Local Listings Townscape In Focus EHTF Annual Conference Pete Boland Principal Conservation Officer & Borough Archaeologist 10 th October 2008 Conclusions were based on a questionnaire sent to the Conservation Officers in all English district and unitary local authorities. 233 authorities, or 66% of the total, responded providing a good indication of the generally high level of interest generated by the subject. 72 of these authorities had Local Lists and policies designed to resist proposals for damaging alterations to, or the demolition of, locally important historic buildings. Snapshots In the period 1992-1997 at least one-third of Local Authorities actively operated Local Lists. Almost two-thirds of all local authorities expressed the belief that Local Lists are required (only 17 saw no need). 83% of respondent authorities believed current statutory controls to be insufficient to sustain the cherished local scene. Over two-thirds of Local List authorities estimated that 90% or more of their Local List buildings would fail to qualify for statutory listing. Over half of all Local Planning Authorities estimated over 50% of the locally important historic building stock lay beyond conservation areas. In some authorities this rose to over 80%. 1
2
Lye Cemetery Chapel, Lye Seven Stars Public House Netherton Arts Centre, Netherton 3
Pumping Station, Bull Street Former 20 School Street, Dudley Co-op Building and Top Church 4
5
The Dudley Borough Landscape and Townscape Character Study 6
Brierley Hill Area Bank Street Area Town Centre Boundary Brierley Hill Planning Policy Context Regional Spatial Strategy Black Country Study (new strategic centre of Brierley Hill/Merry Hill) Black Country Core Strategy (Policy Framework for Local Development Framework) Brierley Hill Area Action Plan (as part of Dudley Local Development Framework) Brierley Hill Historic Landscape Characterisation (As evidence base for Area Action Plan) 7
8
Preferred Land Use 9
New Local List criteria developed from English Heritage s criteria for assessing positive buildings in a Conservation Area Architectural Merit Is the building the work of a particular architect or designer of regional or local note? Has it qualities of age, style, materials, plan or other distinctive characteristics which reflect those of at least a substantial number of other recognised historic buildings in the area? Does it display an innovative or rare example of a locally distinctive form of construction or use local materials? Close Historical Association Has the building significant historical associations with local famous people or events which are well documented? Does the building relate by age, materials or in any other historically significant way to adjacent statutorily or other locally listed sites and contribute positively to their setting? If a structure is associated with a designated landscape, such as walls, terracing or a garden building, is it of identifiable importance to the historic design? Does it have landmark quality? Historical Interest Does the building display an important aspect of the area s social, economic, religious political or cultural history? Does it serve as a reminder of the development of the settlement in which it stands or of an earlier phase of growth, which may have been masked by later development? Does it have an historic association with established features such as the transport network, burgage plots, an urban park or other landscape feature? 10