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26 Historic environment
26 Historic environment
National policy
26.1 The NPPF notes that heritage assets are an irreplaceable resource and these valuable assets should be conserved in a manner appropriate to their significance, so that they can be enjoyed for their contribution to the quality of life of existing and future generations.
26.2 Local Plans should set out a positive strategy for the conservation and enjoyment of the historic environment, including heritage assets most at risk through neglect, decay or other threats.
Evidence base
Key issues
- Cheshire West and Chester has a unique and significant historic legacy and a wealth of heritage assets of international, national and local significance.
- The wording of the NPPF in relation to ‘preserving or enhancing the character/significance and conserving the significance of heritage assets’ has changed since Local Plan (Part One) policy ENV 5 was written. The content of Local Plan (Part One) policy ENV 5 will therefore need updating to reflect this.
- A Heritage Strategy for Cheshire West and Chester (From Our Past, Towards Our Future – A Heritage Strategy for Cheshire West and Chester) is being developed which identifies a number of action areas to achieve the objectives of the strategy including:
- Proactivity, leadership, and investment
- Safeguarding heritage for the future
- Championing diverse heritage for a diverse borough
- Supporting local identity, connections, and placemaking
- Using heritage resources to help tackle climate change
- Unlocking the economic potential of our heritage
- Engaging the wider public
- The suggested policy approach should continue to acknowledge the significance of the archaeological resource in Chester.
Current adopted policy
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Local Plan |
Policy reference |
Policy summary |
|---|---|---|
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Sets the strategy for the protection, safeguarding and enhancement of both designated and non-designated heritage assets and the character and setting of areas of acknowledged significance. |
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Sets the requirements for development in Conservation Areas in the context of the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of that area, taking account of the significance of heritage assets. |
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Local Plan (Part Two) |
Sets the requirements for development affecting Listed Buildings in the context of conserving the significance of a listed building and its setting, securing its optimum viable use and preserving or enhance a listed building and features of special architectural or historic landscape interest. |
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Local Plan (Part Two) |
Development proposals will be encouraged and supported where they are designed to preserve or enhance the significance of non-designated heritage assets. |
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Local Plan (Part Two) |
Sets the criteria for the consideration of development proposals affecting landscapes identified on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England (Registered Parks and Gardens). |
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Local Plan (Part Two) |
Sets the criteria for development proposals affecting archaeological heritage assets, taking into account the significance of the heritage asset and their setting, and the scale of any loss or harm. |
Suggested policy approach
26.3 Decisions on development impacting heritage assets will be made in accordance with the NPPF, national Planning Practice Guidance and guidance issued by Historic England. The existing approach in Local Plan (Part One) policy ENV 5 which seeks to protect the borough's unique and significant heritage will be retained and updated and to incorporate the Local Plan (Part Two) policies DM 46, DM 47, DM 48, DM 49 and DM 50 to ensure that:
- the correct language from NPPF is used in relation to development and heritage assets i.e. preserving or enhancing the character/significance and conserving the significance of heritage assets
- any repetition with the NPPF in relation to preserving and enhancing the historic environment is removed
- reference to the forthcoming Cheshire West and Chester Heritage Strategy and any relevant action areas is included
HE 1
Historic environment
The policies contained within the existing Local Plan (Part One and Part Two) continue to be suitable and relevant, reflecting national policy.
Any local detail and actions from the Cheshire West and Chester Heritage Strategy can be included once this has been finalised.
The policy wording will continue to:
- Preserve and enhance the historic environment (including its setting) for its inherent value, and for the enjoyment of residents and visitors;
- Support proposals that positively and proactively, conserve and enhance the historic environment. This includes safeguarding assets and supporting appropriate, viable and sustainable uses that conserve their significance;
- Prevent development if it results in substantial harm to or total loss of the significance of a designated heritage asset, unless it is demonstrated that the substantial harm or loss is necessary to achieve substantial public benefits that outweigh that harm or loss;
- Ensure that where development does take place, proposals will be high quality, sensitively designed and integrated with the historic context;
- Pay particular attention to the conservation of those elements which contribute most to distinctive character and sense of place of the area. These include:
- Designated Heritage Assets
- Non-designated Heritage Assets
- Heritage at Risk
- Historic Townscapes and street scene (and any areas/projects identified in the Heritage Strategy and/or Design Code)
- Historic landscapes
- Registered Parks and Gardens and Battlefields
In relation to archaeology, remove any repetition with National Planning Policy Framework. For development
proposals within Chester, the Chester Archaeological Plan must be consulted.
Question HI 1
Do you agree with the suggested policy approach towards the historic environment, as set out in HE 1 ‘Historic environment’ above? If not please suggest how it could be amended?