1. Board member and Vice Chair Conservation Committee
The Planning System in England and Wales: progressing the protection of parks and gardens
Sarah Dickinson
Board member and Vice Chair Conservation Committee
The Gardens Trust

2. The Gardens Trust’s Conservation Team
Conservation Officer Margie Hoffnung
Conservation Casework Manager Alison Allighan
Senior Historic Landscape Officer Linden Groves
Assistant Historic Landscape Officer Tamsin McMillan
The Conservation Committee Chair: Marion Harney

3. How does the Gardens Trust manage the consultation process?
The Gardens Trust receives local planning authority consultations relating to Grade I, II* and II landscapes
All applications are logged in the GT Casework Log by the GT Casework Manager and circulated in a weekly list to CGTs
The GT Conservation Officer goes through the weekly list and determines which applications require a response
The GT turns to CGTs for help –their local knowledge, research, site visits and advice is invaluable
A response is written, sometimes by a CGT, sometimes by the GT and sometimes by both.
The Gardens Trust (GT) is a statutory consultee. This obliges local planning authorities to consult it on planning applications affecting registered landscapes. The GT conservation team consists of a part-time conservation officer and a part-time Casework Manager and we are supported by members of CGTs to provide local expertise to allow us to respond to planning applications.
The consultation process works like this:
The Gardens Trust receives local planning authority consultations relating to Grade I, II* and II landscapes
All applications are logged in the GT Casework Log by the GT Casework Manager and circulated in a weekly list to CGTs
The GT Conservation Officer goes through the weekly list and determines which applications require a response
The GT turns to CGTs for help –their local knowledge, research, site visits and advice is invaluable
A response is written, sometimes by a CGT, sometimes by the GT and sometimes by both.
Additionally, many of the most capable CGTs are commenting on planning applications effecting sites of local designation, being consulted direct by the lpas.
Historic Landscape Project

4. Luton Park and Copper beech – Steffie Shields

5. The consultation process What are the key issues?
Limited conservation team capacity
Over reliance on the CGT volunteers expert base
BUT MORE FUNDAMENTAL……..
A lack of knowledge and understanding at the coalface in local planning authorities
A lack of conservation expertise in local planning authorities
A lack of appreciation of the mechanisms for consultation
A lack of appreciation of the particular planning issues which relate to historic parks and gardens

6. The Gardens Trust was formed in July 2015 when the Garden History Society merged with the Association of Gardens Trusts. The aims of the Gardens Trust are:
to promote the study of the history of gardens, landscapes and gardening through research and education
to promote the conservation of historic designed landscapes
to campaign for the protection and understanding of landscapes

7. Significance (for heritage policy) is defined as :
‘The value of a heritage asset to this and future generations because of its heritage interest. That interest may be archaeological, architectural, artistic or historic. Significance derives not only from a heritage asset’s physical presence, but also from its setting’.

8. NPPF 128 states that:
In determining applications, local planning authorities should require an applicant to describe the significance of any heritage assets affected, including any contribution made by their setting. The level of detail should be proportionate to the assets’ importance and no more than is sufficient to understand the potential impact of the proposal on their significance. As a minimum the relevant historic environment record should have been consulted and the heritage assets assessed using appropriate expertise where necessary.

9. NPPF 129 states that:
Local planning authorities should identify and assess the particular significance of any heritage asset that may be affected by a proposal (including by development affecting the setting of a heritage asset) taking account of the available evidence and any necessary expertise. They should take this assessment into account when considering the impact of a proposal on a heritage asset, to avoid or minimise conflict between the heritage asset’s conservation and any aspect of the proposal.

10. NPPF 132 states that:
When considering the impact of a proposed development on the significance of a designated heritage asset, great weight should be given to the asset’s conservation. The more important the asset, the greater the weight should be. Significance can be harmed or lost through alteration or destruction of the heritage asset or development within its setting. As heritage assets are irreplaceable, any harm or loss should require clear and convincing justification. Substantial harm to or loss of a grade II listed building, park or garden should be exceptional. Substantial harm to or loss of designated heritage assets of the highest significance, notably scheduled monuments, protected wreck sites, battlefields, grade I and II* listed buildings, grade I and II* registered parks and gardens, and World Heritage Sites, should be wholly exceptional.

11. NPPF 135 states that:
The effect of an application on the significance of a non-designated heritage asset should be taken into account in determining the application. In weighing applications that affect directly or indirectly non designated heritage assets, a balanced judgement will be required having regard to the scale of any harm or loss and the significance of the heritage asset.

12. Burghley Park,

13. Significance
Expertise
Knowledge

14. Knowledge Management
….‘a conscious strategy of getting the right knowledge to the right people at the right time and helping people share and put information into action in ways that strive to improve organisational performance’….

15. Sharing Knowledge Publications Research and recording
Education and study days

16. Panshanger Park

17. Kedleston Hall and Pleasure Grounds