Appeal 3292855

The appeal is dismissed.

The development has already been carried out, consequently the application was retrospective. I have made my decision on the basis of the plans submitted to the Council and on which planning permission has been sought.

Section 72(1) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 requires decision makers to pay special attention to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character and appearance of conservation areas. The appeal has been considered accordingly.

The main issue is the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area and the setting of Great Weston Conservation Area.

The site is located within the setting of Great Weston Conservation Area where stone boundary walls contribute to its heritage significance1. The site includes a stone boundary wall, which would ordinarily make a positive contribution as described. However, the development is of significant height and extent and significantly detracts from the nature of the original boundary. [name] acknowledge examples of fencing elsewhere in the conservation area and throughout its setting, it is clear that such fencing is deemed to be a form of inappropriate boundary treatment2. Consequently, it should not be allowed to perpetuate. 1 Page 9 of the Great Weston Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan (1. An Introduction) 2018 2 Page 13 of the Great Weston Conservation Area Character Area Appraisal and Management Plan (Whitecross) 2018

Giving this matter considerable importance and weight in my decision it can be concluded that the degree of change to the conservation area’s setting is limited and consequently any harm is less than substantial. Paragraph 202 of the National Planning Policy Framework sets out that where a development leads to less than substantial harm to the significance of a designated heritage asset, this harm should be weighed against the public benefits. There are no public benefits advanced in this case with which to justify the development.

Overall, the development harms the character and appearance of the area and the setting of the Great Weston Conservation Area and does not accord with Policies CS5 and CS12 of the [name] 2017, Policies DM3 and DM32 of the North Somerset Development Management Policies Sites and Policies Plan (Part 1) 2016, the [name] Supplementary Planning Document 2013.

In addition, it does not accord with the Great Weston Conservation Area Character Area Appraisal and Management Plan (Whitecross) 2018, the Great Weston Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan (1. An Introduction) 2018 or Paragraph 202 of the National Planning Policy Framework. Among other things, these policies and documents seek to incorporate the statutory duty to pay special attention to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character and appearance of the conservation area.

[name] note there have been letters submitted in support of the development, these do not change my assessment or conclusions under the main issue.

For the reasons given, the appeal is dismissed.