Issue - meetings

Purpose: To outline proposed changes to the Newbury Town Centre Conservation Area, Kennet and Avon Canal, Newbury (East) Conservation Area and Kennet and Avon Canal, Newbury (West) Conservation Area boundaries and enable the new boundaries to be varied as per legislative requirements, and to outline the proposed Newbury Town Centre Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan and allow this to be adopted as per legislative requirements.

Council considered a report (Agenda Item 11) concerning the Newbury Town Centre Conservation Area Appraisal (CAA) and Boundary Review

MOTION: Proposed by Councillor Nigel Foot and seconded by Councillor Denise Gaines:

“That Council:

1)    Approve the changes to the Newbury Town Centre Conservation Area, Kennet and Avon Canal, Newbury (East) Conservation Area and Kennet and Avon Canal, Newbury (West) Conservation Area shown in Figure 2 of the report, and to designate them in line with the requirements of sections 69 & 70 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

2)    Adopt and publish the Newbury Town Centre Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan as outlined in Appendix A in line with section 71 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.”

Councillor Foot introduced the report and highlighted that the Boundary Review and CAA review had been long overdue and that the Council was now in the position of adopting these documents. It was indicated that some responses to the boundary review raised concerns about certain heritage assets no longer being in their previous conservation areas. However, he assured Council that no existing protected area would be left unprotected due to this change. It was also emphasised that, upon the successful adoption of the CAA, all planning applications would be assessed against the requirements to preserve or enhance the area. Overall, Councillor Foot thanked the numerous stakeholders who played a role in the production of the documents and expressed his desire to continue working with them moving forward.

Council noted that there would be a review of the CAA every ten years and were satisfied that the historic buildings in the area would be receiving protection. Members also indicated their desire to see more areas protected, such as the Newtown Road Cemetery, for greater pedestrianisation of the town centre, and for the linking of these documents with the Newbury Town Centre Masterplan.

Overall, Members welcomed the CAA and boundary review but highlighted the need to support other, more rural, areas of the district with either creating or updating their CAA, such as at Bucklebury and Aldermaston.

The Motion was put to the meeting and duly RESOLVED.