Draft documents have been produced to highlight Pilton’s and South Horrington’s architectural and historical features.
The draft Pilton Conservation Area Appraisal and Mendip Hospital Conservation Area Appraisal, produced by Mendip District Council, are both going out to public consultation on Friday 14 February. The consultation period will last for four weeks and gives local residents a chance to comment on the draft documents before they’re adopted.
The purpose of an appraisal is to define and record the special architectural and historic interest of a conservation area and to identify opportunities for enhancement and further work.
They will provide a firm basis on which applications for development within these conservation areas will be assessed.
Pilton and Mendip Hospital have been a designated a Conservation Area since 1977 and 1991 respectively, but this is the first appraisal to be carried out on each area.
Robert Palmer, from Mendip’s heritage conservation team, said: “The purpose of these appraisals are to define the qualities of the two areas that make them worthy of conservation area status. It highlights special architectural and landscape features which define the villages.
“It will also give some guidance for future planning decisions and for developing initiatives to improve the areas.”
The study has recognised several key points about each area which greatly contribute to its character and appearance. Both areas contain a wealth of significant listed buildings ranging from the 19th century former lunatic asylum within the Mendip Hospital Conservation Area to the Church of St John and the Abbey Barn in Pilton. Both have large areas of open green space which allow views to the surrounding open countryside, contributing to their distinct rural settings.
Copies of both documents are available to view online at www.mendip.gov.uk. Hard copies of the Mendip Hospital Conservation Area Appraisal will be available within the village on the noticeboard outside the cricket pavilion and within the ‘Heads Up’ building on Upper Breach (Monday – Thursday).
The Pilton Conservation Area Appraisal can be found at Pilton within the Village Hall and the Church of St John the Baptist; both documents will also be available to view at the council offices in Shepton Mallet.
Members of the public are able to comment on the appraisals by sending letters to Mendip District Council, Cannards Grave Road, Shepton Mallet BA4 5BT or email [email protected], clearly marking it for the attention of Robert Palmer.
Cllr Nigel Woollcombe-Adams, portfolio holder for Built Environment, said “Mendip is a wonderful district which is steeped in history, and should be an area that we are all proud to live or work in. It is important that we review and maintain our conservation areas to preserve our built heritage and history for future generations.”
Once all the consultation responses have been considered, a final version of the appraisal is expected to be adopted by the council.
To find out more about conservation areas in Mendip, please visit www.mendip.gov.uk