Decision details

The report will request to implement changes in respect of the designation of Conservation Areas within Crawley, further to consultant recommendations and public consultation, including:
- The designation of two new Conservation Areas;
- Changes to the boundaries of the High Street and St Peter's Conservation Areas.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet:

a)         i)        agrees that the area outlined in red in Appendix A of report PES/419 is an area of special architectural or historical interest, the character of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance; and

ii)       designates the area outlined in red in Appendix A of report PES/419 as a conservation area pursuant to Section 69(1) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, to be known as the “Queens Square and The Broadway Conservation Area”;

b)         i)        agrees that the area outlined in red in Appendix B of report PES/419 is an area of special architectural or historical interest, the character of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance; and

ii)       designates the area outlined in red in Appendix B of report PES/419 as a conservation area pursuant to Section 69(1) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, to be known as the “Gossops Green Neighbourhood Centre Conservation Area”;

c)         i)        agrees that those parts of the existing High Street Conservation Area (as outlined by the dashed blue line but excluding the hatched areas in Appendix C of report PES/419) plus the additional adjacent areas (collectively the area outlined in red in Appendix C of report PES/419) is an area of special architectural or historical interest, the character of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance; and

ii)       agrees to vary the designation of the existing High Steet Conservation Area to the area outlined in red in Appendix C of report PES/419, pursuant to Section 69(1) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990;

d)         i)        agrees that the existing St Peter’s Conservation Area (as outlined by the dashed blue line in Appendix D of report PES/419) plus the additional adjacent areas (collectively the area outlined in red in Appendix D of report PES/419) is an area of special architectural or historical interest, the character of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance; and

          ii)       agrees to vary the designation of the existing St Peter’s Conservation Area to the area outlined in red in Appendix D of report PES/419, pursuant to Section 69(1) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990;

e)         delegates authorised to the Head of Economy and Planning to take such steps as necessary, on behalf of the Council as Local Planning Authority, to give notice of each of the above designations and amendments as required by legislation

(Generic Delegation 7 will be used to enact this recommendation).

Reasons for the Recommendations

Queens Square and The Broadway, Northgate (Appendix A of report PES/419) is considered an area of special architectural or historic interest due to its distinctive new town character.  Conservation Area designation will enable the Council as Planning Authority to work with developers / stakeholders / planning applicants to preserve / enhance Crawley’s New Town character as a real design asset to attract investment and improve the quality of the business / living environment in Crawley Town Centre.

Implementation of the recommendations will help to secure the preservation and enhancement of Crawley’s historic environment in accordance with legislation, national planning policy and best practice, and will contribute to the council’s wider regeneration and place-making objectives.