PEOPLE can give their views on how the special character of one of Leicester’s 25 designated conservation areas should be preserved or enhanced.
Leicester City Council has launched a public consultation inviting comments on a new draft character appraisal and management plan for the Evington Village conservation area.
The Evington village conservation area is centred on the historic Evington village, stretching from Evington Park in the north to Shady Lane in the south. It contains several listed buildings, including the Gothic-style Baptist chapel on the High Street, the War Memorial on Main Street and the church of St Denys, which dates from the 13th century.
There is also a scheduled ancient monument in the area. Known as Piggy’s Hollow, this is the remains of a medieval manor house, also dating back to the 13th century. The area’s distinctive name is thought to come from a local farmer who lived in Church Road and kept pigs in the hollow.
The city council is proposing to introduce a new character appraisal and management plan for the area. A character appraisal is a document that defines the special qualities of a conservation area, and is used to help preserve and enhance the area's character and appearance.
The new character appraisal will mean all 25 conservation areas in the city have an appraisal document for the first time, with work ongoing to revise versions for various other conservation areas in the city.
Linked to the new management plan, the council is also consulting on potentially introducing a new Article 4 Direction. This would give the council more powers to help protect the distinctive character of properties in the area.
Deputy city mayor Cllr Elly Cutkelvin, who is responsible for heritage and conservation, said: “Evington Village conservation area is a real asset to our city. The buildings, archaeological features and unique character of the area need to be protected for everyone to enjoy, now and in the future. This is why we’re seeking views on our character appraisal for the area, and on whether we should increase our powers to preserve this heritage.
“We know that many local people are interested in Evington’s fascinating history, and we look forward to hearing everyone’s views in our consultation.”
People can comment on the proposals by visiting www.leicester.gov.uk/consultations
A public drop-in event will also be held on Wednesday 30 April from 5-8pm at St Denys Parish Centre on Church Road, where people can find out more. Council staff will be available to answer questions and there will be a presentation from 6pm.
The council has also recently confirmed new Article 4 Directions for the conservation areas in Braunstone and Knighton villages, introduced after similar consultations and as part of new management plans for these areas, which were published last autumn. A range of other enhancement works to those areas has been completed, including new signage, removal of street clutter, fencing repairs, new planting and other improvements.
The consultation runs until Monday 12 May at www.leicester.gov.uk/consultations