C O N T E X T 1 7 1 : M A R C H 2 0 2 2 29 CHANGE ON THE HIGH STREET similar policy requirements, such as in trying to protect green infrastructure. In conservation areas, redevelopment opportunities to remodel or replace low-quality buildings can be highlighted, creating opportunities for investment, diversification and enhancement. This is a positive and locally specific approach. Policies should not be over-prescriptive, especially on stylistic matters, but they should make clear the specific elements of character, in particular townscape and spatial qualities. Policies can also address misconceived perceptions of conflict between historic context and economic growth or green design. Biggleswade The emerging Biggleswade Neighbourhood Plan is a recent example in which heritage is integrated into a range of policies. It underwent its Regulation 14 consultation towards the end of 2021 and is now at the examination stage.The plan, with the historic town of Biggleswade at its core, deals with heritage in various ways. • The overall strategy and key policy for growth promotes development and diversification in the town centre, including reuse of historic buildings. • Development within the town centre is required to maintain or enhance its character, vitality and competitiveness as a market town. Opportunity sites are identified. Repopulation of the town centre is supported. • Impacts on the historic and rural environment have to be considered for different kinds of development. • There are different requirements for housing in terms of design and type of accommodation around the town and in the wider area. • Trees and hedges are protected, for their amenity and biodiversity values. • The plan designates local green spaces and protects more strategic green spaces. • Detailed design policies deal with character, sustainable development, movement and shopfronts. • Biggleswade Conservation Area has a specific policy, setting out key elements of character, such as predominant heights, set-back of frontages, townscape, materials and architectural diversity. The policy makes clear that green design should be supported in the conservation area. • Policies protect local heritage and scheduled monuments and their landscape settings. • Impacts of heavy vehicles on historic environments have to be considered. Evidence base The evidence base for heritage in neighbourhood plans depends on the specific area and policies required. The following are common types of evidence: • The nature of local heritage in terms of protection, designations, numbers and any locally specific elements. • Use trends and issues affecting heritage, for example the impacts of Covid-19 on town centres. • The contribution of heritage to the local economy. • Condition (for example, buildings and areas at risk). • Economic viability. Often there is a strong crossover with the wider evidence base, for example, with data relating to the economy, the natural environment and town centres. Conservation area character appraisals and management plans can be useful, especially where they attempt to define the special architectural or historic interest of the area, and where the character analysis includes spatial and townscape characteristics (which translate most easily into policy). Character appraisals that are lengthy and descriptive in nature tend to be less useful. Common mistakes Some plans include generic policies on heritage or vague requirements (such as ‘should be in keeping’), or repeat national heritage policies or duties. Such policies add nothing and can actually cause harm by watering down requirements already in the local plan. Policies referring to external documents or standards tend not to work, as it requires decision-makers and developers to read those documents and assumes they will pick out the relevant parts. In practice, this does not happen, and any amendment of those external documents effectively kills the policy. This can include requirements to comply with conservation area character documents. Such documents provide evidence to inform policymaking, but often do not set clear requirements for development to meet, so policies requiring compliance with them are often ineffective and unenforceable. It is far more effective to draft specific policy, drawing from different evidence documents. Neighbourhood plans have undoubtedly been a positive force for change, involving many more people in the planning of their area and increasing the capacity of communities, businesses and stakeholders to influence positive outcomes.These include more sustainable forms of growth. Heritage has often been a key issue in achieving social, economic and environmental benefit. At their best, neighbourhood plans provide a creative approach to reconciling growth with conservation and practical measures to address climate change. Dave Chetwyn is managing director of Urban Vision Enterprise CIC, chair of the board of the National Planning Forum, and IHBC consultations and outreach secretary.
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