A report on conservation matters published in advance of Cambridge City Council’s Environment Scrutiny Committee on 12 January proposes that councillors agree to consult the public on changes to the appraisal.
This includes a street-by-street analysis of the historic centre of the city with descriptions of key features.
If the report recommendation is approved, residents will be invited to have their say on the latest appraisal which takes into account changes since the last update in 2006. Since then, a number of major developments have been completed, including the Grand Arcade.
Consultation is due to begin in February, and all responses will be taken into account, with corrections made to the appraisal if need be.
Meanwhile, Barrow Road in Cambridge could be on track to becoming a designated conservation area.
A report published in advance of the same scrutiny committee meeting recommends that councillors agree to prepare a draft conservation area appraisal for Barrow Road.
Conservation area appraisals identify and describe those features of special architectural or historic interest that makes them worth protecting or improving.
To be designated a conservation area the area must be considered to be of “special architectural or historic interest the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance.”
An appraisal would be the first step towards conservation area status, which residents of Barrow Road are keen to achieve. If the proposal gets the go-ahead the council will work with residents to prepare evidence that supports the case for such status.
Cllr Kevin Blencowe, Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport, said: “Many of us feel privileged to live in a world-famous, historic city and the council has an important role in conserving its many unique features for future generations.
“Cambridge is a growing city and rightly so, given the desperate shortage of homes we have, but that growth makes it even more critical that we consider conservation matters very carefully.
“We’re proposing to work closely with residents and others on our updated appraisal of the historic core of Cambridge, and to work with the residents of Barrow Road to look at that part of the city in detail.”
Reports presented to council committees are available on the council’s website: http://democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/ieDocHome.aspx;
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Contacts
Cllr Kevin Blencowe, (Labour Group) Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport, email kevin.blencowe@gmail.com, tel: 07914 700602
Cllr Catherine Smart (Liberal Democrat Group), Opposition spokesperson, email: chlsmart@cix.co.uk, tel: 01223 511210
Cllr Oscar Gillespie (Minorities Group), Opposition spokesperson, email: oscar.gillespie@cambridge.gov.uk, tel: 01223 564126
Simon Payne, Director of Environment, email: simon.payne@cambridge.gov.uk, tel: 01223 458517
Glen Richardson, Urban Design and Conservation Manager, email: glen.richardson@cambridge.gov.uk, tel: 01223 457374
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