Shearsby Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan 2021

10.0 Management Plan

10.1 Local planning authorities have a duty placed on them under Section 71 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 to draw up and publish proposals for the preservation and enhancement of conservation areas. Conservation area appraisals help to identify threats to the character of the conservation area and opportunities for enhancement.

10.2 Potential threats to the character and appearance of the conservation area arise from the loss of traditional features of value. Such threats can range from the loss of historic fabric to unsympathetic public realm and the impact of highway works.

10.3 The character and appearance of both the conservation area and of individual buildings and structures are at risk from the loss of historic fabric and traditional features. Regular ongoing maintenance limits deterioration to buildings of any age or materials. Efforts should be made to repair or replace historic fabric with appropriate materials. Generally, UPVC is not an appropriate replacement for historic timber windows and doors. It is difficult to achieve the necessary standards in design and the use of UPVC can lead to environmental problems due to reduced breathability in materials. More information of materials for historic building repairs can be found on the Historic England website https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/technical-advice/buildings/building-materials-for-historic-buildings/

10.4 The treatment of the public realm impacts on the character and appearance of a conservation area. The loss of features of value or the introduction of unsympathetic street furniture poses a threat to the character and appearance of a conservation area. Shearsby Conservation Area generally has an uncluttered public realm with features such as the finger post, the K6 telephone kiosk and the water pump making a positive contribution to the conservation area. These features should be maintained and retained wherever possible. Applications for development should ensure that any alterations to the public realm preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the conservation area.

10.5 The character and appearance of a conservation area can also be threatened by unsympathetic highway works and by traffic and car parking. Site visits to Shearsby during 2020, when more people were working from home, did not reveal a significant parking problem. There were a few cars parked around the Green and a greater number parked along Mill Lane but the levels were not excessive and appeared in line with the number of terraced properties on the road.

10.6 The roads within Shearsby conservation area are narrow and often lined with hedgerows. Works to highways and footways risk the loss of historic traditional materials such as kerbstones, setts and paviours or the introduction of modern surfacing and boundary treatments and signage, all of which pose a pose a threat to the character and appearance of the conservation area. Loss of such historic fabric should be discouraged. The Highways Authority should, as far as possible, seek to ensure that works to highways and footways makes good any historic surfaces and that completed work does not detract from the character and appearance of the conservation area.

10.7 Any proposals for new development should consider the impact of alterations to highways and footways and consider the effect of traffic and parking provision on the character and appearance of the Shearsby Conservation Area.