Historic parks, gardens and designed landscapes are one of the cultural icons of England, an ornament to the landscape and townscape, life-enhancing, bringing delight into our everyday lives. They contribute significantly to the sense of place and are treasured. They need to be if they are to continue to contribute to the quality of the environment in the face of the ever-increasing pressure of population growth and all that this brings.

EGT provides informed comment when gardens or designed landscapes are implicated by contemporary development. This requires us to comment on national Government development policy, Local Development Framework plans, on local planning applications, or pre-application stage proposals.  In all cases, EGT's role is to highlight the importance of gardens and landscape, and evaluate the implications of proposed development.

Planning guidance is critical, as is a knowledge base, and appropriate, considered action where and when required.

The work of EGT's Garden History team is vital to its role in contemporary Planning & Development. The detailed inventories it prepares of every Essex district help to identify important heritage sites across the county. Many have importance at only a local level and therefore may not be protected by the National Heritage list.

‘The majority of applications referred to us by The Gardens Trust during the year to 30th June 2022 were householder applications most of which had little if any effect on the historic landscapes local to them.  One application to which we did object was for a solar farm near Rivenhall Place, which is of course where we celebrated our 25th anniversary.  Rivenhall Place is situated in what was a medieval park. In the 16th century, as so often happened, the seat of the manor was moved into the park.  A 17th century formal landscape on geometric principles was succeeded by one remodelled on the advice of Humphrey Repton.  Of his work, there survive the lakes, the grade II listed bridge over them, and some veteran trees. This is a recognisably designed landscape which provides a delightful setting for the grade II* house.  It is included in the Trust’s Braintree Inventory of Historic Designed Landscapes.  As such the landscape is an undesignated heritage asset which is a material consideration in making planning decisions.  The proposed solar farm would occupy a field to the south of Rivenhall Place, and would be visible in views from the house. Its presence would also be only too conspicuous to the many people who use the footpaths in this field leading to ancient woodland at Rivenhall Thicks.  Indeed, the best views of the house and its setting are from these footpaths.  These would be compromised by the solar farm, with corresponding harm to both the heritage asset and public amenity.  Although solar farms confer a public benefit, this is not the place for one.  The application remains undetermined.

There continues to be pressure on the registered landscape at Shortgrove, Newport.  One way of giving it greater protection would be to designate it as a conservation area.  This would give greater control over alterations to buildings and new building, which of course have an effect on the landscape.  It would also protect the trees. At present there are no tree protection orders.  A short proposal for the designation of a conservation area has been submitted to Uttlesford District Council.  Unsurprisingly the response was that they do not have the resources to consider this.  In fairness to the Council, there would have to be an appraisal, a consultation with local people, and conservation areas do create more work for the planners. 

If you would like to bring to the Trust’s attention a particular planning application or are seeking some initial, proactive advice, then please e-mail our Conservation team.