Conservation Area in Binfield

We have proposed Wicks Green Lane and Monks Alley as a conservation area for Binfield. The area has now been visited by Jon Mullis, Binfield House who is the Historic Buildings Consultant, for Bracknell Forest Council.

In his report he stated that "having examined the locality we would recommend designation as a Conservation Area. The area has well-defined special character which includes a number of listed buildings as well as a number of buildings of local interest which it would be desirable to preserve. We, therefore fully support designation as a Conservation Area and would recommend that it is appraised in accordance with English Heritage's guidelines".

The first public meeting was held in the Binfield Library on 3rd October 2009 by Bracknell Forest Borough Council to allow residents to discuss the proposed conservation area in Wicks Green and Monks Alley.

Ann Groves the Urban Design Officer for Environment, Culture & Communities at Bracknell Forest Council, explained that it was the first meeting and it was only the very start of the appraisal and that the meeting was to gain some input from local people and residents.

A formal consultation period would be set up by the Borough on completion of the appraisal. The consultative period will be widely publicised and the document will be available to all the residents of Binfield. (BFBC web site, Parish Office and the Library) .

Eddie Booth the director of the Conservation Studio (the consultant appointed by the Council) gave a presentation on the procedure of designating a conservation area. He explained the detail of designating an area for conservation i.e., listed buildings, historic interests, trees, hedges, plants, views, the special character of an area - and all the things that make an area important and worthy of conservation. He gave some background on previous conservation appraisals that he had completed. He also discussed how the communities were involved and what input they gave in formalising the boundaries. Eddie Booth gave all attendees a questionnaire and a map (to mark suggested boundaries of the conservation area) and asked for them to be completed and posted back to him by the end of October 2009.

Margaret Foster sent out an electronic copy of the questionnaire to Committee members and Eddie Booth asked if the questionnaires could be distributed to all our members by e-mail.

Ann Groves liaised with other departments within the BFBC, the local Parish Council and Eddie Booth of the Conservation Studio during the appraisal process.

The report has now been completed and will be for public consultation in the spring 2010. This will give members of the public the opportunity to contribute information and offer comments on both the appraisal itself and where the boundaries are drawn before the document is finalised.

The appraisal will then be submitted to the Executive Member for Planning and Transportation along with any support or objection for the decision as to whether to designate the conservation area.

For more detailed information please refer to: