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Henley’s conservation area boundaries revised

Following a public consultation and close work with Henley-On-Thames Town Council, South Oxfordshire District Council has agreed to revise Henley’s conservation area boundaries.

The district council has been working with the town council to review the conservation area boundaries in Henley and considering the areas of special architectural or historic interest to preserve or enhance.

The town council drafted a new Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan which has been subject to an eight-week public consultation.

The district council, in discussion with the town council, made changes to the original proposals based on people’s feedback.

In response to the feedback, Leicester Close, north Badgemore Lane, Pearce’s Orchard, Bowling Court, Dry Leas Sports Ground and 33a St Andrew’s Road will all remain within the existing boundary. Residents of Leicester Close were unanimous in their desire to remain within the conservation area.

South Oxfordshire District Council’s Cabinet announced its decision to adopt the finalised plan with the revisions to the conservation area at its meeting on Thursday 29 September.

Cllr Anne-Marie Simpson, Cabinet Member for Planning at South Oxfordshire District Council said: “It’s important we preserve and enhance the district’s historic environment.  We’re grateful for all the people who responded to the consultation and fed back to us on the proposed changes, and for all the valued input from our colleagues at Henley Town Council.”

The four areas where the existing conservation area boundaries have been revised are:

  • Henley Main Conservation Area is rationalised to remove the modern development of Hanover House at Normanstead.
  • Henley Main Conservation Area is extended to include the northern extent of The Fairmile.
  • Henley Main Conservation Area is extended to include a cluster of properties at the junction of Greys Road and Reading Road in the centre of the town. This includes the area forming Britannia Place. This area is currently surrounded by the designated conservation area and will now include it.
  • St Marks Road Conservation Area is extended to include 3-11 (odd) St Marks Road and Allison House, St Marks Road.

There are no changes to the Reading Road conservation area boundary.

The Henley Conservation Appraisal document will now be revised with the recommendations made by South Oxfordshire District Council in order to produce a final version. This will be available on the conservation areas page of the South Oxfordshire District Council website in due course.

For more information about the changes to the Henley conservation area please see the 29 September Cabinet meeting page.

Ends

Notes to editors

Local authorities have a duty to designate conservation areas and from time to time to review the boundaries. Such areas are defined as ‘areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance’. The Henley-on-Thames Conservation Area Appraisal Document is the mechanism by which the local authority defines the special interest of the area and the boundary was reviewed during the writing of the document.