Testun llawn:
We make the following comments on the draft policies contained within the Royal Leamington Spa Neighbourhood Development Plan (2019-2029) on behalf of the Conservation and Design team.
Policy RLS20 – Royal Leamington Spa Town Centre Shopfronts
The draft policy explains: ‘one area that has benefitted from a less controlled approach, an approach which should be fostered further is the High Street/Clemens Street area of Old Town. This area has a more varied selection of shopfronts and colours that go to help create this area’s own distinctive environment. This variety will continue to be supported’. The policy adds that ‘The RLSNDP supports the use of more creative, colourful and active frontages and signage on these shopfronts to develop a more distinct vibrant feel and image for Old Town.’
We would comment that this may encourage advertisements that are harmful character and appearance of the Conservation Area and we are concerned that this policy contrasts with our SPG: Shopfronts and Advertisements for Leamington Spa. This guidance explains specifically for the High St, Clements St and Bath St area that the Council wishes to retain the local character and identity of this area and ‘expects new or replacement shopfronts to be designed to reinforce those particular features and characteristics… they should be of scale appropriate to the building’. Importantly, this guidance is clear in that it states provisions for advertisements here should be similar to the approach applied in Warwick St/Regent St, with illumination and signage at fascia level not permitted.
The wording of this policy may also give rise to inappropriate signage that has a detrimental effect on the scale, proportions and character of historic buildings in these locations, whilst inadvertently giving the impression that premises with existing, unauthorised signage is acceptable.
Policy RLS3 – Conservation Areas
With reference to Paragraph 5.1.18, we note that there are in fact only two Conservation Areas in Leamington Spa - Leamington Spa CA and the Canal CA; Lillington Road North and Lillington Village are in fact character areas 34 and 35 respectively of the Leamington Spa Conservation Area. Although these areas are physically separated from the main designated area and different in character, we understand the areas were approved via an amendment and expansion to the existing Leamington CA boundary. We also note that the Canal Conservation Area is incorrectly referred to as the ‘Canalside’ Conservation Area.