Queen’s Park conservation area consultation
In October 2020 Brighton & Hove City Council undertook a statutory public consultation relating to an Article 4 Direction for the Queen’s Park conservation area, to remove certain permitted development rights. Following the closure of that consultation and consideration of the responses it became clear that the Direction as ‘made’ was not explicit that it would only apply to works to the street frontages of buildings.
The Council has therefore decided that it would not be confirming the Direction and, instead, have made a new Direction with additional wording to clarify that it only applies to development fronting a highway used by vehicular traffic. The upcoming statutory consultation on the new Article 4 Direction will take place from June 4 2021 to July 4 2021.
Comments can be made via the Council’s consultation portal, where details of the Article 4 Direction can be viewed, from 4 June, at https://consultations.brighton-hove.gov.uk
Alternatively details of the Article 4 Direction can be viewed on the Council’s website at https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/queens-park-conservation-area-proposed-article-4-direction-statutory-consultation
BACKGROUD
The Queen’s Park Conservation Area Character Statement was adopted by council in September 2018 following public consultation. This document identified the cumulative loss of architectural details (including the change of traditional windows to UPVC, inappropriate timber windows, modern doors, loss of front boundary walls, modern railings and gates and painting of unpainted brick features) on the fronts of houses as being detrimental to the character and appearance of the conservation area. As a result, a recommendation was made in the Character Statement to prepare an Article 4 Direction to halt these harmful changes where they affect the street frontages of houses.
Informal consultation was undertaken in early 2020, with 65% of respondents either agreeing or strongly agreeing that an Article 4 Direction would help to preserve the character and appearance of the Queen’s Park conservation area. A report was taken to the Tourism, Equalities, Communities and Culture Committee on 18th June 2020 where the Committee authorised the making of an Article 4 Direction, subject to statutory consultation.
A number of householder permitted development rights will be removed by the Article 4 Direction (such as works to the front elevations including doors, windows, roof materials) as well as permitted development for the removal or alteration or front boundary walls and external painting. For further information I attach the Queen’s Park Conservation Area Map and the Article 4 Direction Notice.