Agenda item

To consider a report by the Head of Planning and Housing Strategy.

Copies of the Boundary Review and Character Assessment documents are appended to Members’ copies only.  Hyperlinks to each document are as follows –

http://www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/HDCCMS/Documents/Planning%20Documents/Conservation%20Areas/Houghton%20and%20Wyton%20Conservation%20Area%20Boundary%20Review.pdf

http://www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/HDCCMS/Documents/Planning%20Documents/Conservation%20Areas/Houghton%20and%20Wyton%20Character%20Assessment.pdf

(Councillor A H Williams, Ward Councillor addressed the Panel on the matter.)

As part of the consultation process, the views of the Panel were requested on the content of draft documents on the proposed Boundary Review and Character Assessment for the Houghton and Wyton Conservation Area (copies of a report by the Head of Planning and Housing Strategy and the Consultation Documents are appended in the Minute Book).

By way of further explanation, the Executive Councillor for Planning and Housing Strategy, Councillor N J Guyatt added that the document had been prepared to fulfill an undertaking given in 2011 to Houghton and Wyton Parish Council following concerns expressed by that Council as to the ability of the adopted Core Strategy to protect the Parish area from inappropriate development.  The exercise also would be repeated over time elsewhere in the District to similarly protect other towns and villages from development.

The Panel noted that consultation on the Character Statement and Boundary Review proposals had been extended for eight weeks and had generated 26 responses which had been reviewed and assessed against the criteria for inclusion in a Conservation Area.  Appendix 3 to the report included a summary of the issues which had been raised and any amendments proposed to the documents.

As Ward Councillor, Councillor A H Williams was invited to address the Panel.  Whilst largely in agreement with the content of the documents, Councillor Williams drew attention to the objections raised by Houghton and Wyton and Hemingford Abbots Parish Councils to the status of Area 2 – the field to the East of Houghton Grange (BBSRC Field).  He pointed out the historic link between the field and Houghton and Wyton village, its contribution to the setting of the Conservation Area and the preliminary conclusions drawn in respect of the area during the 2007 Boundary Review.  In conclusion, Councillor Williams urged the Panel to include Area 2 within the boundary of the Conservation Area.  The Panel’s attention was drawn to paragraphs 5.6 – 5.8 of the report in response to the points raised by the speaker.  Members also were apprised of the outcome of debate on the matter at the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being). 

In drawing their conclusions, the Panel was mindful to ensure that inclusion of Area 2 would not undermine the soundness of the Conservation Area Documents.  Whilst it was essential to protect Houghton and Wyton Parish as a whole, the Panel was reminded that any applications for the site to the east of Houghton Grange would be subject to the planning process, at which stage, design and green space issues would be addressed. 

Having commended the quality of the documents and concluded that it was essential to be able to robustly meet any future legal challenge to the Conservation Area, the Panel

RESOLVED

  (a)  that the Cabinet be recommended to adopt the Houghton and Wyton Conservation Area Character Assessment and Boundary Review documents as Council Policy; and

  (b)  that consideration be given to the inclusion of Area 2 at an appropriate time in the future to seek to deliver the aspirations for public open space in the Conservation Area.

[In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 14.5, Councillor N J Guyatt requested that his decision to abstain from voting on this Item be recorded in the Minutes.]