Have your say on Andover conservation area
Test Valley Borough Council is urging residents to share their views on plans to update Andover’s conservation area.
From Monday 17 May to Monday 5 July, the authority is inviting feedback on its draft Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan (CAAMP), which sets out areas of special architectural or historic interest and helps to protect the town’s heritage.
The council undertook an initial consultation with local members and key stakeholders earlier in the year to help shape the proposals and this is an opportunity for the wider public to put forward their comments.
Andover’s conservation area centres on the High Street and its main approaches, including London Street, Bridge Street and Marlborough Street. The northern part of the conservation area consists of St Mary’s Church and its cemetery along with an enclave of Georgian buildings in Newbury Street and Church Close.
As part of the review, the council is proposing to change the conservation area boundary, which will exclude areas and buildings that do not contribute to the town’s special character and include others that do. The proposed amendments include the addition of the Commonwealth war graves, which are an important part of the town’s history and a physical memorial to those who gave their lives in the two world wars.
The full draft CAAMP can be viewed for comment at https://www.testvalley.gov.uk/consultations
Planning portfolio holder, councillor Nick Adams-King, said: “This is a great opportunity for residents and the wider public to have their say on how we can best preserve the town and its history for future generations. This is something that I am incredibly passionate about and it will be particularly important in the context of our ambitious town centre redevelopment plans. I would therefore urge everyone to take a look at the proposals and share their feedback.”
The council commissioned conservation and heritage experts, Purcell, to carry out the review of the existing conservation area and produce the new CAAMP. The CAAMP describes in detail the importance of the conservation area and offers guidance on how to protect and enhance it.
Comments can be sent directly to the council by email to planningpolicy@testvalley.gov.uk or in writing to Planning Policy, Test Valley Borough Council, Beech Hurst, Weyhill Road, Andover, Hampshire, SP10 3AJ.
Following the public consultation, the authority will update the CAAMP and present it to full council for adoption.
Andover’s conservation area was first designated in 1969 and later extended in 1984.