Issue - meetings

Designation of Peartree as a conservation area and public consultation.

(1)     The Cabinet authorised public consultation on the designation of Peartree as a conservation area proposing that a meeting was held somewhere like Woodhall community centre and the consultation take the form of a letter to every property within the proposed conservation area and with other interested parties such as Ward Councillors, Hertfordshire County Council as the highway authority, utilities bodes, the Welwyn Garden City Society, the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust and the Welwyn Garden City Centenary Foundation.

(2)     The results of the public meeting and consultation would be reported back to the Cabinet Planning and Parking Panel for report to the Cabinet to decide whether to designate Peartree as a conservation area.

The Panel had considered the designation of Peartree as a conservation area for public consultation.

The Council had a duty to decide whether parts of the Borough had special architectural or historic interest that should be preserved and enhanced and had commissioned “Place Services” to look at the Peartree area of Welwyn Garden City. Their appraisal concluded that this area did warrant conservation area status.

Conservation Area status would remove certain permitted development rights and people would have to apply for planning permission. The Panel had debated this in the light of the climate change emergency agenda, but decided that energy efficiency features might be acceptable, even in a conservation area.

The Panel had unanimously recommended that the Cabinet authorise public consultation and a public meeting on the designation of Peartree as a conservation area.

RESOLVED:

(1)     That the Cabinet authorises public consultation on the designation of Peartree as a conservation area proposing that a meeting be held at somewhere like Woodhall community centre and the consultation take the form of a letter to every property within the proposed conservation area and with other interested parties such as Ward Councillors, Hertfordshire County Council as the highway authority, utilities bodes, the Welwyn Garden City Society, the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust and the Welwyn Garden City Centenary Foundation.

(2)     That the results of the public meeting and consultation be reported back to the Cabinet Planning and Parking Panel for report to the Cabinet to decide whether to designate Peartree as a conservation area.

Report of the Corporate Director (Planning, Public Protection and Governance) on the designation of Peartree as a conservation area and public consultation.

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) on the Peartree Conservation Area. The Council has a duty to determine whether any part of the Borough has special architectural or historic interest that should be preserved and enhanced.  A character appraisal has judged that the Peartree area of Welwyn Garden City warrants designation as a conservation area.

The Planning Service has embarked on a process of reviewing the Borough’s eight existing conservation areas (Ayot, St Lawrence, Ayot Green, Welwyn historic core, Welwyn Garden City town centre and west, Beehive, Old Hatfield historic core, Essendon historic core and Northaw historic core) and appraising whether any new areas also warrant conservation area status.

It was considered that Beechfield Road, Barnfield Road, Furzefield Road, Pinewood, Sandpit Road, part of Woodhall Lane, part of Holwell Road, part of Mill Green Lane and part of Cole Green Lane as well as Gainswood and Pondcroft cul-de-sacs warrant designation.  This includes Woodhall shops, Woodhall community centre, Salvation Army church, Catholic Church of our Lady, Little Tulips day nursery and Pear Tree Inn public house.

Members commented on the implications of designating Peartree as a conservation area and the effects of having different permitted development rights. Concern was expressed in terms of residents residing in the Estate Management Scheme area who have voiced their opinion on changes and what should be allowed within their areas.  A Member commented that residents have been asked to adhere to schemes but at the same time the Council should be contributing towards maintaining the public realm to a higher standard. It was noted that the way in which people live and new technological advances all have an impact on how dwellings are evolving and whether or not these are compatible with conservation area status, for example solar panel on buildings.  Officers clarified that a designation of a conservation area and the Estate Management Scheme were two different arrangements.

RESOLVED:

(Unanimously)

1.    That this Panel recommends to Cabinet that it authorises a public consultation and a public meeting on the designation of Peartree as a conservation area.  It is proposed that a public meeting be held somewhere like Woodhall community centre and that public consultation take the form of a letter to every property within the proposed conservation area and other interested parties such as ward councillor, Hertfordshire County Council as the highway authority, utility bodies, Welwyn Garden City Society, Welwyn Garden City heritage trust and Welwyn Garden City Centenary Foundation.

2.    That the results of the public meeting and public consultation be reported back to this Panel and Cabinet to decide whether to designate Peartree as a conservation area.