Publication Draft

Comment

Representation ID: 6720

Received: 05/11/2009

Respondent: Warwickshire County Council - Heritage & Culture (Museums)

We welcome the recognition (10.38) that existing densities of housing contribute to the character of an area and that this character should be protected.

However, potential adverse impacts of higher housing numbers upon landscape is only defined in terms of impact upon designated landscapes (10.47, third bullet point); non-designated landscapes may also have significance in terms of historic landscape character and reference should be made to the Historic Landscape Characterisation programme recently concluded by Warwickshire CC.

Comment

Representation ID: 6721

Received: 05/11/2009

Respondent: Warwickshire County Council - Heritage & Culture (Museums)

It would be helpful if there were acknowledgement at 12.1 that open space can support conservation of the historic environment as well as the natural environment.
It is suggested that this Open Space Strategic Objective should also reference the SCS Strategic Aim relating to the Natural Environment with the following inclusions
Para 12.1 to include "Green Corridors" that will bring wildlife into the urban environments.
Para 12.4 the inclIusion of the Habitat Biodiversity Audit and the Wildlife Sites Partnership datasets as evidence bases and a statement that these will include areas of open space and be potential monitoring tools.

Support

Representation ID: 6722

Received: 05/11/2009

Respondent: Warwickshire County Council - Heritage & Culture (Museums)

We support the inclusion of avoidance of adverse impact on the historic environment as a criterion.

Comment

Representation ID: 6723

Received: 05/11/2009

Respondent: Warwickshire County Council - Heritage & Culture (Museums)

We welcome the acknowledgement given to the importance of the District's historic environment. However, whilst supporting the strategic objective with which this policy is aligned, it is disappointing that the historic environment is described almost entirely in terms of designated assets, and that apart from the references to Scheduled Ancient Monuments there is little consideration of archaeology.

Under 16.2 it would be helpful if there were some recognition of archaeology; the document could, for example, note that some of the oldest artefacts from the British Isles have been recovered from quarries at Bubbenhall, that the gravel terraces of the Avon are rich in prehistoric cropmarks, and that the towns of Warwick and Kenilworth are archaeologically significant.

At 16.3 archaeological assets could be recognised by insertion of the number of scheduled sites and other archaeological sites in the District noted above.

At 16.5 the list of documents available for research to which the Council has access ought to include the Warwickshire Historic Environment Record and Historic Landscape Characterisation.

Comment

Representation ID: 6724

Received: 05/11/2009

Respondent: Warwickshire County Council - Heritage & Culture (Museums)

Since preparation of the Preferred Options document the long-awaited PPS15 Planning for the Historic Environment has been put out for consultation. Paragraphs 16.6 and 16.7 will therefore need to take account of this, although since PPS15 is only at the consultation stage its policy content may still be subject to change. Furthermore, there is now a presumption that local policy will not repeat national or Regional guidance so much as articulate their application in the light of local circumstances and priorities. We note the intention to produce Supplementary Planning Documents to provide further detail on historic environment; this will enable amongst other matters a more detailed explanation of the District's intentions in respect of the management of archaeology in the development process, and of the manner in which it intends to use Historic Landscape Characterisation.

We also note the intention to draw up local lists of historic buildings and gardens; this process could be usefully extended to include archaeological sites and we would be very willing to discuss a methodology for identification of appropriate sites on the basis of our Historic Environment Record.

The preferred option in respect of Article Four Directions is in accordance with policy HE5 of the draft PPS15; whilst acknowledging the wish to avoid unnecessary confrontation the District should be prepared to consider enforcement where persuasion fails.

Comment

Representation ID: 6725

Received: 05/11/2009

Respondent: Warwickshire County Council - Heritage & Culture (Museums)

It would be helpful if there were more explicit reference in the text to retention of local distinctiveness.

Under 18.4 (research) the programme of historic farmsteads characterisation currently being undertaken by Warwickshire Museum as part of a regional initiative will also add to the evidence base.

Comment

Representation ID: 6726

Received: 05/11/2009

Respondent: Warwickshire County Council - Heritage & Culture (Museums)

Support the Strategic Objective 13 and suggest that this is achieved through a SPD

Comment

Representation ID: 6727

Received: 05/11/2009

Respondent: Warwickshire County Council - Heritage & Culture (Museums)

- The Strategic Objective refers to Green Infrastructure, but it then includes no further description of this term. The inclusion of Green Infrastructure is strongly supported and it is suggested that this is associated to the SCS objective relating to natural environment and the LAA target of NI197 Biodiversity. A description of Green Infrastructure should also be included.

Comment

Representation ID: 6728

Received: 05/11/2009

Respondent: Warwickshire County Council - Heritage & Culture (Museums)

- It is suggested that this policy area should also reference the SCS objective relating to the Natural Environment as the natural environment is referenced in the strategic Objective and it is well established that biodiversity accessibility has a positive contribution to the nation's health (Natural England's, Natural Health Initiative, 2009).

Comment

Representation ID: 6732

Received: 05/11/2009

Respondent: Warwickshire County Council - Heritage & Culture (Museums)

A policy on the natural environment is strongly supported, where it does not reiterate existing RSS and PPS9 policies and principles. It is strongly recommended that this policy area (potentially in combination with the Historic Environment, Open Space and Culture issues) provides contextual background that evidences the designation principles behind the allocation of the Areas of Restraint. It is suggested that these areas be justified through the production of a SPD relating to these assets. These assets should not just include the areas currently identified but those that are important to maintain, restore and enhance the natural/historic and cultural environment plus important assets that enable ecological networks and connectivity throughout the District and neighbouring authorities. This is supported through the Sustainability Appraisals and furthers the potential inclusions in the RSS Phase 3 review. It is suggested that this can be achieved in a relatively short period (for ecology and geology) as the data necessary for this modelling is already in existence.