17th October 2005, 02:23 PM
PPG15 (paragraphs 2.16 - 7) makes provision for the consideration and protection of the setting of a listed building within the planning process, and states that the setting should not be considered on too narrow a basis. The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act makes no provision for the protection of a monument's setting, although the issue is a material consideration in the determination of planning applications in such an area.
This is rather a problem area to communicate with the wider community. Retaining the fabric of a specific site area or feature is often seen as being sufficient, whilst damaging its context is ignored (Thornborough Henges would be a good example of just such a debate going on at the moment). However, the question of just what the "setting" is, is massive. Building a housing estate right next door to a monument is a quite simple case to argue, but a telephone mast on the horizon that ruins the best view from, or of, an Iron Age hillfort, is a far different matter entirely. Archaeological Heritage Law by Neil Cookson gives a fairly digestible summary of some of the issues.
This is rather a problem area to communicate with the wider community. Retaining the fabric of a specific site area or feature is often seen as being sufficient, whilst damaging its context is ignored (Thornborough Henges would be a good example of just such a debate going on at the moment). However, the question of just what the "setting" is, is massive. Building a housing estate right next door to a monument is a quite simple case to argue, but a telephone mast on the horizon that ruins the best view from, or of, an Iron Age hillfort, is a far different matter entirely. Archaeological Heritage Law by Neil Cookson gives a fairly digestible summary of some of the issues.