The Principal Conservation Officer introduced the report and stated that the two-year work programme previously agreed by the Committee in 2019 had ended in December 2021. Nine conservation area appraisals and management plans had been completed during the period. 

The priority areas for the creation of appraisals and management plans were outlined, with a checklist to be provided to Parish Councils to assist in their development. The work’s progression depended on the resources available to the Heritage, Design and Landscape Team given its significant workload which included updating the list of locally scheduled heritage assets as part of the Local Plan Review and existing case work. It was therefore anticipated that one appraisal and management plan could be completed in the next year from 2022-23, beginning with Staplehurst. 

Several Members expressed disappointment at the number of areas that did not have an appraisal or management plan in place, especially as the management plan could be taken into account in planning decisions. The Head of Planning and Development confirmed that management plans were more effective than Article 4 Directions in Conservation Areas due to limited permitted development rights of listed buildings.

The importance of providing adequate resources to enable the documents to be produced in a timely manner alongside the other ongoing work, for example the Local Plan Review and the creation of Development Plan Documents, was reiterated.

RESOLVED: That

1.  The report be deferred with officers requested to seek further funding opportunities and report back to the Committee; and

2.  Further engagement take place with Parish Councils.