Proposed Conservation Area
It has been suggested that the Parish Council look into the viability of creating a Conservation Area to cover some of Mill Road, Great Finborough Road and Brettenham Road.
It is thought that these areas of the village hold a special interest for their historic value and exceptional character and may warrant the protection that a Conservation Area designation might bring.
Conservation Area Appraisals give an overview of the history and development of each area and try to define what it is that makes them special. They also identify specific features which contribute towards their character, for example, historic buildings and buildings which are locally significant, important green and open spaces, significant views, natural elements such as trees, and features which help make an area locally distinctive. They also identify elements that could be improved.
Designation of a conservation area is made locally and in order to make a decision Mid Suffolk District Council will need to justify such status by following the recommendations within the National Planning Policy Framework that demand that an area should have a definite architectural quality or historic interest and character or appearance which it is desirable to preserve or enhance, we will need to prove that we have all these.
Individual buildings can contribute positively to the character or appearance of the area and those that are distinctive, because they are rare or unique, can be highlighted but it is the area rather than the individual properties that will warrant protection by a Conservation Area designation. Protection for individual houses is already established via their grade listings. A Conservation area is aimed at protecting buildings that are not listed and looks towards the “historic core” of a village as an “area”.
Conservation Area designation introduces controls over the way owners living within the boundaries of the area can alter or develop their properties. This can put additional pressure on residents who wish to make changes to their property even very minor ones, however, these controls can also be beneficial because they sustain, and/or enhance, the value of their property within it.
These controls include:
- the requirement in legislation and national planning policies to preserve and/or enhance
- control over demolition of all buildings not just listed ones.
- control over works to trees
- restrictions on advertising
- restriction on the types of development which can be carried out without the need for planning permission (permitted development rights).
- Requirement to have Conservation Area status recorded as a local Land Charge.
- Need permission before alterations such as cladding, inserting windows, installing satellite dishes and solar panels, adding conservatories or other extensions, laying paving or building walls. Cutting down a tree or doing any pruning work. Demolition of any building, garage, shed or house.
Conservation Area status WILL NOT prevent new development, but it will control demolition of buildings to ensure anything of value is kept and will control the appearance of any new build, whether extension of existing or stand alone new build. Any designation of a Conservation Area will not protect an area from new building unless it can be proved that the changes will erode its character and to get the designation we will have to prove its character is worth protecting.
For more information and examples of some existing local Conservation Area appraisals perhaps take a look at the following.
FELSHAM - Felsham Conservation Area
DRINKSTONE - Drinkstone Conservation Area
RATTLESDEN -Rattlesden Conservation Atrea
Or alternatively look further afield via the MSDC Conservation Area pages on their website MSDC Conservation Areas
Lots of information is also available from English Heritage/Historic England specifically their publication “Understanding Place: Conservation Area Designation, Appraisal and Management” http://www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/planning-and-building/conservation-and-listed-buildings/conservation-areas/conservation-areas-in-mid-suffolk/
If you do not have access to the internet and would like further information please do not hesitate to call me. 01284 828112
It may well be possible to get a new Conservation Area designated for Buxhall, and it will probably be welcomed by council planners and heritage officers, however it will need extensive work, research and persuasion and the first step for the Parish Council is to make sure it is something that residents want.
Before we go any further down the path towards this we want to know what you think. Please give us your views, suggestions and comments, it really is important that residents of the village are behind any application for Conservation Area status for this part of Buxhall. Please send your comments by email to buxhallpc@live.co.uk, post to me at Green Farm Barn, Great Green, Cockfield, Bury St Edmunds IP30 0HJ or drop into the letter box of any of your councillors. Let us know your Name..... whether you are supportive or not of an application and why.... Where you think the boundaries should be..... and anything else that you feel is relevant.