no satisfactory definition of ‘historic or architectural significance or character’ had been provided. It was the view of the residents that areas and many of the properties proposed to be removed from the new Conservation Areas were of such significance and that properties built in the 20th Century should be recognised as worthy of protection. It was not felt that residents had been sufficiently involved in the review process.

The Cabinet considered the representations made and discussed the role and advice of Historic England in the process. It was confirmed that Historic England had responded to consultation on the proposed appraisals and reviews of Conservation Areas but had not offered a view on the merits of the inclusion or otherwise of the individual houses or groups of houses under discussion. Historic England had commented that it is outside its remit to provide an opinion on what should or should not be in a conservation area as this is legally identified as the role of the Local Planning Authority.

The Cabinet was advised that the process and recommendations had been informed by advice within the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Historic England’s Advice Note 1 on Conservation Area Designation, Appraisal and Management.

In response to a question, it was confirmed that no tree worthy of preservation would go unprotected as a result of being removed from a Conservation Area and that new Tree Preservation Orders were in preparation to ensure this. Members felt that, when considering all of the available information, it was right to make the changes proposed in the Report to demonstrate a consistent approach to Conservation Areas across the Borough.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the adoption of the St. Michael’s Abbey Conservation Area appraisal and management plan, as set out in Appendix 1 of Report No. EPSH2234, be approved;

(ii)          the adoption of the Farnborough Hill Conservation Area appraisal and management plan, as set out in Appendix 2 of the Report, be approved;

(iii)         the undertaking of an exercise to reconsult on the revised appraisal for the Farnborough Street Conservation Area, solely to seek views on whether it should be extended to include the Station Master’s House, as set out in Appendix 3 of the Report, be approved, with the Head of Economy, Planning and Strategic Housing, in consultation with the Planning and Economy Portfolio Holder, being authorised to make any necessary final amendments to the boundary in the light of consultee comments received before being finally adopted;

(iv)         the undertaking of an exercise to consult on a draft Aldershot West Conservation Area appraisal and management plan, as set out in Appendix 4 of the Report, be approved, with the Head of Economy, Planning and Strategic Housing, in consultation with the Planning and Economy Portfolio Holder, being authorised to make any minor revisions to the text of the appraisal in the light of consultee comments received before being finally adopted.