1. Iffley Conservation Area (ICA)
The conservation area was designated as such in October 1969, and extended in October 1985 to incorporate Iffley House and Denton House. The conservation area boundary was drawn specifically around the historic core of the village, taking in the ‘spine’ of the village, Church Way which leads to the Church of St Mary, the historic Tree Lane which runs east from Church Way and Mill Lane which runs south-west from Church Way to the river.
This was produced in 2009. It is material in the consideration of planning applications. See Summary below.
3. The Iffley Conservation Area Appraisal - Summary
The extract underscores the importance of the rural character of the village created by its green spaces:
i. The position of Iffley, on the outskirts of the city, but retaining its character as a separate and independent village community.
ii. Its history as a rural community is still evident in the character of many of the buildings and surviving green spaces, grazed by sheep, horses and cattle.
iv. The towpath and riverside meadows, both within and beyond the boundary, form an important part of the natural and ecological habitats of the village.
v. Although the meadows are not within the conservation area, they are essential in maintaining the green setting around the village, separating it from Oxford’s suburbanisation.
vii. The gardens, trees, hedges, walls and remaining open spaces are as important as the built elements in creating the unique character of the conservation area.
viii. The lock and river although beyond the boundary of the conservation area are important to the village in terms of the historic pedestrian route to Iffley along the towpath.
ix. The remaining open green areas, the spaces between buildings and the large gardens that characterise part of the village, are vulnerable to development.
xi. Rising volumes of traffic threaten the tranquil and rural nature of the village…
xii. Development of the riverside meadows adjacent to the conservation area would impact adversely on the green and rural character of the setting and approach to the village.
Horse Fields at Meadow Lane/Church Way
Further on in the Appraisal Document it specifically states: To the south-western side of the [Meadow] lane is one of the last remaining important open spaces within the village. It is a field that was once the village cricket and football field, now grazed by animals, again reinforcing the rural nature of the settlement.
4. Oxford City Council Local Plan 2036
The Local Council produces a Local Plan to outline its proposals including for building and developments. The current plan – Local Plan 2036 (LP2036) – includes potential housing on the Horse Fields by Meadow Lane/Church Way. This lies in the Conservation Area. Below are relevant policies from the LP2036.
a) Oxford City Council Local Plan 2036 on Conservation Areas The plan and policies (LP2036): Conservation Policy: Iffley is designated as one of 18 Conservation Areas.We identify areas of ‘special architectural or historic interest that makes them worth protecting and improving. The main purpose of creating a conservation area is to preserve and enhance the unique and distinctive character of an area through planning and other environmental measures. Designation within a conservation doesn’t mean every building will be preserved and that no changes will be allowed, but instead helps to ensure changes respect the area’s character and appearance. The additional planning restrictions within conservation areas give more control over new development to ensure it is of good quality, and to provide protection for important features, spaces, or buildings.
Oxford has 18 Conservation Areas at present. They include a diverse range of qualities from the compact college environment found in the city centre, the open green space found in the Headington Hill Conservation Area, to the vast meadows in Wolvercote and Godstow. See all Conservation Areas on a map.
Architectural styles and landscape qualities are diverse but they all have the common element of containing features that contribute to our historic past. It is the protection of these elements that need to be properly managed, ensuring future generations will value and enjoy their special qualities.
b) LP2036 para 6.29 to 6.31: the Conservation area appraisals (where they exist) are the starting point for understanding significance and significant features and assets of conservation areas
c) LP2036 Policy DH3 related to Heritage and Conservation Areas states: an application for planning permission for development which would or may affect the significance of any designated heritage asset, either directly or by being within its setting, should be accompanied by a heritage assessment that includes a description of the asset and its significance and an assessment of the impact of the development proposed on the asset’s significance. As part of this process full regard should be given to the detailed character assessments and other relevant information set out any relevant conservation area appraisal and management plan.
5. The Law relating to Conservation Area status
The Law relating to Conservation Area status In the Law https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1990/9/contents Planning Act – listed buildings and conservation areas 1980 … it provides for creating conservation areas – It says changes need to be notified to the Secretary of State and Commission. The OCC’s LP2036 makes provisions for development within the provisions of Conservation Area law – rather than seeking to have the ICA itself changed. 69. Designation of conservation areas.
(1)Every local planning authority—(a)shall from time to time determine which parts of their area are areas of special architectural or historic interest the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance, and(b)shall designate those areas as conservation areas. (2)It shall be the duty of a local planning authority from time to time to review the past exercise of functions under this section and to determine whether any parts or any further parts of their area should be designated as conservation areas; and, if they so determine, they shall designate those parts accordingly. (3)The Secretary of State may from time to time determine that any part of a local planning authority’s area which is not for the time being designated as a conservation area is an area of special architectural or historic interest the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance; and, if he so determines, he may designate that part as a conservation area. (4)The designation of any area as a conservation area shall be a local land charge.
70 Designation of conservation areas: supplementary provisions.
……….
(5)A local planning authority shall give notice of the designation of any part of their area as a conservation area under section 69(1) or (2) and of any variation or cancellation of any such designation—
(a)to the Secretary of State; and
(b)if it affects an area in England and the designation or, as the case may be, the variation or cancellation was not made by the Commission, to the Commission.
(6)The Secretary of State shall give notice of the designation of any part of the area of a local planning authority as a conservation area under section 69(3) and of any variation or cancellation of any such designation—
(a)to the authority; and
(b)if it affects an area in England, to the Commission.
(7)A notice under subsection (5) or (6) shall contain sufficient particulars to identify the area affected.
(8)Notice of any such designation, variation or cancellation as is mentioned in subsection (5) or (6), with particulars of its effect, shall be published in the London Gazette and in at least one newspaper circulating in the area of the local planning authority, by that authority or, as the case may be, the Secretary of State.
The Iffley Conservation Area Appraisal – required under this Act… sets out:
S.72 of the Act specifies that in determining any application for development within the conservation area, due regard shall be had to the desirability of preserving and enhancing the character and appearance of the conservation area. The adopted Appraisal will therefore bea material consideration when determining any application for planning permission, listed building consent and conservation area consentwithin and adjacent to the conservation area.
6) Representation by FOIV with regards to the Fields and Iffley Conservation Area in 1994
Friends of Iffley Village - Welcome leaflet with useful information for those new to Iffley