Macclesfield Town Councillor Fiona Wilson attended the meeting and addressed the Committee specifically in support of the Macclesfield Town Centre Conservation Area Appraisal.
Town Councillor Wilson gave the Committee some background to the document, the previous appraisal dated back to September 2005 and a review had been overdue. The Committee were advised that Macclesfield Town Council took forward a decision to fund a review of Macclesfield Town Centre in December 2019 in response to an approach offered by the Cheshire East Regeneration Team. Macclesfield Town Councillors were trained and had sessions with Cheshire East Neighbourhood Planning officers and following a tendering process, consultants were appointed.
A Stakeholder Engagement Plan was developed, in consultation with key groups in Macclesfield, these included: an internal group with Macclesfield Town Councillors, Cheshire East Council Planning, Regeneration and Conservation and Enforcement, a Heritage Conservation Group, Local Historians, the Civic Society, the Silk Heritage Trust, a Local Interest Group consisting of Residents, Cheshire East Members, Peaks and Plains Housing Trust, and schools.
Two workshops were held, one in March for consultation and one in June to gather feedback on the Draft Conservation Area Appraisal. The Final Draft Conservation Area Appraisal, the Management Plan and the Gazetteer are to be considered by the Committee today. An offshoot to this project has been a shopfront and signage design guide and a Macclesfield character assessment is also a work in progress.
Paul Bayley, Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services introduced the item to the Committee. Emma Fairhurst, Senior Conservation Design Officer and report author attended the Committee to answer any questions.
There was some discussion about the potential conflicts between energy efficiency and conservation of buildings. Emma explained to the Committee that conservation areas are not just building heritage it includes trees and land such as tree protection and better management for replacement tree schemes following tree loss.
In terms of retrofitting historical buildings that are not listed, yet have historical value to the community there is a flexibility to enabling positive outcomes. There was a discussion about the retaining and embedded carbon in existing buildings rather than demolishing the whole building and building new. Whilst this was not policy it was guidance to stop demolition of buildings, as most buildings can be upgraded to meet modern living standards.
RESOLUTION: (Unanimously)
That:
1) the draft Ollerton School Lane Conservation Area Appraisal (including a boundary review) and Management Plan be approved and then such plan be made available for a minimum of 4 weeks of public consultation.(Appendix 1a/b);
2) the draft Macclesfield Town Centre Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan be approved and to then such plan be made available for a minimum of 4 weeks of public consultation.(Appendix 2a/b/c);
3) the draft Alderley Edge Conservation Area Appraisal (including Article 4 Direction) be approved and to then such plan be made available for a minimum of 4 weeks public consultation;
4) future decisions to consult on draft Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans be delegated to the Head of Planning, in consultation with the Chair of the Environment and Communities Committee and relevant ward councillors to gather knowledge from their area.