Report to: Planning Committee Date of Meeting: 4th May 2011 Cabinet Member - Regeneration Date of Report Council 7th July 2011 Subject: Birkdale Village Conservation Area Appraisal Report of: Director of Built Environment Wards Affected: Birkdale and Dukes Is this a Key Decision? No Is it included in the Forward Plan? No Exempt/Confidential No

Purpose/Summary To seek approval of the contents of the Birkdale Village Conservation Area Appraisal and agreement to adopt the proposed amendments to the Conservation Area’s boundaries (Appendix 1). Recommendation(s) That Planning Committee:

(i) Recommend to the Cabinet that the Birkdale Village Conservation Area Appraisal be adopted as a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.

(ii) Recommend to Cabinet that they approve the proposed amendments to the

Conservation Area’s boundaries shown on the plan appended under Section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990

That the Cabinet Member - Regeneration:

(i) Recommends that Council adopts the Birkdale Village Conservation Area Appraisal as a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.

(ii) Recommends that Council approves the proposed amendments to the

Conservation Area’s boundaries shown on the plan appended, under Section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

That Council (i) Adopts the Birkdale Village Conservation Area Appraisal as a material

consideration in the determination of planning applications; and (ii) Approves the proposed amendments to the Conservation Area’s

boundaries shown on the plan appended, under Section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

How does the decision contribute to the Council’s Corporate Objectives?

Corporate Objective Positive Impact

Neutral Impact

Negative Impact

1 Creating a Learning Community *

2 Jobs and Prosperity *

3 Environmental Sustainability *

4 Health and Well-Being *

5 Children and Young People *

6 Creating Safe Communities *

7 Creating Inclusive Communities *

8 Improving the Quality of Council Services and Strengthening Local Democracy

*

Reasons for the Recommendation: To fulfil the Council’s duties under Sections 69 and 71 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas Act) 1990. What will it cost and how will it be financed? There are no financial costs associated with the proposals in this report Implications: The following implications of this proposal have been considered and where there are specific implications, these are set out below:

Legal No implications

Human Resources No implications

Equality 1. No Equality Implication

2. Equality Implications identified and mitigated

3. Equality Implication identified and risk remains

*

Impact on Service Delivery: The report clarifies the designation of the conservation area. It identifies the aspects of the area which contribute to its character. The publication of this document will assist applicants for planning permission in developing their proposals and assist Development Management in determining those applications. The reassessment of the extent of the conservation area ensures that the boundaries remain relevant and defensible. What consultations have taken place on the proposals and when? Internal Consultation The Head of Corporate Finance & ICT has been consulted and has no comments on this report. FD 812 /2011 Head of Corporate Legal Services have been consulted and made no comments on the report. LD 186/11 Internal consultations have taken place within the Local Planning and Development Management Teams and no alterations have been requested. Public Consultation A public meeting was held on the 3rd March 2011 at Birkdale Cricket Club. Residents, business owners and members of the public were invited to attend. The meeting was unfortunately not well attended however those who came along were very supportive of the proposals. Attendees were encouraged to put their comments about the document in writing. Of the 5 comments forms received, none were adverse to the document being produced and 4 positively welcomed it. Comments on the Appraisal Comments are outlined below, with the Council response in italics Birkdale Civic Society have raised a number of detailed issues

• The need for future regulation of design changes to windows

• The desirability of the Weld Parade bus shelter being replaced to match the others in the conservation area.

• The desirability of street works being more closely controlled by the planning authority

The control of the design of replacement windows could only be gained through bringing an Article 4 Direction into operation. This is not currently proposed.

Improvements to the designs of bus shelters are included within the appraisal as an ‘opportunity for enhancement’. Street works are designed and controlled by other departments within the Council and only rarely require planning permission. Improvements in the quality and unity of street furniture are also raised as issues in ‘opportunities for enhancement’. Another respondent commented that the appraisal has helped them appreciate what is good about their home. A further respondent stated that they are pleased that the Council is interested in preserving the area’s historic qualities. Comments on Boundary Changes One respondent questioned the need to retain the vacant land behind 51 Weld Road, and the poorly designed sites such as Carnegie Court, Weld Parade and 61 Alma Road-23 Liverpool Road in the conservation area, as these would be desirable to replaced, and should not be conserved. The sites of Carnegie Court and Weld Parade and the land behind 51 Weld Parade were originally included in the conservation area as views into and out of the area are important to its character. Additionally the Weld Road sites were the location of the civic buildings in Birkdale. Their continued inclusion in the Conservation Area is therefore considered appropriate; the text of the appraisal has been revised to better explain the extent of the boundaries at 7.3.1. The continued inclusion of the site 61 Alma Road-23 Liverpool Road in the conservation area does not prevent its redevelopment. It has been identified in the appraisal as a site which has a negative impact on the character of the area. Following these comments the appraisal has been revised to make clearer that redevelopment of sites identified as having a ‘negative contribution’ would be welcomed where new development would enhance the area. Are there any other options available for consideration? If the recommendations are not adopted the boundary of the Conservation Area would remain as present. Also the Conservation Area Appraisal document would not be adopted as a material consideration in planning decisions. Implementation Date for the Decision Immediately following the Council meeting. Contact Officer: Dorothy Bradwell Tel: 0151 934 3574 Email: dorothy.bradwell@sefton.gov.uk Background Papers: The following papers are available for inspection by contacting the above officer(s).

• Sefton UDP

• Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment

• English Heritage Guidance: Conservation area appraisals (2005).

• English Heritage Guidance: Understanding Place – Conservation Area Designation, Appraisal and Management (2011)

1. Background to the production of the Appraisal 1.1 Section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990

places a statutory duty on local planning authorities to review the past exercise of functions under this section and to determine whether any parts or any further parts of their area should be designated as conservation areas; and, if so, designate those parts accordingly.

1.2 Section 71 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990

places a statutory duty on local planning authorities to prepare proposals for the preservation and enhancement for any conservation areas that they designate.

1.3 In recognition of the above duties the draft Birkdale Village Conservation Area Appraisal has now been produced and undergone public consultation.

1.4 The Birkdale Village Conservation area is confirmed to be historically significant

as a Late Victorian/Edwardian commercial and civic centre. It developed amidst the rapidly expanding Victorian suburbs as a result of the relocation of the railway station. The appraisal identifies elements of the townscape which combine to give Birkdale Village its historic character. This will help inform development proposals, the development of planning policies and assist in making planning decisions.

1.5 The format and scope of the appraisal is derived from the guidance provided by

English Heritage. It also follows the format of the appraisals adopted previously. The contents page is provided in Appendix 2.

1.6 The recommendations of the appraisal include proposals to alter the current

boundaries of the Conservation Areas. 2. Proposed boundary changes 2.1 A plan showing the proposed changes to the boundary is given in Appendix 1. 2.2 The conservation area is proposed to be part extended and part reduced. The

extension to the area sees the inclusion of 13 Welbeck Road and 1&3 Walmer Road, on the basis that they belong to a building ‘group’ in the same street, where the remainder are already within the conservation area.

2.3 Also proposed is the exclusion of 14 & 15 Claremont Gardens, as these were

built recently. They do not relate to the historic character of the area, and the boundary no longer relates to existing features.

Appendix 1: Proposed alterations to Boundaries of Birkdale Village Conservation Area

Appendix 2: Birkdale Village Conservation Area Appraisal Contents Page

PREFACE.................................................................................................................................................. 5

LEGISLATIVE BACKGROUND ...........................................................ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. POLICY FRAMEWORK......................................................................ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. HOW STATUS AFFECTS PLANNING DECISIONS .......................................................................................... 6 NEED FOR AN APPRAISAL ........................................................................................................................ 6

1 INTRODUCTION................................................................. ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.

1.1 BACKGROUND .............................................................................................................................. 7 1.2 SCOPE AND STRUCTURE OF THE STUDY ........................................................................................ 7 1.3 EXTENT OF THE CONSERVATION AREA......................................................................................... 8 1.4 SURVEY ........................................................................................................................................ 9

2 LOCATION AND CONTEXT.............................................................................................................. 9

2.1 LOCATION .................................................................................................................................... 9 2.2 TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY ..................................................................................................... 10 2.3 USES AND GENERAL CONDITION ................................................................................................ 10 2.4 HISTORIC CONTEXT ..........................................................ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.10

3 HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT............................................................................................................ 12

3.1 EARLY HISTORY AND ORIGINS ................................................................................................... 12 3.2 DEVELOPMENT ........................................................................................................................... 12 3.3 ARCHAEOLOGY ................................................................ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.19

4 SPATIAL ANALYSIS .......................................................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.

4.1 SETTING AND RELATIONSHIP WITH SURROUNDING AREA ............................................................ 20 4.2 ROUTES ...................................................................................................................................... 20 4.3 KEY VIEWS WITHIN THE CONSERVATION AREAS ....................................................................... 22 4.4 GREEN SPACES AND PLANTING ................................................................................................... 25

4.4.1 Abbey Gardens ................................................................................................................ 25 4.4.2 Street Trees...................................................................................................................... 25 4.4.3 Front and Rear Gardens.................................................................................................. 25

5 TOWNSCAPE OVERVIEW............................................................................................................... 28

5.1 GRAIN...................................................................................ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 5.1.1 Plot characteristics.......................................................................................................... 28 5.1.2 Spacing ............................................................................................................................ 31 5.1.3 Building lines................................................................................................................... 32

5.2 RHYTHM, REPETITION AND DIVERSITY ...................................................................................... 33 5.2.1 Rhythm............................................................................................................................. 33 5.2.2 Repetition and Diversity .................................................................................................. 34 5.2.3 Abbey Gardens ................................................................................................................ 35 5.2.4 Welbeck Road .................................................................................................................. 35 5.2.5 Liverpool Road ................................................................................................................ 37 5.2.6 Commercial area ............................................................................................................. 38

5.3 FOCAL BUILDINGS AND FEATURES .................................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.3.1 74 Liverpool Road ........................................................................................................... 39 5.3.2 Banks ............................................................................................................................... 39 5.3.3 Verandahs........................................................................................................................ 40 5.3.4 Signal box ........................................................................................................................ 40 5.3.5 Station.............................................................................................................................. 40 5.3.6 Spinning Wheel................................................................................................................ 41 5.3.7 Spar supermarket, 21-23 Liverpool Road........................................................................ 41

5.4 CONTRIBUTIONS OF BUILDINGS .................................................................................................. 42

6 ARCHITECTURE MATERIALS AND DETAILS .......................................................................... 43

6.1 RESIDENTIAL .............................................................................................................................. 43

6.1.1 Victorian Villas................................................................................................................ 43 6.1.2 Edwardian Houses........................................................................................................... 44 6.1.3 Roofs................................................................................................................................ 44 6.1.4 Gables.............................................................................................................................. 45 6.1.5 Elevational Treatments.................................................................................................... 46 6.1.6 Windows .......................................................................................................................... 47 6.1.7 Doors ............................................................................................................................... 49 6.1.8 Boundaries....................................................................................................................... 50

6.2 LATE VICTORIAN/EDWARDIAN COMMERCIAL............................................................................ 52 6.2.1 Roofs................................................................................................................................ 52 6.2.2 Gables.............................................................................................................................. 52 6.2.3 Dormer Windows............................................................................................................. 53 6.2.4 Windows .......................................................................................................................... 54 6.2.5 Doors ............................................................................................................................... 55 6.2.6 Elevational Treatments.................................................................................................... 55 6.2.7 Shopfronts........................................................................................................................ 56 6.2.8 Verandahs........................................................................................................................ 58 6.2.9 Signage ............................................................................................................................ 58

6.3 MID-TO-LATE 20TH CENTURY..................................................................................................... 59 6.4 STREETSCAPE FEATURES ............................................................................................................ 61

6.4.1 Surfaces ........................................................................................................................... 61 6.4.2 Street name signage......................................................................................................... 61 6.4.3 Street Furniture ............................................................................................................... 62

7 NEGATIVE FACTORS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENHANCEMENT................................. 63

7.1 NEGATIVE FACTORS ................................................................................................................... 63 7.1.1 Losses from the townscape .............................................................................................. 63 7.1.2 Poor quality / ill-considered later 20th C alterations to buildings.................................. 63 7.1.3 Shopfronts........................................................................................................................ 65 7.1.4 Verandahs........................................................................................................................ 66 7.1.5 Green spaces and planting .............................................................................................. 66 7.1.6 Unsympathetic new-build and extensions........................................................................ 66 7.1.7 Streetscape....................................................................................................................... 66

7.2 OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENHANCEMENT .......................................................................................... 67 7.2.1 Alterations to residential properties................................................................................ 67 7.2.2 Shopfronts & Signage...................................................................................................... 68 7.2.3 Trees ................................................................................................................................ 68 7.2.4 Street works ..................................................................................................................... 68

7.3 CONSERVATION AREA BOUNDARIES .......................................................................................... 69 7.3.1 Designated Boundaries ................................................................................................... 69 7.3.2 Suggested boundary amendments.................................................................................... 70