Conservation Areas are defined as ‘areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance’.
The Conservation Area in Barrington is centred on the distinctive elongated village green with its abundance of thatched properties with white render which give the conservation area a very strongly rural character – reflecting the long history behind the Barrington settlement. There is also a significant number of twentieth-century buildings in the conservation area but these mostly adhere to the prevailing character of the older buildings in scale, materials, and roof profile.
There are 39 listed buildings within the Barrington Conservation Area. All Saints Church is Grade I, the Royal Oak public house and Newlyn (14 West Green) are Grade II*. Each listed building or structure is identified on the Conservation Area map, and full details of their listing can be found at Historic England.
The Barrington Conservation Area has several features of special architectural and historic interest the District Council has a duty to ‘draw up and publish proposals for the preservation and enhancement’ of its Conservation Areas as required by the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.
Additional planning constraints therefore apply to any proposed development in a conservation area. Guidance to promote enhancement of the conservation area is provided in the South Cambs District Council’s District Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and in the Development in Conservation Areas SPD. These two documents which are available on the Council’s website, are material considerations when making planning decisions. The weight to be attached to them in decision making to be determined on a case by case basis and consistent with National Planning Guidance and the adopted South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2018.
In general terms, sustaining the character of the conservation area into the future will depend on proper management of the existing heritage assets, on care in the design of new development, including alterations and additions to existing buildings, and on taking opportunities for enhancement.
The Parish Council and the Green Charity both take great care to ensure the sustainability of the Conservation Area and of Barrington as whole for the generations to come.
The next section describes and provides links to the 2021 Barrington Conservation Appraisal. The Parish Council was consulted throughout the appraisal process and provided advice and information to the independent Greater Cambridge Partnership conservation team that undertook the appraisal. BPC welcomes the appraisal and recommends the document as essential reading for all who are interested in the future protection of our unique village.