New conservation areas proposed for Maids Moreton

Archived press release

Date Published: 19/02/09

Aylesbury Vale District Council is taking steps to help preserve the character and historic features of Maids Moreton.

Local residents are being asked for their views on council proposals to create new conservation areas in the village.

All councils are required to identify areas of special architectural or historic interest and designate these as conservation areas. AVDC has produced a draft conservation area appraisal for Maids Moreton which identifies the buildings and features worthy of preservation.

The proposals would mean creating two conservation areas, one enclosing the historic development concentrated around the junction of Duck Lane, Towcester Road and the north-western end of Main Street and the other enclosing the south-eastern end of Main Street and the section of Church Street which includes St. Edmund’s Church, Maids Moreton Hall and the Old Rectory.

In a conservation area there are restrictions on what you can do to a property, such as carrying out alterations or extensions, and any development that takes place should recognise the area’s character. This would include matters such as design, scale and materials. Trees within conservation areas are also protected.

Councillor Sue Polhill, Cabinet Member for Planned Development at AVDC, welcomed the draft conservation area appraisal. “Having this document in place will help ensure the preservation and enhancement of the special character of Maids Moreton,” she said. “It is designed to clearly set out what's important about the village so that this local distinctiveness can be respected and strengthened in the future.”

She added: “It's important that during this consultation period the local community takes the opportunity to have their say about what makes Maids Moreton special and how they want to see its local distinctiveness safeguarded in the future.”

The council is holding a public exhibition from 2pm to 6pm, at Maids Moreton Village Hall on 4 March to give residents the opportunity to view the plans. A conservation areas officer will be available to answer questions and collect comments.

People will also be able to view the consultation documents and share their views online at the council’s website, or by visiting the council’s High Street offices in Aylesbury. The deadline for comments is 20 March.