The work of Ipswich Conservation Advisory Panel
The Ipswich Conservation Advisory Panel was set up in May 1975 after the designation of the Central Conservation Area and followed advice from the (then) Ministry of Housing and Local Government that it was important for good public relations in matters concerning historic buildings and conservation. Conservation area advisory committees could be helpful both to obtain local knowledge and expertise, and encourage more understanding and cooperation between authorities, amenity groups and the public.
The primary function of a Panel was seen to be its ability to offer advice on planning applications that might in the authority's opinion affect the character and appearance of the conservation area as planning legislation required these to be protected and enhanced.
In 1992 the Council established a number of Service Panels to assist the dialogue with user groups and to help improve the delivery of Council services. The Conservation Advisory Panel's excellent record of service was acknowledged by its recognition as an independent but formal Service Panel of the Council.
The Ipswich Panel was established by the Council to undertake six principal functions namely:
- Advise on the periodic review of buildings Listed for their special architectural and historic interest including those belonging to the Borough and County Councils as well as those belonging to other persons
- Advise the Council on any matters involving the use, alteration, demolition or setting of Listed buildings which arise in the course of the discharge by the Council of its Statutory Powers.
- Advise on any matters within Conservation Areas involving uses, alterations and proposed developments which arise in the course of the discharge by the Council of its Statutory Powers.
- Make recommendations concerning the boundaries of potential Conservation Areas and modifications to the boundaries of existing Conservation Areas.
- Make recommendations regarding any work which could be carried out by owners, the Council, statutory or other bodies to improve the existing character or appearance of a Conservation Area.
- Make recommendations concerning street naming throughout the Borough.
Over the years, representation on the Panel has changed to a minor degree. Some years ago the Ipswich Historical Society ceased to exist and the Ipswich Trades Council indicted that it no longer wished to be represented. Quite early in the Panel's existence a representative of the Building Employers Confederation joined and in recent years, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Chartered Institute of Building and the Ipswich Building Preservation Trust have also widened the representation.
Organisations currently represented on the Panel are:- The Building Employers Confederation; the Chartered Institute of Building; Ipswich Borough Council; Ipswich Building Preservation Trust; The Ipswich Society; The Ipswich & Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Shipping; The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors; Suffolk County Council, Suffolk Preservation Society and the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History. At various time interested individuals and those with a particular conservation expertise have been co-opted on to the Panel.
The Panel has a formal Constitution, revised in 1991 and again in 1999. This refined and extended its original purpose in line with the growth of conservation responsibilities for local planning authorities under planning legislation. Its Chairman and Vice-Chairman are elected annually at an Annual General Meeting held each June. The organisations represented are kept under continuous review to foster a wider representation of informed opinion.
The Panel meets regularly on a three-weekly cycle [i.e. 15-17 meetings per year] to coincide with the timetable of meetings of the Council's Development Control Committee. Its meetings are not currently open to the public, but the Panel's views are reported regularly to that Committee. The Panel has always had a strong measure of support from its participants who give up a lot of their personal time without recompense. The Panel has therefore built up over the years a body of excellent skilled advice. The administrative support to the Panel is given by the Council. The Secretary to the Panel is the Council's Conservation Officer.
Although Panels exist in Norwich, Bury-St-Edmunds and elsewhere, they remain uncommon and exist in only a minority of local authorities particularly when seen in the context of 406 English local authorities and a total of nearly 9,000 Conservation Areas nationally. Some Listed Building Panels [with a narrower remit] exist, for example, in Cambridge and Manchester, but few Panels meet as regularly, or are considered to be as effective as the Ipswich Panel.
Over the years the Panel has been responsible for many initiatives relating to conservation area designations and boundaries, but the following matters merit particular mention:
- The exercise to remove large, unsightly poster advertisement hoardings from the Central Conservation Area, which was initiated by a survey, illustrated by a large scale plan and supported by a report prepared by members of the Panel. Subsequently, the principles established from this were used to improve the visual quality of parts of the town outside the conservation areas.
- By pointing out the importance to Ipswich of the medieval churches and the hazards which followed their disuse, discussions were initiated which led to the formation of the Ipswich Historic Churches Trust. Members made investigative visits to Norwich to develop ideas for this.
- Members contributed to the report prepared for the Historic Churches Trust which surveyed the important legacy of 19th Century church buildings in Ipswich and recommended that 15 of these should receive statutory protection by Listing. Subsequently, the Department of the Environment, on advice from English Heritage, Listed 10 of the 15 churches put forward.
- When cable television installation began in Ipswich, the Panel expressed reservations about the design, colour and size of the plastic, signal-booster cabinets to be sited in pavements including the Conservation Areas. Following discussions between the installation company and the Panel, a more appropriate design was prepared more suitable for widespread application in Conservation Areas elsewhere around the country. It is understood that this was the first initiative between an advisory panel and a cable company. Unfortunately it was not implemented as the particular cable company concerned then went out of business, but the Panel subsequently commented on further cable proposals to minimise the impact on Conservation Areas.
- Made recommendations on the designation and boundaries of new Conservation Areas such as Whitton and the Wet Dock and extensions and alterations to existing boundaries where the Council has a statutory obligation to keep these under review.
- Instrumental in pressing for a Development Framework to guide future development proposals throughout the Waterfront area.
Related Links
Considerations when changing the use of an historic building
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