OLD CATTONCONSERVATION AREA

CHARACTER STATEMENTBROADLAND DISTRICT COUNCILMARCH 2008

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CONSERVATION AREA CHARACTERSTATEMENT: OLD CATTON

CHARACTER APPRAISAL

CONTENTSIntroduction 2

Conservation Area Boundary 2

Catton Park And Other Open Spaces 3

Historical Development 4

Location And Setting 5

Form And Character 5

Traditional Materials 9

Things Which Detract From The Character Of The Conservation Area 10

APPENDICESAppendix A The Effect of Designation 11

Appendix B Listed Buildings in the Conservation Area 14

Appendix C Unlisted Buildings of Interest 15

Appendix D Significant Trees in Old Catton Conservation Area 16

Appendix E Plan Showing Conservation Area Boundary 17

1

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTIONA Conservation Area is defined as “an area ofspecial architectural or historic interest, thecharacter of which it is desirable to preserve orenhance”. The conservation of the historicenvironment can enhance the quality of life ofthose who live or work in the area and, byattracting visitors, can benefit the localeconomy. Under the 1990 Planning (ListedBuildings and Conservation Areas) Act, LocalAuthorities are required to review existingConservation Areas and, where appropriate,consider the designation of new ones.

Factors which contribute to the special qualityof a Conservation Area may include:

the architectural quality of the buildingsthemselves

the materials of which they are made

their relationship with one another and theirsetting in the landscape

the character of the spaces between buildings,including walls, hedges, trees and groundsurface materials

views both within the area and from outside

The District Council is committed to theprotection and enhancement of the historicenvironment of Broadland. The Old CattonConservation Area was designated in 1983 andamended in 1986. An illustrated Statement waspublished in 1986.

The present Statement identifies and reaffirmsthe special architectural and historic characterof the area identified in the earlier Statement,assesses how far its recommendations havebeen put into effect and makesrecommendations for its enhancement.

CONSERVATION AREABOUNDARYThough now enveloped by the post-warexpansion of Norwich, the historic core of thevillage retains a strong and quite distinctcharacter. Inevitably in such a location there areconstant pressures for change. It is thereforevital that the historic village should remain aConservation Area.

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1. INTRODUCTION

CONSERVATION AREA CHARACTERSTATEMENT: OLD CATTON

A tree belt screens the Park on its west, southand east sides. On its north side it is screened bygroups of trees, by the Hall itself and bybuildings in Church Street.

Over recent years small groups of houses havebeen built in the north side of the Park and in theformer gardens of the Hall, while a school hasbeen built off St Faith’s Road, all intruding intoviews across the Park and altering the setting of,and access to, the Hall itself.

The Hall was built c.1780 for Jeremiah Ives. Ithas since been considerably altered and addedto. The spectacular cast iron and glassconservatory - the “Camellia House” - wasadded in the second half of the nineteenthcentury, but has lost its central dome. At thetime of the 1986 report the house was an oldpeople’s home managed by Norfolk CountyCouncil, but it is now privately owned anddivided into separate apartments. At the sametime a new house has been added to the westof the conservatory, carefully designed to relatein scale, form and materials to the Georgianhouse and yet to avoid pastiche. While theseparate ownership and occupation of the Hallmust inevitably prevent the re-establishment ofthe close relationship of Hall and Park originallyconceived by Repton, nevertheless the settingof the Hall – particularly on its east side - couldbe greatly enhanced if the present fencing andhard surfacing, as well as some of the plantingwere to be replaced and reordered in a mannermore in keeping with this important location.

The main entrance to the Park is from Oak Lanethrough splendid wrought iron gates, made inthe late nineteenth century by Barnard, Bishopand Barnard of Norwich. They are accompaniedby matching curving railings and stone piers toeither side and by a classical lodge just inside

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CATTON PARK AND OTHER OPEN SPACES

CATTON PARK AND OTHEROPEN SPACES

The three open spaces of Catton Park, the DeerPark and Buttercup Meadow are each anessential part of what makes Old Cattondifferent. The1986 Statement noted that theirfuture use had already been an important issuefor a number of years and reaffirmed currentpolicies, set out in an Interim Planning Policydocument, supported by both County andDistrict Councils, which sought to maintaintheir character as open spaces . . . especially asit was conceived by Humphry Repton. At thattime, discussions with the landowners onbringing these spaces in to beneficial public use,had so far been inconclusive.

The importance of these open spaces, bothhistorically and as “green lungs” in an otherwiseextensively built-up suburban area, cannot beover-emphasised. The future of the park has nowbeen secured until 2036. Catton Park Trust(www.cattonpark.com) now manages the parkfor public benefit as a place for quietrecreational enjoyment and outdoor learning forpeople of all ages. A Heritage Lottery Fund grantwas awarded in 2006 to restore and enhance thepark in accord with Repton’s original concept.

At the date of this report the capital phase ofthe restoration scheme is almost complete. Newboundary fencing has been installed andaccessible paths laid. Maintenance work hasbeen undertaken to trees in the interests ofgood management. Much replanting hasalready been carried out and more is to follow,in particular to plant new specimen trees in thecentral open area of the park to replace thoselost in the last two centuries.

the gates. Another fine, but more modest, pairof wrought iron gates once gave access to theHall from Church Street: they now lead only tothe Village Hall (the former Orangery) andaccess to the Hall itself is from the new ParksideDrive and from St Faith’s Road.

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTAlthough evidence has been found ofprehistoric and Roman presence in the area, thepresent settlement was established in Saxontimes. Most likely the name means thefarmstead [or tun] of a man called Catta (orKati). He was probably a local tribal leader whosettled here. Or it may conceivably be derivedfrom the presence of wild cats in the area.

The first documentary evidence for thesettlement is found in the Domesday Book, thegreat survey of England carried out by theNorman conquerors in 1086. There were threemanors in Catton. These probably related to thethree areas of historic settlement still visibletoday: Church Street, George Hill and LodgeLane. The main manor, in Church Street, hadbeen held before the Conquest by Stigand, theSaxon Archbishop of Canterbury. But in 1070the King deprived him of his office and estates,and placed the manor in the custody of Williamde Noiers. It was subsequently passed toNorwich Cathedral Priory, a twelfth centuryNorman foundation. The earliest surviving partof the church of St Margaret, the round tower,is of the twelfth century. The original manorhouse was built and Church Street wasdeveloped at this time. The last Prior but onebefore the Dissolution of the Monasteries byHenry VIII was William de Catton. It was hewho first used the rebus of the wild cat and thetun, now to be seen on the Village Sign.

After the Dissolution the manor passed to theDean and Chapter of Norwich Cathedral. Theyretained the great tithes until 1780, when themanor was bought by Jeremiah Ives. He was amember of a well established Norwich family, aFreeman of the City and twice Mayor. He builtCatton Hall and commissioned HumphryRepton to lay out the Park, with its typicalsurrounding tree belt, its scattered smallergroups of trees and its long winding entrance

drive from Oak Lane. The stables, coach house,orangery (now the village hall) and the HolidayHouse (a cottage ornee) are all part of thisdevelopment, overlaying the Medieval village.

Until recent times Catton was an agriculturalvillage and industry appears to have beenlimited to brick making and home weaving. Butthen in the late eighteenth and nineteenthcenturies, following the development of theHall and Park, the village was favoured byseveral wealthy Norwich families who built theirhouses here: for example, in Spixworth Road,The Firs, The Old House, The Beeches andBeechwood (now renamed Anna Sewell House,in honour of its most famous resident, theauthor of Black Beauty) and, in George Hill, TheWhite House. Notable families includedGurney, Buxton, Jewson, Norman, Lindley andTillet. Several of these families wereNonconformist: the Gurneys for example wereQuaker bankers, the Jewsons Congregationalisttimber merchants while Jacob Tillet, a lawyer ofFrench Huguenot stock, was instrumental insetting up a newspaper dedicated to civil,religious and commercial freedom. The cottagesin the village – the best of which can be seen inChurch Street -were occupied by farm workersand servants who relied on the gentry for theirlivelihood and accommodation.

Following the Education Act of 1870, the Churchopened Old Catton School in Church Street in 1874.

New Catton, closer to the City, had beendeveloped in the nineteenth century, but it wasonly after the Second World War thatdevelopment gained momentum in Old Catton,so that by the close of the century the historiccore of the village had been enveloped in theouter suburbs of Norwich. The population ofthe parish, which had stood at around 600in1900, by the end of the century reached5640. To keep pace with this big increase, theSchool has been greatly extended to becomeOld Catton Junior School and new primaryschools have been built at Lodge Lane andGarrick Green (both outside the ConservationArea). At the same time a special school, theHall School, has been built in the grounds ofthe Hall, with access from St Faiths Road.

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HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT

LOCATION AND SETTINGOld Catton is two miles from the centre ofNorwich between St Faith’s Road to the west(formerly the main road from Norwich toAylsham and Cromer, but now blocked furthernorth by the airport) and the B1150 road fromNorwich to North Walsham to the east.Between these two main radial roads a thirdminor radial, Spixworth Road, forms one of theprincipal arteries of the village.

The land rises to the east of Spixworth Road,giving fine views down over the village from thetop of the Deer Park

On all sides the setting of the historic village hasbeen radically changed by modern residentialdevelopment. In particular The Warrendevelopment on the rising ground east of theSpixworth Road, between the Deer Park andGeorge Hill, impinges significantly on thehistoric character of the Conservation Area,while the character of Church Street has beenaffected by modern infill houses and new cul-desac developments within the Park. On its westand south boundaries the Conservation Area isscreened from the surrounding modern estatesby the great belt of trees along St Faith’s Roadand Oak Lane.

FORM AND CHARACTERSetting aside the three important open spaces ofthe Park, Buttercup Meadow and the Deer Park,referred to in Section 3 above, the ConservationArea comprises three built up parts: ChurchStreet, Spixworth Road and George Hill.

Church Street

Church Street runs from St Faith’s Road toSpixworth Road. Older buildings are moreconcentrated at the west end, where the Halland its ancillary buildings and estate cottagesoverlay the earlier Medieval village. The street ischaracterised by high boundary walls and trees,which hold together visually a great variety ofbuilding types and styles.

On the south side, two residential closes have

been built on Hall land. Both are typical latetwentieth century suburban in style, paying littleregard to the character of the Street. AtParkside Drive development involved thedestruction of several of the outbuildings of theHall. Though an ornate garden fountain hasbeen preserved and is well cared for, the roadlayout only barely takes it into account. Thealignment of the vision splays at the entrance tothe new road is unimaginative, but at least thewalls have been rebuilt to a good height andthe Village Sign gives meaning to the greenspace in front. At Park Close, on the otherhand, the high walls at the entrance have beenreduced, breaking the continuity of the Street.

On the north side, at the western end of thestreet, the Church of St Margaret and theManor House are the only buildings in thevillage which clearly pre-date the Hall and Park.Together with the adjoining estate cottages andhigh boundary walls they make a mostattractive and interesting group. The church hasa two-stage tower (twelfth century cylindersurmounted by fifteenth century octagon), afine nave clerestory, an elaborate fifteenthcentury two-storey porch and a picturesquemodern lychgate. The road bends round theManor House, giving its large half-timbered eastgable unexpected prominence in views from theeast. The bend in the road probably predatesthe present house and would seem to supportthe idea that the original pre-Conquest manorwas sited here. Fragments of the house datefrom the sixteenth century. In the seventeenthcentury it was heightened and extendedwestwards and it was again extended,northwards, in the nineteenth century.

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LOCATION AND SETTING

On the south side, an important, close-knitgroup of buildings includes the fine eighteenthcentury Village Hall, formerly the Orangery tothe Hall, as well as the former buildings of HallFarm, originally built as a “model” farm andnow - fairly sympathetically - converted toresidential and garage use. The stable clock andbell turret survive. Stone blocks built into theformer barn are said to come from Amner’sBarn, a Medieval tithe barn. This group is linkedby walls to a number of other houses andcottages built hard up to the street, includingNos 1 and 2 Hall Drive, which have less thansympathetic new windows, and No 21 ChurchStreet. At Hall Drive, formerly the back entranceto the Hall, fine wrought iron gates and stonepiers survive: they bear the initials of SamuelGurney Buxton and are surmounted by lamps.

On the north side, Nos. 48 to 58 (Listed) are anunusually fine terrace of estate cottages. Aplaque on them bears the initials of John HenryGurney and the date 1858. Their railings areoriginal, as also possibly may be the unusualbox hedge “knots” in several of the gardens. Tothe west a shorter terrace and then an L-shapedterrace of cottages, all with similar originalrailings and interesting gardens, provide anattractive link with the church. East of the Listedterrace a modern L-shaped terrace of houseshas been built where the village smithy oncestood. It is part of the Blacksmith’s Way estate(the rest is outside the Conservation Area to thenorth). Its form and layout fit well into thestreet scene, but its windows lack the easycomposure of their counterparts in theadjoining Listed terrace.

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FORM AND CHARACTER

The old village school is a good example of themany schools built in response to the 1870Education Act. It appears to be remarkablyunaltered - even to the front railings. The largeseparate modern extension to the east includesa flat-roofed part, nearest to the old school, ofno architectural merit. This is joined to a moreextensive pitched-roofed part beyond, whichhas been well designed and makes good use oftrees to enhance its setting and provide shadeto the big windows.

On the south side, mature trees soften thebreak in the high-walled street frontage at theentrance to Park Close. Further east, a pair ofmodern houses are, in themselves, welldesigned and benefit from walls and maturetrees, although the 1986 Statement laid downthat building in this area will be resisted tomaintain the character of the Park views.

Holiday House, visible from the Park, is almostentirely hidden from the street by walls andtrees, but a glimpse of the rustic porch hints atits picturesque character.

On the north side, after the way through to theRecreation Ground, two modern bungalows arewell set back, so do not impinge greatly on thestreet, though their largely open frontages areout of character. Then, approaching the cornerwith Spixworth Road, the street closes in onceagain, where a white-painted gate pier actsvisually as one side of a “gateway” to the DeerPark beyond. (The other side of the “gateway”is formed by the high hedge of Holiday House).Nos. 4 (Holly Cottage) and 2 (Woodstock) thenprovide a firm corner with Spixworth Road,where they are joined to Anna Sewell House.

They have simple traditional railings. Theyshould be considered for Listing, though bothwere badly damaged in an aircraft crash duringthe War and may not retain sufficient historicfabric to merit this.

Spixworth Road

Spixworth Road is an unclassified radial road fromNorwich running north to Spixworth and Buxton.As it reaches Oak Lane, at the southern boundaryof the Conservation Area, its modern suburbancharacter changes dramatically. To the west theview opens out over rolling Buttercup Meadow,backed by the trees of the Park beyond; while tothe east a high bank with trees and railingspartially screens two large houses, The Grangeand George House, on rising ground behind.

The view looking north past the entrance toGeorge Hill is particularly good. The road curvesslightly eastwards so that the frontage on thewest side - of large Georgian houses, terracedcottages and trees beyond - is seen to the bestadvantage. On the east side, an attractivecottage, No 1 George Hill and a high wall firmlymark the corner. The wall continues to anotherlarge Georgian house, The Beeches, a furtherwall (now largely screening two modernhouses) and then a steep bank with trees.

From this viewpoint the trees on both sidesappear to merge. But as one moves northwardsthe modern development of The Warren comesinto view on the east side. Its design and layoutpay no attention to the traditional village streeton the opposite side; and this is exacerbated byeach house facing gable end on to the road togive a restless skyline and by the rising groundon which the development is sited.

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FORM AND CHARACTER

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FORM AND CHARACTER

The Warren comes to an end at the Deer Parkwhere a large tree marks the corner of thisimportant remaining piece of open country. TheWar Memorial is sited on the road frontage ofthe Deer Park. A footpath runs up the northside of the Deer Park, providing a right of waythrough to Moore Avenue and beyond to theNorth Walsham Road. From here there are fineviews down over Old Catton, with Anna SewellHouse in the foreground and a glimpse of theManor House through the trees beyond. Butlooking south the horizon is blocked by theWarren development. A belt of trees partlydivides the Deer Park in two. It is important thatthe whole of the Deer Park remains open space.There is a good view looking south from nearthe Deer Park towards Old House, with The Firsin the background.

There are four Listed buildings on SpixworthRoad. All reflect the eighteenth centurydevelopment of Old Catton as a desirable placeof residence for the wealthy citizens ofNorwich. On the west side is The Firs (Nos. 69to 73, formerly the Vicarage), a fine very largemid eighteenth house of brick with curvedgables, an Ionic doorway and stone bollardsand chains to the forecourt. It is now dividedinto four dwellings. Further north on the sameside is Old House (Nos. 81 and 83, once thehome of the Jewson family), a fine substantiallate eighteenth century house of colourwashedbrick, now divided in two. Further north again,and forming part of the built-up corner withChurch Street, is Anna Sewell House (No. 125),

an attractive small eighteenth century house ofred brick, with good ornate Victorian railingsand bearing a plaque recording its most famousresident, the author of Black Beauty. On the eastside is The Beeches (No. 66), another fine house,from the early nineteenth century. It is renderedand painted and its railings, of unusual andattractive design, are splayed in to the doorwayon each side. Its unusually high walls are amajor feature in the street. A modern house hasbeen built to the north in the former garden ofthe big house: the new opening through thewall, which otherwise largely screens the newhouse, has been poorly designed.

Un-listed buildings of interest include a terraceof cottages south of The Firs (Nos. 57 to 65),spoilt slightly by the design of some windowreplacements. It has nicely moulded brick eavesand a string course, suggesting an earlyeighteenth date. Other un-Listed buildings ofinterest include a converted barn (No. 67); a flat-roofed modern bungalow (No. 75), designed byChristopher Lambert, which sits well in itsmature walled garden; Little House (Nos. 77and 79) with some gothick features (includingsome replicated unsuccessfully in plastic); theMaid’s Head public house, with a modern flat-roofed extension behind and, to the side, a largecar park breaking the continuity of the roadfrontage; No. 87, with a garage door in whatlooks like a former shop front; a terrace ofcottages (Nos. 89 to 99), spoilt by the design ofsome window replacements; and, finally, acottage attached to the north end of AnnaSewell House.

The importance of trees and high walls is againvery evident in this part of the village. There aretwo ponds hidden behind trees andundergrowth on the west side. Originally theDeer Park appeared from the Hall as acontinuation of the main Park, which wasseparated form Spixworth Road by only a ha-ha. Trees now hide the Park from the road. Atthe north-west corner of the Deer Park is asmall area partly enclosed by walls or railings.

George Hill

From just opposite Buttercup Meadow GeorgeHill rises steeply and then levels out before itreaches the cross roads on the North WalshamRoad. The traditional settlement extends for thefull length of the south side and includes thecross roads.

On the south side an undistinguished yard leadsto the entrance at the back of George House(now St Christopher’s Nursery and Pre-prepSchool). On the east side of the yard the formercoach house (now part of the school) retainssome of its original character. It is followed by aterrace of houses, of two and three storeys (Nos.2 to 12). Built hard up to the road and facingnorth towards trees opposite, they have arather gloomy appearance. But they are oftownscape value and their probable origin asweavers’ cottages gives them considerablehistoric interest. Some of their original doorcanopies survive, but some windowreplacements are out of character. GrangeClose, a group of semi-detached houses builtbetween the Wars is also of interest. The usehere of brick, plain stone dressings and largemullioned windows is in the tradition of the Artsand Crafts movement which flourished at thebeginning of the twentieth century, the generalstandard of design is high, and the group as awhole is largely untouched by later alterations.

No. 14 (The White House) is Listed. Nineteenthcentury in outward appearance, it may have anearlier core. A standard late nineteenth centuryterrace of cottages follows (Nos. 16 to 24). Itsunity has been destroyed, but not irreversibly, bya varied assortment of modern windows.

The north side of George Hill comprises the sideboundary of The Beeches, two modern closes(outside the Conservation Area) and theWoodman public house car park, part screenedby planting but part open and bleak.

TRADITIONAL MATERIALSThe character of Old Catton owes much to thetraditional use of a limited “palette” of buildingmaterials. Some of these are indigenous to thearea (e.g. red brick, timber framing, sand-limerender, flint, red and black pantiles and thatch);some have come from further afield (e.g. stoneand slate).

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FORM AND CHARACTER

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THINGS WHICH DETRACT FROM THE CHARACTER OF THE CONSERVATION AREA

As one would expect, the materials broughtfrom elsewhere tend to be confined to themore prestigious buildings. St Margaret’sChurch is built mainly in flint with stonewindows and quoins. There is also aconsiderable amount of brick used on thechurch. The west wing of the Manor House isof flint, while the earlier part is timber framed,as is the later crossing gable and the still laternorth wing. A number of boundary walls are offlint, notably at the church and the ManorHouse. Black pantiles, though indigenous, weremore expensive and so are found only on moreprestigious buildings, such as The Firs, OldHouse and Anna Sewell House. Holiday Houseis thatched, although this is less the survival ofan indigenous material as its conscious use forpicturesque effect. Slate was extensively used inthe nineteenth century both on large houses,including the Hall and the Beeches, but also onestate cottages, such as the long terrace inChurch Street.

THINGS WHICH DETRACTFROM THE CHARACTER OFTHE CONSERVATION AREAThe character of an historic village can overtime be all too easily eroded by anaccumulation of minor details. Examples of suchdetails can be seen in Old Catton. Many are theresult of well-intentioned but poorly-consideredrepairs or improvements to old buildings. Othersarise from new developments. They include:

The location of new developments whichimpinge on important open spaces, notablyalong the north side of Catton Park.

Fencing of concrete posts, vertical boarding andeven wire netting in prominent positions, wherebrick walls, well-designed iron railings, ortraditional estate fencing would be moreappropriate, depending on the particularlocation.

Inappropriate replacement windows (e.g. top-hung windows masquerading as sliding sashwindow; fixed and opening sections arrangedasymmetrically in casement windows; toonarrow cills; windows set too far forward intheir openings; PVC windows with wide framesreplacing traditional wood windows withrefined mouldings).

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APPENDIX A

APPENDIX ATHE EFFECT OF DESIGNATION

DESIGNATIONSection 69, Planning (Listed Buildings andConservation Areas) Act 1990 requires localauthorities to identify Conservation Areas andto designate them after consultation with theParish Councils concerned, statutoryundertakers and with other interested bodies.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATIONAny application for permission to carry outdevelopment which affects the character orappearance of the Conservation Area must bepublicly advertised on site and in the local pressnot less than 21 days before it is determined bythe Local Planning Authority. This may in somecases apply to developments on the fringe ormargins of the Conservation Area where it isconsidered the proposed development mayaffect the character or appearance of theConservation Area.

DEVELOPMENTMANAGEMENTNew Development

The local planning authority, as a general rule,will require that all planning applications forbuilding works are accompanied by detailedplans and drawings. These drawings shouldillustrate proposed elevations in relation toexisting and adjoining buildings or theirimmediate surroundings.

The local planning authority must pay particularregard to the character of the ConservationArea and the possible effect any proposeddevelopment may have. Factors taken intoconsideration will be layout of buildings, scale,shape and form. A high standard of design andmaterials will also be expected. Peripheral

elements such as design of walls, fences,planting and the visual effects of providing forvehicular traffic, e.g. access, parking areas,vision splays will similarly be considered.

It is desirable, therefore, that details ofproposals should be discussed with PlanningControl Officers or Conservation Officers at anearly stage, preferably before submission offormal planning applications.

Alterations and Extensions/ PermittedDevelopment

The form of control relating to alterations andextensions differs between Listed and unlistedbuildings within Conservation Areas. The Town& Country (General Permitted Development)Order 1995 permits, within certain limits,alterations or extensions to any building*without the need to obtain specific planningconsent. However, any proposal to alter orextend a Listed Building, within the limits ofpermitted development, requires Listed BuildingConsent if, in the opinion of the local planningauthority, this would affect its character.Beyond the limits laid down in the Town &Country (General Permitted Development)Order 1995 both planning permission andListed Building Consent will be required.

Owners of unlisted buildings can extend oralter their properties within the limits ofpermitted development without the need toobtain Listed Building Consent. In somesituations such alterations or extensions canhave a detrimental effect upon the visualamenity of the street scene and character of theConservation Area.

The local authority would therefore encourageowners who wish to alter or extend their houses,to do so in a sympathetic manner. The authorities’Conservation Officers will be pleased to giveadvice on matters of design and use of materials.

Specific attention is drawn to the amendmentof permitted development rights introduced bythe Town and Country (General PermittedDevelopment) Order 1995.

“In Conservation Areas, roof extensions andexternal cladding to a dwellinghouse, are no

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APPENDIX A

longer classed as permitted development.Planning consent must therefore be obtained”.

If the local authority is satisfied that in theinterests of conservation it is necessary andexpedient to bring under control any particularclass or classes of ‘permitted development’,application may be made to the Department ofthe Environment, Transport and the Regions fora Direction under Article 4 of the Town andCountry (General Permitted Development)Order 1995, for that purpose (see Section 5).

*building means in this case, a dwellinghouseTown and Country (General PermittedDevelopment) Order 1995.

Demolition

With minor exceptions, no building within aConservation Area may be demolished withoutthe consent of the local planning authority.Additionally, demolition of a ‘Listed Building’requires Listed Building Consent and theapproval of the Secretary of State.

Where a building which is of particularimportance in maintaining the character of aConservation Area has been allowed to decay,the Secretary of State may direct a localauthority to ensure that repairs necessary tomake the building weatherproof are carried out.

Tree Preservation

It is an offence to fell, lop, top, cause wilfuldamage, destroy or remove a tree in aConservation Area without first giving the localplanning authority at least 6 weeks notice inwriting. In that period, the authority may eitherseek to preserve the tree by serving a TreePreservation Order in which case expressconsent then be obtained for any remedialwork. If no such Order is served then work canproceed.

For trees which are already the subject of TreePreservation Orders express consent of the localplanning authority must be obtained before anyremedial work is undertaken.

DESIGN GUIDANCE /HEDGEROW LEGISLATIONWindow Replacements

Window replacements are often the mostserious threat to the appearance of ourconservation areas and may even affect thevalue of properties.

The replacement of timber windows with PVCuis likely to result in several problems

• The material cannot reproduce profiles anddetailing of traditional joinery

• The variety can destroy the visual harmony ofthe streetscene

• The material is not as easy and economic torepair as timber

• It does not have the biodegradable qualitiesof timber when redundant, creating anenvironmental land fill hazard.

NB: All complete window replacements are nowrequired to achieve minimum insulation values –please consult CNC Building ControlConsultancy at Broadland District Council.

In the interests of conservation, local authoritiesare also empowered to relax the requirementsunder Building Control Regulations whenconsidering proposals for the restoration orconversion of historic buildings.

Other repairs that can have a detrimentalimpact include:

• Alterations to roofing materials

• Inappropriate repointing techniques

• Inappropriate repointing materials

• Painting, rendering or cladding brickwork

• Removal of decorative architectural featuressuch as stone or window surrounds

• Installing modern plastic rainwater guttersand downpipes

Careful repairs are as important as majoralterations and extensions.

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APPENDIX A

Important Hedgerows

Under the Hedgerow Regulations 1997 (S1 No.1160):

• It is against the law to remove mostcountryside hedgerows without permission.

• To get permission to remove a hedgerow youmust notify your local planning authority.

• If the authority decide to prohibit removal ofan important hedgerow, it must let youknow within 6 weeks.

• If you remove a hedgerow withoutpermission (whether it is important or not)you may face an unlimited fine, you may alsohave to replace the hedgerow.

• For further information regarding thehedgerow legislation see D.O.E. leaflet ‘TheHedgerow Regulations – Your QuestionsAnswered’.

Broads Authority

Within the area of the Broads more specificpolicies which relate to safeguarding the qualityand character of the Broadland landscape,particularly the Broads and waterways, arecontained in the Broads Local Plan.

GRANTSGrant assistance may be available for bothlisted and unlisted buildings or structures whichare of amenity value to the conservation area,both for repair and enhancement. Grants mayalso be available for tree work / planting.Contact the Conservation Section at BroadlandDistrict Council.

Grants Applications are also welcome forschemes to improve access for the disabled tohistoric buildings, whilst maintaining historiccharacter.

Conservation SectionBroadland District CouncilThorpe Lodge, 1 YarmouthRoad, Norwich, NR7 0DU01603 430 520conservation@broadland.gov.uk

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APPENDIX B

APPENDIX B : LISTED BUILDINGS IN THE CONSERVATION AREAGrade Street Building

II Catton Hall Park landscaped by H Repton

II* Church Street (north side) Church of St. Margaret

II “ “ “ “ The Manor House

II “ “ “ “ Nos. 48 to 58 (evens) Including garden railings to S

II Church Street (south side) Holiday House

II “ “ “ “ Holiday House gate and piers

II “ “ “ “ Village Hall and Forecourt and Hall Farm House

II “ “ “ “ Hall Farm barn, outbuilding and coach house

II “ “ “ “ Gates and piers to Hall Drive

II George Hill No. 14 (The White House)

II Oak Lane South Lodge Former Lodge of Catton Hall

II “ “ Gates and piers at South Lodge

II* Spixworth Road (west side) Nos. 69, 71A, 71 and 73 (The Firs) Now sub-divided

II “ “ “ “ Bollards and garden walls to

N and S of Nos. 71A, 71 and 73

II “ “ “ “ Nos. 81 and 83 The Old House) Now sub-divided

II No. 125 (Anna Sewell House)

II “ “ “ “ Gates, piers and railings to Anna Sewell House

II (east side) No. 66 (The Beeches) Including railings

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APPENDIX C

APPENDIX C : UNLISTED BUILDINGS OF INTERESTThe following buildings and boundary walls within the Conservation Area, are not included in thestatutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest compiled by the Secretary of State.Nevertheless they are considered by the District Council to be of sufficient interest, as townscapeand/or in their own right, to warrant every effort being made to maintain their special character.

Street Building etc.

Church Street (north) The Manor House garden wall- do - The Manor House outbuilding- do - Churchyard wall- do - Nos. 60 and 70, including front railings- do - Nos. 60 to 66, including front railings- do - Wall running N-S east of Nos. 48 to 58- do - Old Catton School: 1874 building and railings- do - - do - modern building (excluding flat-roofed section)- do - Nos. 2 and 4, including railings

Church Street (south) Wall north of No. 218 St. Faith’s Road- do - Wall north of Brook House, Parkside Drive- do - Wall north of No. 1 Parkside Drive (The Vicarage)- do - No. 21, including garden wall- do - Nos. 2 and 4 Hall Drive- do - Wall to former Hall Farm- do - Walls to Nos. 1 and 4 Park Close

George Hill (south) Former stables to George House- do - Nos. 2 to 12 (evens)- do - Nos. 1 to 12 Grange Close- do - Walls N of No. 1 Grange Close and E of No. 16 George Hill- do - Wall W of No. 14 (The White House)

George Hill (south) No. 28

George Hill (north) No. 1 (including garden wall to west)

Grange Close All properties

Parkside Drive Wall south of No. 1 (The Vicarage)- do - Shell fountain between Nos. 3 and 5

Spixworth Road (west) Nos. 57 to 65 (odds)- do - No. 67 (including wall from house to road) Converted barn- do - Walls between Nos. 65 and 67A- do - Nos. 77 and 79,(including wall to south)- do - Wall to south of Nos. 81 and 83 (The Old House)- do - Building and wall north of Nos. 81 and 83 (The Old House)- do - No. 85 (The Maid’s Head public house)- do - Nos. 87 to 99 (odds)- do - No. 127 (adjacent to Anna Sewell House)

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APPENDIX D

Spixworth Road (east) Walls north and south of No.66 (The Beeches) and extending in front ofNos. 68 and 70 (part)

- do - Railings and walls to enclosed area at north-west corner of Deer Park(excluding modern railings)

St. Faith’s Road Walls to Nos. 208 to 218 (evens)

APPENDIX DSignificant Trees in Old Catton Conservation Area

Covered by Tree Preservation Orders and within the Conservation Area

Brook House, Church Street – various species mainly Yew

4 Park Close – Yew

1 Park Close – 6 Yew, Beech, Birch

Old Catton School – 2 Beech, 2 Oak

129/131 Spixworth Road – various

Deer Park – 26 Field Maple, 25 Cherry, 27 Rowan, 25 Birch, 41 Oak, 38 Ash, 46 Beech, 30 Lime

83 Spixworth Road – Beech

Strip of land adj. Spixworth Road – Elm, Scots Pine, Larch

Within Conservation Area, not covered by separate TPOs

Catton Park – Various

66 Spixworth Road - various including very large Beech

Deer Park – Various including Oak, Monterey Cypress

4 Park Close – Various, including Scots Pine

218 St. Faiths Road, various Cedar, Holly, Yew, Holly

St. Margaret’s Church – 4 Yew

APPENDIX E Plan Showing Conservation Area Boundary

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APPENDIX E

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