Decision details

To consider the results of consultation on the conservation area appraisals for Upper Bush, Upnor, New Road Chatham and Maidstone Road Chatham.

396/2004 Cabinet agreed to adopt the Conservation Area Appraisals for New Road, Chatham, Upnor, Upper Bush and Maidstone Road Chatham Conservation areas as set out in appendices 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the report.
397/2004 Cabinet agreed to authorise the extension of the boundaries of New Road Chatham and Upnor Conservation areas and the creation of a new Conservation area at Maidstone Road, Chatham as set out in appendices 1, 2 and 4 of the report.
398/2004 Cabinet agreed to make a Direction under Article 4(2) of the General Permitted Development Order (1995) to withdraw specified permitted development rights relating to specified dwelling houses and their curtilages within the Upnor, New Road, Chatham and Upper Bush Conservation areas as set out in appendix 5 of the report.
399/2004 Cabinet agreed that a Development Brief should be produced for the Lower Upnor Depot and surrounding area and this would be reported back to Cabinet for approval in due course.

These decisions would ensure that the Council upholds its statutory duty to protect Medway's built heritage through the introduction of appropriate planning controls. Care has been taken to ensure that these controls are only proposed where there is a clear justification and need for further planning restrictions. Conservation Area status (as proposed for the Lower Upnor Depot) will not be used to block redevelopment plans. It will be used to ensure that the special character of the area is preserved and enhanced. Ownership and use of the Depot is likely to change in the near future and it is likely that proposals to redevelop the site will come forward. Within the context of the Conservation Area Status and a consideration of a vision for Upnor as a whole, it is necessary to guide the design of new buildings and, where appropriate, the reuse of existing buildings.