Bid to protect Ironbridge Gorge from development that could risk its World Heritage Site status
Ironbridge Gorge must be protected from development that could risk it being stripped of World Heritage Site status, a new report has warned.
Modern buildings and the loss of green space are issues that could place the unique character of the historic River Severn attraction under threat.
Councillors are set to adopt a planning document to protect the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site and its heritage status.
The document will be provide ‘locally distinctive planning guidance to help protect the gorge and support sustainable development’.
The supplementary planning document will be considered by the Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet on Thursday and has been recommended to be approved and adopted.
Unesco awarded the gorge World Heritage Site status in 1986 in recognition of the area's record of innovation during the Industrial Revolution.
The report to cabinet says that Ironbridge attracted around one million people last year and generates an estimated £43 million for the borough’s economy.
The area is also considered to be of ‘Outstanding Universal Value’ due to its historical sites, landscape, setting of the gorge and the social history of the area.
It is feared by the council that not adopting the planning document could ultimately result in Ironbridge being stripped of its World Heritage Site status.
“The overarching aim of the supplementary planning document is to provide guidance for protecting and enhancing the Outstanding Universal Value of the World Heritage Site, preventing loss through deterioration and disappearance of its heritage value,” the report says.
“This is considered to be of paramount importance. The supplementary planning document will help do this and also help balance the need for conservation with pressures such as adapting to climate change.
“Not progressing the document could lead to progressive deterioration of the conservation aspects of the area which could ultimately lead to the loss of World Heritage Site status and is therefore not an option.
“Unesco has, where it feels the Outstanding Universal Value is threatened, removed World Heritage Site status from sites.”
The planning document aims to protect the World Heritage Site site from the effects of minor changes which due to their cumulative impact have a ‘significant effect’ on the area.
Potential risks which have been addressed in the document include developments which risk the character of the area; the battle against flooding while keeping the heritage of the area; and ‘the need to conserve and maintain heritage assets whilst encouraging sustainable, low carbon development’.
Bringing redundant buildings back into use is also part of the plan ‘whilst retaining internal and external original features, and the repair and reinstatement of historical features’.
Positive outcomes in the document include the reuse of redundant buildings which retain external and internal original features.
New builds or extensions ‘must show’ that the proposals reflect the established historic buildings in the terms of scale, massing, material and details.
“The more important a heritage asset is, the greater the weight to be attached to its preservation or the preservation of its setting, irrespective of whether the harm caused is substantial or less than substantial,” the document adds.
“Proposals should avoid the loss of green spaces or sites that contribute to the Outstanding Universal Value of the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site."
It warns against sub dividing plots and allowing "modern contemporary designs that do not cohere with the overall visual character of the immediate locality".
It adds: “New infrastructure development must also be able to show that the proposals have taken into account the Outstanding Universal Value of the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site, and the design reflects the immediate surroundings of the development both in appearance and materials.”
The planning document also highlights efforts to make historic buildings energy efficient and says that proposals should avoid the loss of historic feature.
Materials and solutions should be used keeping with the age and type of the building.
The same principal applies in the battle against flooding in Ironbridge with the plan suggested that ‘temporary non-fixed barriers’ should be used and flood gates with ‘heritage’ design.
The document adds that the addition of flood doors or altering boundary walls may require planning permission.