Council plans to alter towns' conservation areas

Westmorland and Furness Council wants to change the boundaries of the conservation area to remove blocks of flats from it

A council wants to exclude "unsympathetic" modern buildings from designated heritage zones within two historic town centres.

Westmorland and Furness Council has opened a public consultation on proposals to alter the boundaries of heritage zones in Penrith and Barrow, in Cumbria.

In Penrith, the authority wants to exclude part of Friargate, where modern housing developments have been built, while in Barrow town centre it has proposed removing buildings - including the Holiday Inn, vacant commercial premises in Market Street and terraced houses at Hawke Street.

The council said it had a duty to periodically review conservation areas to ensure they are up-to-date and doing their job properly".

In Penrith, the housing development at Bakers Place, and flats at Anglia House, Merlin Court and the Eden Foyer building, would all be excluded from the heritage zone under the proposed alteration.

Council documents said the buildings had "a negative contribution to the character of the conservation area" calling them "unsympathetic in terms of scale, design and materials".

In Barrow, the authority has proposed adding new areas to the current town's conservation area, such as Coronation Gardens, Cavendish Street - between Duke Street and Dalkeith Street - and the King's Arms pub.

The Holiday Inn in Barrow could be removed from the conservation area under council proposals

Westmorland and Furness Council said it had a duty to periodically review conservation areas, adding residents could comment on their proposals, as part of a public consultation, until 30 November.

Councillor Vicky Hughes, cabinet member for planning, said the area had many "outstanding natural and cultural landscapes" and it remained a priority to protect them.

"Conservation areas form an important part of the council's approach to protecting and enhancing areas of particular historical and architectural importance, and it is important that they continue to ensure they are up-to-date and doing their job properly."

Details and online consultation documents are available on the council's website. with the authority stating it would hold public drop-in events where residents can find out more about the plans.