Conservation and Design

Introduction:

Conservation & Design provides a wide range of services relating to the built in environment in the Borough. The section is responsible for:

Listed Buildings
Conservation Areas
Scheduled Ancient Monuments (in partnership with English Heritage)
Registered Parks & Gardens
Local List
Heritage Protection Review 
Grant Schemes (with various funding Partners)
Urban Design
Public Realm Works (in partnership with the Land & Property Section) 

Listed Buildings

The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 makes provision for historic buildings of special historic or architectural interest to be added to a statutory list of such buildings. Once buildings are added to the list the same legislation provides protection for listed buildings, the Act makes it a criminal offence to carry out works to a listed building without first obtaining Listed Building Consent from the local planning authority.

As of 1st April 2005 English Heritage assumed responsibility for the listing system.

Listed buildings are divided into three Grades as follows;

• Grade I - identifies outstanding architectural or historic interest in a small proportion of all listed buildings. This grade includes all buildings built before 1700 which survive in anything like their original condition.
• Grade II* - identifies buildings which although not of outstanding interest are particularly important or are of more than local interest. The majority of buildings constructed between 1700 and 1840 are listed, though selection is necessary.
• Grade II - identifies buildings of local/regional interest which warrant every effort being made to preserve them. Buildings dating from 1840 to 1914 are only considered when they are of definite quality and character, the selection being designed to include the principal works of the principal architects. Selected buildings of 1914 to 1939 are also considered.

There are 233 Listed Buildings in Erewash, the conservation and design officer will provide advice and guidance on all relevant matters including:

• Listed Building Consent for extensions, alterations
• Repairs accepted methods and techniques, materials etc.
• Regular maintenance time scales and recommended routine
• Monitoring of the Boroughs Buildings At Risk

Useful Information:

•  Statutory List of Buildings
•  What is a  Listed Building Guide
•  Listed Building Consent Forms

Scheduled Ancient Monuments

Sites within the UK which are considered to be of national archaeological importance are Scheduled as Ancient Monuments, these may range form from prehistoric standing stones and burial mounds to Roman forts and medieval villages, and include some more recent structures such as collieries and wartime pill-boxes. There are approximately 19,500 entries on the Schedule which cover 35,000 sites of archaeological importance.

The Department for Culture Media and Sport is responsible for assessing sites and compiling the Schedule. Once a monument is added to the Schedule permission is required for any works which affect that monument, this permission is referred to as Scheduled Ancient Monument Consent. The Department for Culture Media and Sport considers approximately 1,000 applications per year for Scheduled Ancient Monument Consent.

The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 is the main body of legislation covering Scheduled Ancient Monuments. This Act builds on legislation which dates back to 1882 and makes the provision for nationally important archaeological sites to be statutorily protected as Scheduled Ancient Monuments. Again it is the Department for Culture Media and Sport with the support and advice of English Heritage who are responsible for implementing the Act in England.

There are six scheduled ancient monuments in Erewash;

Enquiries about Scheduled Monument Consent should be addressed to:

Further information about Archaeology and Ancient Scheduled Monuments can be found at:

• The Department of Media, Culture and Sport
• English Heritage
• British Archaeological Society
• Derbyshire County Council

Registered Parks and Gardens

Through provisions in the National Heritage Act 1983 English Heritage are able to compile and maintain a Register of Parks and Gardens and other land of special historical interest. The purpose of the Register is to identify important historic parks and gardens, to increase awareness of their existence and to encourage the protection and conservation/preservation of these important sites.

Parks or Gardens included on the Registered do not necessarily provide public access, access for members of the public is at the discretion of the individual site owner.

As with listed buildings the gardens are graded as follows;

• Grade I - parks and gardens which by reason of their historic layout, features and architectural ornaments considered together make them of exceptional interest.
• Grade II* - parks and gardens which are not of exceptional interest but nevertheless of great quality.
• Grade II - parks and gardens which are of special interest.

These grades reflect the importance of the garden or park concerned, in comparison with other gardens or parks in England as a whole. If there is a listed building within the limits of a registered park or garden, the garden may not necessarily be the same, since the building and the garden or park are not always of equal importance.

Erewash has one Registered Park and Garden at Locko Park.

Local List

A Local List affords some protection to buildings, structures, parks and gardens in the Borough which currently have no protection - for example those which are not on the statutory list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest and are outside conservation areas.

Many buildings, structures, parks or gardens may not be considered to be of sufficient significance to be included in the statutory list but may historically make a vital contribution to the character and historical or architectural distinctiveness of an area, it is for such heritage assets the local list provides vital recognition and through Local Plan Policies may provide some protection.

Anyone can nominate a building for inclusion on the Local List however they must produce supporting data to assist their case, the building should be proven to be of particular merit either historically (this may be by association with people or events) or architecturally.

Requests for buildings to be added to the Local List should put forward in writing to the;

All applications to the Local List will be considered by the Councils Conservation Advisory Committee.

The existing Local List is currently under review which will result the compilation of an entirely new updated local list for Erewash. This work was commenced in March 2008 is due for completion in September 2008 when the revised draft will be published for public consultation prior to adoption of the revised local list which is scheduled for November 2008.

 Existing Local List (To be replaced when 2008 revision is complete)
 Criteria for Local Listing
 Local List Proposal Form

Conservation Areas

The Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 places a statutory duty on local authorities to designate parts of their areas as Conservation areas the character and appearance of which it is desirable to enhance or preserve.

There are 20 conservation areas in the Borough:

Long Eaton Town Centre	Long Eaton Lace Factories
Ilkeston Town Centre	Ockbrook Village
Ockbrook Moravian	Stanton by Dale
Sandiacre Cloud Side	Sandiacre Canal Side
Breadsall Village	West Hallam
Risley	Dale Abbey
Stanley	Breaston
Little Eaton Village	Eaton Bank
Morley	Draycott
Sawley	Sandiacre Lock

The conservation and design section is responsible for producing character appraisals and where necessary management plans for all of the designated conservation areas.

 Living in a Conservation Area
 Conservation Area Consent Forms

Article 4 Directions

Private residential building owners are afforded certain permitted development rights by the General Permitted Development Order 1995, although there are some minor alterations to the provisions the majority permitted development rights are retained by residential dwelling sin Conservation Areas. However there is provision for local planning authorities to obtain approval from the secretary of state for the implementation of an Article 4 Direction which removes some or all of the permitted development rights of properties in conservation areas where this can be justified to protect significant architectural features and characteristics of the given area. The conservation and design section is responsible for assessing the need for Article 4 Directions and reviewing existing Article 4 Directions.

There is currently one Article 4 Direction in place in the Borough in the Stanton by Dale Conservation Area.

PLEASE NOTE: The conservation and design section have embarked on a strategic program of review for Conservation in Erewash this will result in the systematic review of conservation area boundaries, updating of associated maps, the development of new in depth Appraisals for each of the Conservation Areas, production of Area Management Plans where appropriate, area specific design guidance where required and the re-evaluation and assessment of the need for Article 4 Directions for each conservation area. This work commences summer 2005 and is scheduled for completion by 2011 during this time every effort will be made to keep web site information up to date and accurate however, it may be advisable to contact the Conservation and Design Officer directly where specific queries arise.

Contact: Conservation and Design Officer 0845 907 2244 Ext 3156 or email kerry.bennett@erewash.gov.uk

Heritage Protection Review

In March 2007 the Department for Culture, Media and Sport issued the White Paper Heritage Protection for the 21st Century. The paper is based on bringing the heritage protection system into the 21st Century in line with other reforms in the planning system.

“The proposals in Heritage Protection for the 21st Century, a joint England and Wales White Paper, are based on three core principles: the need to develop a unified approach to the historic environment; maximising opportunities for inclusion and involvement; and supporting sustainable communities by putting the historic environment at the heart of an effective planning system.” (DCMS, 2007)

White Paper Heritage Protection - Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Grant Schemes

Erewash Borough Council have successfully worked in partnership with English Heritage and the Erewash Partnership to deliver Heritage Economic Regeneration Schemes in both Ilkeston and Long Eaton. These schemes were completed in March 2008 with no further funding available from English Heritage.

Erewash Borough Council have submitted a Stage 2 Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) Bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a new scheme in Long Eaton. If successful the Long Eaton THI will be ready to commence in the 2008/09 financial year and will see substantial investment in the towns historic buildings and public realm.

Long Eaton Townscape Heritage Initiative

Urban Design

Urban design concerns the arrangement, appearance and functionality of villages, towns and cities. Urban design is the process of shaping the physical setting for life, the art of creating places for people.

It encompasses the design of buildings, groups of buildings, spaces and landscapes, and attempts to establish the processes that make successful developments possible. 

Key Aspects of Design

• Places for People – to be loved places must be safe, comfortable, varied and attractive. They also need to be distinctive, offer variety, choice and fun. Vibrant places provide opportunities both to socialise and to watch the world go by.
  
• Enrich the Existing – places should enrich the qualities of existing urban places. Whatever the scales new developments should respond to and complement their settings.
  
• Make Connections – places must be easy to get to and well integrated both physically and visually with their surroundings so people can move around without effort.
  
• Work with the landscape – places should use the site’s intrinsic resources – climate, landform, landscape and ecology – to minimize energy use.
  
• Mix Use and forms – stimulating, enjoyable and convenient places meet a variety of demands from the widest possible ranges of users, amenities and social groups.
  
• Manage the investment – for places to be successful they must be economically viable, well managed and maintained.
  
• Design for change – places must be flexible enough to respond to future changes in use, lifestyle and demography.
  

www.urbandesigncompendium.co.uk

The Conservation & Design section are responsible for promoting best practice in Urban Design in all large scale new developments and during the design and implementation of public realm works throughout the Borough. The aim is to ensure that new developments are closely aligned with the principles advocated by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE), The Urban Design Group, English Heritage and the Manual for Streets published March 2007.

There is a particular emphasis on the Building for Life Standards which are adopted by Erewash Borough Council as a material consideration for any application where ten dwellings or more new dwellings are proposed. The Borough Council requests that developers provide an assessment of their proposals against the BFL criteria when submitting applications for 10 or more dwellings.


Links & Further Guidance

Streets for All – East Midlands Manual, English Heritage

Manual for Streets – Welsh Assembly Government, Department for Transport, Communities and Local Government, (Thomas Telford) 
 
Building for Life, CABE
Building for Life - Delivering Great Places to Live

Building for Life - Evaluating Housing Step by Step 
 
Urban Design Compendium 

The Urban Design Group 
 

Public Realm Works

Both Urban Design and Conservation play a significant roll in public realm projects which are undertaken throughout the Borough. Delivery of successful public realm schemes requires collaboration between the Land & Property Team, Planning, Derbyshire County Highways, Planning and other stakeholders associated with individual schemes. Further details of completed and proposed public realm works can be found on the Land & Property site.

Best Value Performance Indicators

To view performance data regarding the Conservation Area look for BVPI:

• 219 a (Conservation areas),
• 219 b (Conservation areas - Character appraisals)
• 219 c (Conservation areas - management plans)

View them at Best Value Performance Indicators (quarterly reports)

Other Contacts/Links

• Derbyshire Historic Buildings
• Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
• Images of England