Content

Adur Cabinet
Member for Regeneration:
 

1.   
To adopt the Sompting Conservation Area
Character Appraisal, as amended following public consultation, as
planning guidance and a material consideration in planning
decisions.

2.   
To adopt the North Lancing Conservation Area Character Appraisal,
as amended following public consultation, as planning guidance and
a material consideration in planning decisions.

3.   
To designate a revised boundary to the North Lancing Conservation
Area as shown on the map attached to this report.

4.   
To delegate authority to the Head of Planning and Development to
make minor changes, typographical corrections or non-material
amendments to the Sompting Conservation
Area Character Appraisal,, North Lancing Conservation Area
Character Appraisal and associated documents prior to formal
publication and to undertake the necessary statutory actions to
implement their adoption.

5.   
To delegate authority to the Head of Planning and Development to
prepare and publish an updated Adur
Policies Map to reflect a revised boundary for North Lancing
Conservation Area.
 
Worthing Cabinet Member for Regeneration:
 
I am abstaining from this decision as it is
predominantly an Adur matter

Reasons for the decision

This is an important document
prepared to support our preparations of the update of the local
plan. It is rich in detail and provides a good understanding of the
areas and the conservation needs. It provides a much needed update
on the existing plans which were constructed in the 1990s and do
not have management plans.

Alternative options considered

The alternative to adopting the
new Conservation Area Character Appraisals is that we retain the
existing Conservation Area Reports. These are extremely out of
date. They do not reflect the current methodology for producing a
character appraisal and do not include a management plan. As a
result, these older reports would only carry limited weight in
decision making relating to the conservation areas. With regard to
the boundary changes to the North Lancing Conservation Area. The
alternatives would be:
 

·        
to not remove the sections of the conservation area containing only
more modern buildings. The NPPF (paragraph 196) requires local
planning authorities to “ensure that an area justifies such
status because of its special architectural or historic interest,
and that the concept of conservation is not devalued through the
designation of areas that lack special interest". Retaining these
areas would be contrary to this policy.

·        
to not add the areas around Lancing Manor. This would mean that the
extra protections resultant from conservation area designation
would not apply.

·        
to not retain the large garden to the south of the Miller and
Carter restaurant. This important green space contains many mature
trees and likely supports a wide range of biodiversity. Trees
within conservation areas benefit from additional protections,
which would be lost if the site were removed from the conservation
area. This would negatively impact the character and setting of the
conservation area.