Comments sought on conservation area review
Released: 5 September 2007
Wolverhampton residents are being invited to share their thoughts on the Penn Fields conservation area as part of a major review of the city’s places of special historic and architectural interest.
Views are being sought on an appraisal of the conservation area which is the latest to be looked at under Wolverhampton City Council’s five year review of all 30 in the city.
The review is taking place because some of the designations in the city were made more than 30 years ago. Council conservation officers are looking at these areas again to reaffirm that they still have the special qualities for which they were originally designated and to check if any boundaries now need to be altered.
Penn Fields conservation area, located near the junction of Coalway Road and Penn Road, was first designated in 1994 and includes a mid nineteenth century suburb of attractive residential properties. The appraisal does not recommend changes to the boundary but suggests that several buildings should be added to the Local List - a list of buildings and sites which aims to help protect them for future generations.
The six-week consultation period on the appraisal began on Monday September 3. The appraisal and management proposals for the area will be available for public consultation until October 12. After this council officers will look at the comments received and make any changes to the document arising from the consultation, before the appraisal is formally approved.
Councillor Peter Bilson, Wolverhampton City Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise, said: “The people of Wolverhampton can be justly proud of their heritage, and the city council has been very active in ensuring that historic buildings and open spaces are protected as conservation areas.
“The review gives local people an opportunity to tell us what they think about the areas we have designated so far.
“Once approved the Penn Fields Conservation Area Appraisal, as with all the appraisals, will provide a useful guide for residents, property owners, developers and planners to ensure that the character and appearance of the area can be preserved and enhanced for future generations.”
A copy of the Penn Fields appraisal can be seen on the council’s website at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/conservationareas and copies can also be viewed at the Central Library, the Visitor Information Centre, the Civic Centre and Penn Library. Summaries of the appraisal can also be picked up at these venues and a short questionnaire has been produced.
Three conservation areas in the city already have approved appraisals - Wolverhampton City Centre, Union Mill and Chapel Ash - which can also be viewed on the council website or obtained from the conservation team at the council.
For more information contact Sue Whitehouse on 01902 555617 or by email.
Conservation areas are designated to help local authorities protect areas which have been identified as being of special historic or architectural interest. These range from old village and town centres to areas which cover industrial and canal heritage.
Issued by the press office.