The Institute of Historic Building Conservation(IHBC) [Alliance member] has responded to Historic England’s consultation draft on Conservation Area Appraisal, Designation and Management: Historic England Advice Note 1, registering its serious concerns.
The IHBC considers that the revised version ‘fails to acknowledge that the character and appearance of conservation areas derives primarily from ‘townscape’. The document has also failed to recognise that successful management of change in conservation areas relies on design skill. Whilst policies in local plans and other guidance are useful, the critical ingredient for successful planning involvement in conservation areas is the availability of appropriate design skill on a case- by-case basis’.