Committee Report: Mesnes Conservation Area Appraisal, Wigan

Report to:	Planning Committee Cabinet
Date:	7 November 2006 16 November 2006
Subject:	Mesnes Conservation Area Appraisal, Wigan
Report of:	Director Designate of Environmental Services
Contact officer:	Jason Kennedy/Dave Walker (Telephone: 01942 404254/404249)
Purpose / summary:	To inform Members of the completed Mesnes Conservation Area Appraisal, Wigan. To obtain Members’ endorsement of the findings of the appraisal and the principles of the management recommendations.
Alternative options considered and reason for selecting the one recommended:	Local authorities are required to prepare up‑to‑date proposals for the preservation and enhancement of their conservation areas. This is now a Best Value Performance Indicator (BVPI219). In addition, English Heritage requires a detailed character appraisal for the area, as part of the Heritage Lottery Fund bid for the Mesnes Park restoration project. In this situation, in order to secure regeneration funding from English Heritage, it was necessary to prepare the Appraisal. Therefore, this was the only viable option.
Recommendation / decision:	1. That Planning Committee notes the Mesnes Conservation Area Appraisal and the principles of the management proposals. 2. That Cabinet adopts the Mesnes Conservation Area Appraisal and the principles of the management proposals.
Key Decision:	This report involves a key decision within ground 3. The decision made as a result of this report will be published within 48 hours and cannot be actioned until five working days have elapsed after that (making a total of seven working days after the meeting), i.e. before 28 November 2006. This item is included in the Forward Plan.
Implications:
Financial:	Within existing resources
Staffing:	Within existing resources
Policy:	Replacement Unitary Development Plan Policy EV4 and Policy EV4A
Equal Opportunities – has a Diversity Impact Assessment been conducted?	Yes
Wards affected:	Wigan Central
Special Interest Members – Which have been consulted	Not applicable

Tracking/Process:

Panel	Overview & Scrutiny	Cabinet	Council
	Consultation	Ward Members	Partners
	-	-	-
Planning – 07.11.06	-	16.11.06	-

List of Background Papers in accordance with Section 100D of the Local Government Act 1972:

Document	Date	File Reference	Place of Inspection
Report to Cabinet – Mesnes Park Restoration Project	30.03.06	32.100M	Planning and Regeneration, Civic Buildings, New Market Street, Wigan
Report to Cabinet – Mesnes Park Restoration Project	24.08.06	32.100M	Planning and Regeneration, Civic Buildings, New Market Street, Wigan
Correspondence and comments from consultations	Dec 2005 to Mar 2006	32.100M	Planning and Regeneration, Civic Buildings, New Market Street, Wigan

Proper Officer	Martin Kimber
Date	23 October 2006

1.0 Background

1.1 The Council designated the Mesnes Conservation Area in August 1980 and extended it in November 1984. It covers an area of approximately 18.48 hectares, the bulk of which is occupied by Mesnes Park.

1.2 Conservation Areas are defined as areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character and appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance. Under the Planning ( Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, local authorities are required to formulate and publish proposals for the preservation and enhancement of their conservation areas. Appraisals define and analyse the special qualities of the Conservation Area and contain recommendations for the management and enhancement of the area. The requirement to produce Conservation Area Appraisals is covered by Best Value Performance Indicator 219.

1.3 In addition, it was necessary to carry out a Conservation Area Appraisal as part of a Heritage Lottery Fund bid for the Mesnes Park Restoration Project by the Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust. The draft Conservation Area Appraisal was used to inform the submission to English Heritage of the initial funding bid and now it has been completed it will form part of the final documentation.

2.0 Proposals

Consultation:

2.1 The preparation of the appraisal was the subject of targeted consultation, in two stages, with the local community and appropriate organisations. The first stage involved notifying all residential and business occupiers in the area of the intention to prepare the appraisal and gave three weeks during December 2005 to comment. Ward Members and potentially interested organisations were also notified. Five responses were received at the first stage. The comments received influenced the contents of the draft Conservation Area Appraisal.

2.2 The second stage was a formal public participation period during the four weeks of February. All residential and business occupiers in the area were notified of the availability of the draft appraisal. Copies of the draft appraisal were sent to Wigan Central Ward Members and other interested organisations. Presentations on the draft were made to, and considered by, the Friends of Mesnes Park Group, the Wigan North Township Forum Recreation, Environment and the Community Safety Sub Groups. It was reported for consultation to the Environment and Development Partnership. The draft was also made available on the web and available for viewing at the Planning and Regeneration offices. Eight responses were received at the second stage. The comments received have influenced the contents of the final Conservation Area Appraisal.

2.3 A Statement of Consultation is attached to this report at Appendix 1.

Appraisal:

2.4 The completed appraisal is attached at Appendix 2. It is a detailed document which sets out the background to the area, the location and setting, the historic development of the area, its character and appearance and a number of management recommendations.

2.5 The appraisal identifies four distinct character areas, namely:

Mesnes Park
Mesnes Field
Parsons Walk/Park Road
Bridgeman Terrace/Pagefield Building

2.6 Within these areas, the appraisal identifies the key buildings, spaces, townscape features, materials, architectural styles, etc, which help to define the special character of the area. In particular, it highlights the historic significance of Mesnes Park not only in its own right but also in the context of the development of the town. This reflects the consultation results where the majority of responses relate to the park and the need for regeneration. However, it also identifies the important contribution of the character of the surrounding parts of the Conservation Area in providing the setting of the Park.

2.7 The appraisal and the consultation identify a range of issues in the Park which need to be considered, including conservation and restoration, accessibility, management and tackling anti‑social behaviour.

2.8 The appraisal also identifies other factors within the rest of the Conservation Area which need to be addressed including alteration of buildings, the public realm and a review of the boundaries of the Conservation Area.

Management Proposals:

2.9 The appraisal contains a number of management proposals, which include the following:

The key management proposals relate to the Mesnes Park Restoration Project. This is the subject of a separate two phase action plan being developed by the Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust for Heritage Lottery Funding. The principles of this project were considered by Cabinet at the meeting on 24 August 2004 (Minute 133). A successful outcome to the bidding for funding will result in significant investment to address most of the issues raised in the appraisal commencing in 2008 and continuing over the following seven years.
The need for vigilance in order to prevent the steady loss of original features or replacement by unsympathetic modern details when buildings are altered. Careful consideration will need to be given in future to the use of an Article 4(2) Direction but in the meantime further advice and guidance will need to be provided to owners.
In the public realm there needs to be a consistent approach to design and siting of street furniture and paving materials so as not to detract from the character of the area and a positive approach through the introduction of public art.
No boundary changes are suggested to the Conservation Area.

3.0 Alternative Options Considered and Reason for the Recommended Option

3.1 Local authorities are required to prepare up‑to‑date proposals for the preservation and enhancement of their conservation areas. This is now a Best Value Performance Indicator (BVPI 219). In addition, English Heritage requires a detailed character appraisal for the area, as part of the Heritage Lottery Fund bid for the Mesnes Park restoration project. In this situation, in order to secure regeneration funding from English Heritage, it was necessary to prepare the Appraisal. Therefore, this was the only viable option.

4.0 Conclusions

4.1 The appraisal concludes that Conservation Area status has generally proved effective in protecting the special qualities of Mesnes Park and surrounding areas. However, the emphasis must now be on the regeneration of the Park and the appraisal document will provide part of the basis for supporting the bidding for funding to achieve this regeneration .

4.2 The document will become a material consideration in the assessment of future planning applications and will form the basis for providing technical advice to property owners.

5.0 Recommendations

5.1 That Planning Committee notes the Mesnes Conservation Area Appraisal and the principles of the management proposals.

5.2 That Cabinet adopts the Mesnes Conservation Area Appraisal and the principles of the management proposals.

Appendix

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