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Conservation Area Review

The Conservation Area was discussed at the Neighbourhood Plan Farmers' market stall on July 8th 2017. All agreed that the current area was out of date and required revision with a number of additions, most particularly along North Street.

The suggestion was taken up by the South Somerset District Conservation team who have made some proposals for changes that involve both additions and subtractions. Further dialogue has led to a third map which is still under discussion

Maps showing the proposed changes can be downloaded on the right.

Rationale for the proposed changes

Additions
A number of areas are now considered an important part of our heritage and merit the protection of the Conservation Area status. Two notable ones are North Street as far as the Bakers Arms and the Old Sparrows Works buildings south of the road.

Subtractions
The criteria for designating conservation area status changed slightly when the new planning legislation came into force in 2011. This has led to the questioning of the status of a number of buildings and streets. The main issue is that we should avoid designating areas that might devalue the concept - see the relevant paragraph in the National Planning Policy Framework to the right.

Our task

We are currently revising the Conservation Area Appraisal document which will justify the proposed changes.

Please email comments to info@martockplan.org.uk or via the contact page