Baginton, Bubbenhall, Stoneleigh and Ashow - Neighbourhood Area Designation

Thank you for giving notice that Bagington, Bubbenhall, Stoneleigh and Ashow Parish Council has applied for designation as a Neighbourhood Area under Part 2 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012.

English Heritage has no objection to this proposal.

The proposed neighbourhood plan area contains a varied range of designated and undesignated heritage assets including five grade I listed buildings and five listed at II*. There is one very extensive grade II* Registered Park and Garden and the Parish also hosts five scheduled monuments. Due account should be taken of the conservation of all of these assets and their settings in formulating the neighbourhood plan proposals. Consideration should also be given to the protection of undesignated heritage assets and archaeological remains (both known and potential) within the Parish. Many of these will be recorded in the Warwickshire County Council Historic Environment Record (HER).

Having a sound evidence base for the Plan is important so as to form a properly supportive context for plan policies. The National Planning Policy Framework (paragraph 58) requires Neighbourhood Plans to develop robust and comprehensive policies setting out the quality of development that will be expected in an area based upon an understanding and evaluation of its' defining characteristics. The aim is to ensure that developments (inter alia) "respond to local character and history, and reflect the identity of local surroundings and materials....."

Neighbourhood Plans are a positive way to help communities care for and enjoy the historic environment. English Heritage is expecting that as Parish Council's come to you (and perhaps particularly to your specialist conservation staff) to seek advice on preparing Neighbourhood Plans they will value guidance on how best to understand what heritage they have, as well as assistance on preparing appropriate policies to secure the conservation and enhancement of this local heritage resource.

Information held by the Council and used in the preparation of your Core Strategy/Local Plan is often the starting point for Neighbourhood Plans as for example the Historic Environment Character Assessments completed by Warwickshire County Council. Comprehensive data on Heritage Assets including archaeological remains in your area will be available from the Warwickshire Historic Environment Record held by the County Council and local environmental and amenity groups often also hold useful information.

Plan preparation also offers the opportunity to harness a community's interest in the historic environment by getting them to help add to the evidence base, perhaps by creating and or reviewing a local heritage list, inputting to the preparation of conservation area appraisals and undertaking or further deepening historic characterisation studies.
English Heritage has a statutory role in the development plan process and there is a duty on either you as the Local Planning Authority or the Parish Council to consult English Heritage on any Neighbourhood Plan where our interests are considered to be affected as well as a duty to consult us on all Neighbourhood Development Orders and Community Right to Build Orders.

English Heritage will target its limited resources efficiently. We will directly advise on proposals with the potential for major change to significant, nationally important heritage assets and their settings. Our local offices may also advise communities where they wish to engage directly with us, subject to local priorities and capacity.