Agenda item

This report presents the final draft of the York Central Historic Core Conservation Area Appraisal to the Committee for adoption, following extensive public consultation. Adoption of the appraisal will ensure its publication in early 2012 to inform the policies and proposals of the City Centre Area Action Plan and the Local Development Framework.

The Committee considered a report which presented the final draft of the York Central Historic Core Conservation Area Appraisal for adoption.

The report provided an Executive Summary of the appraisal with the full report being provided on the Council’s website. Consideration was also given to Annexes 2 to 6 which detailed principles and priorities, community involvement, summary of consultations and events together with a map showing proposed boundary changes.

Copies of York Green Parties consultation responses, which had been omitted from Appendix 5 of the report, were also circulated for information.  

Officers went on to confirm the importance to the city of the appraisal for the City Centre Action Plan and the Local Development Framework. Reference was made to the joint funding of the appraisal by English Heritage and to the extensive public consultation undertaken.

Further information in respect of each of the following issues was also reported including details of the management recommendations and to further work and actions proposed:

·        Key views

·        Boundary changes

·        Article 4 directions

·        Advertising

·        Action Plan

·        Editing and

·        Building Heights

Members expressed their thanks and appreciation to both Alan Baxter Associates and to all the officers involved in the preparation of the document for the quality and depth of the study. They confirmed that this would provide the city with a comprehensive appraisal for an important area which would greatly assist the city in future years.

Members went on to raise a number of issues in respect of the following:

·        Building heights – specifying a presumption against development of more than 4/5 storeys could have a significant impact on certain areas e.g. York Central

·        Solar Panels – a ban on solar panels on all buildings required further examination.

·        Questioned exclusion of Hungate from Conservation Area boundary. Confirmation that tests had concluded that, on balance, this area should not be included.

·        Erection of satellite dishes - covered by national guidance.

Following further discussion it was

RESOLVED:     i)         That, subject to the resolution of the under mentioned  remaining comments, approval be given to the adoption of the York Central Historic Core Conservation Area Appraisal, including the proposed boundary changes set out at Annex 6 of the report, and noting  the management recommendations to be progressed through the City Centre Area Action Plan;

ii)           That further consideration be given to the removal of the proposed general assumption against development of more than 4 storeys in the Conservation Area and 5 storeys building height limit beyond it;

iii)                    That further consideration be given to the blanket ban on the erection of solar panels in the area, in line with the report requested by Council requiring the formulation of a policy in this respect;

iv)          That the Chair and Vice Chair in consultation with the Assistant Director City Strategy (Planning and Sustainable Development) and the Cabinet Member  be authorised to sign off the final report. ^1.

REASON:        i)           The document has adopted a rigorous approach to the assessment of the York Central Historic Core Conservation Area, and is in accordance with relevant guidance documents;

ii)            The document fulfils the council’s obligations under sections 69, 71 and 72 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990;

iii)            The boundary review has been carried out in accordance with the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 and the latest guidance documents from English Heritage;

    iv)           The document has been subject to intensive peer review through the key stakeholder group and an extensive public consultation;

v)            The appraisal is an essential evidence based document supporting the Local Development Framework and is necessary for the development and implementation of the City Centre Area Action Plan.