Issue - meetings

For Members to agree the draft Rickmansworth Conservation Area Appraisal for consultation.

Members received a verbal update on the Draft Rickmansworth Conservation Area Appraisal highlighting that the Appraisal was due to go to out to consultation for 6 weeks.

Councillor Andrea Fraser proposed an amendment to amend the proposed Conservation Area statement to:

“Include the areas of the north-eastern end of the High Street, including the Cloisters, and the southern end of Church Street that have proposed for removal from the Conservation Area, and to add an appraisal of those areas, including whether individual buildings in those areas so re-added make a positive, neutral, or negative contribution.”

Some members expressed concerns about removing less attractive buildings, noting that retaining them offers greater control over visually significant gateway areas. The Batchworth Neighbourhood Plan was noted for its emphasis on maintaining town gateways. Officers clarified that while there had been a suggestion to remove The Cloisters, it remains included as a character area for now. Other buildings were proposed for removal due to their lack of historic significance and neutral contribution to the conservation area.

Other members supported the amendment but raised concerns about misinterpretation of Section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 and emphasised that the section includes consider of special characteristics, not solely historical value. Some members felt that the removal of buildings at major gateways like the High Street/Park Road junction, would be unjust as the buildings have a neutral contribution rather than negative and do not dilute the conservation area.

Officers clarified that consultants initially recommended excluding certain spaces but discussions led to their inclusion in the current consultation draft. Consultants believed retaining neutral contributing sites at the edges of the Conservation Area weakened then overall significance but acknowledged that including them would not significantly harm the plan.

A listed building south of the canal (Batchworth Bridge Listing 1100875) not being included within the conservation area. Officers confirmed that as a listed building, the site receives stronger protection than the conservation area plan could offer.

The timing of the public consultation occurring during the holiday period was noted and a suggestion to defer the consultation to December when community engagement would be higher was raised.

The amendment was put to the vote and with 9 votes For, 1 vote Against and 1 Abstention the amendment was carried.

The Vice Chair called for a vote on the substantive motion and was carried by general assent.