New planning guidance and revised boundaries adopted for five south Trafford conservation areas

The guidance covers Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans for five south Trafford conservation areas, Ashley Heath, Bowdon, Devisdale, Hale Station and Sandiway.

Before adopting the guidance, several changes were made as a direct response to consultation feedback. This can be read in detail in the online consultation statements.

More residential properties have been included in the conservation areas. This will help to manage and protect the historic interest of the areas. In addition some properties previously within three of the conservation areas – Bowdon, Ashley Heath and Sandiway – have been taken out as they no longer meet the designation criteria.

The Conservation Area Appraisals (CAA) are a concise description of the area. They highlight those elements of the historical, architectural and natural environment that contribute to the special interest of the area.

Conservation Area Management Plans provide guidance through policy statements to assist in the preservation and enhancement of the conservation area.

These documents help property owners or occupiers to ensure historic features are protected and/or enhanced within the conservation area. Guidance is also given for owners wanting to make changes to their properties. They are material considerations in the determination of planning applications.

The conservation areas have been revised as part of a programme to review all of Trafford’s conservation areas against revised guidance produced by Historic England. Under (Section 69(2) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990) local authorities are required to review their conservation areas from time to time. The programme started in 2014 and to date 12 of Trafford’s 21 conservation areas have been reviewed.

The documents are also available for public inspection:

• On CD Rom at all public libraries/Access Trafford offices during normal opening hours. For more information about location and opening hours go to:  http://www.trafford.gov.uk/leisureandculture/libraries/librariesintrafford/
• Online at http://www.trafford.gov.uk/planning/strategic-planning/local-development-framework/supplementary-planning-documents.aspx

Any queries on this information should be forwarded to the Council’s strategic planning team by email:strategic.planning@trafford.gov.uk, or by post: c/o Strategic Planning, Trafford Town Hall, Talbot Road, Stretford, M32 0TH.  Alternatively they can telephone 0161 912 3149.