The Team Leader Conservation & Design, Regeneration Projects & Built Environment reported that an Emergency Article 4 (2) Direction had been made in relation to Nantymoel Conservation Area to address an imminent threat to the character and appearance of the Conservation Area and identified the immediate additional controls over permitted development within the Conservation Area by the serving of an Article 4(2) Direction and outlined the next stages in the process.

She informed the Committee that officers had been alerted to unauthorised works relating to the demolition of a front boundary wall of an unlisted property within the Nantymoel Conservation Area which is now the subject of an application for Conservation Area Consent and Planning consent.  She stated that whilst these works were classed as unauthorised as the boundary wall fronting the highway was in excess of 1m in height, many of the existing stone boundary walls that contribute to the character of the area are below a metre in height and their alteration or  demolition could therefore be classed as permitted development.   Incremental changes such as these can have a negative effect on the character of the area and therefore, without controls being introduced, there is a real risk of the area becoming so materially affected that the value of the built heritage could be irretrievably lost.

The Team Leader Conservation & Design, Regeneration Projects & Built Environment reported that an Article 4(2) Direction has been made following the notification of unauthorised works, being the demolition of the section of boundary wall fronting the highway and subsequent boundary treatment, which have had a significant impact on the character and appearance of the area and which set an unfortunate precedent for other building owners to follow.  She stated that due to the significant impact boundary treatments have on the special character of the area, it was essential that the Direction was made as soon as possible to cover the erection or demolition of a gate, fence, wall or other means of enclosure within the curtilage of a dwelling-house fronting a highway or open space.  Due to the imminent threat to the character of the area, an Article 4(2) Direction has been made and Notice has been given by publication in the local newspaper and the service of Notice on the owners and occupiers covered by the Direction. The Direction came into effect immediately after the Notice was served and published and owners/occupiers have been given the opportunity to make representations prior to Members receiving a further report prior to confirmation of the Direction. The Direction will expire after six months unless it has been confirmed by Members.  A draft leaflet has been prepared and sent out to assist owners and occupiers to understand the implication of the Article 4 Direction.

RESOLVED:           That the Committee:

(1)   Noted that a Direction has been made under Article 4(2) of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 to remove permitted development rights from those owners and occupiers of dwelling houses contained within the Nantymoel Conservation Area, under the terms set out in Appendix 2;

 Agreed that Members receive a further report which will present any representations received as a result of serving the Article 4(2) Direction.