Heritage Unlimited were approached in 2020 about a potential development site on land at Water Lane in Pebmarsh. Pebmarsh is an historic settlement recorded in the Domesday Book (1086) as Pebenhers. Tangible evidence of medieval development is retained in the village through buildings such as the church and the King’s Head public house.

The site itself was not bound by any designated assets and was outside, although close to the conversation area for the village, designated in 1989 due to the character and setting of Pebmarsh. The conservation area was centred around the main village with the grade I listed 14th century church as its focal point with a number of other listed buildings in the village affording the village the management of development through the conservation area.

The client had applied for outline planning permission to erect two detached dwellings on the land but had received a refusal, with heritage matters quoted as one of the reasons. Heritage Unlimited were asked to appeal this decision so a study of the area and a site visit were made to fully evaluate the surrounding assets and address the conservation officer’s concerns.

We found the proposal to meet the minimum statutory tests provided by Sections 66(1) and 72 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, which requires development to preserve the character or appearance of a conservation area and would have no adverse effects or cause any harm on the setting or to any heritage assets. All other statutory tests, guidelines and local policies passed and informed our argument against the decision taken by the planning department. We were subsequently delighted to win our appeal case and obtain an approval for the client which they have since built.