We are delighted to advise you that through the significant effort of Mark Randall, Ann Morton and Colin Iddles of the SSNA that the Sutton Farm Estate Area of Special Local Character (ASLC) has now been designated and adopted by the London Borough of Sutton. The roads evaluated and included in the ASLC are Heath Drive, The Highway, The Causeway, The Downsway, The Linkway and most of The Gallop.

 

The LBS HEB (Housing, Economy and Business) committee were overwhelmed by the quality of the document that supported the application for the ASLC. Mark Randall Deputy Chair of the SSNA addressed the committee and clearly articulated the context for this important work and how it would not have been possible without the collaboration from Dean James, senior planning officer at lbs and the BSCRA character appraisal framework created by Peter Mattey for the South Cheam Burton Constable Estate ASLC.

 

The historical reveal and storytelling of the last 250+ years of the evolution of South Sutton was seen by the committee as very important and it was recommended that funding be available for a book to be produced. So huge thanks to Ann Morton for her work on trawling through archives and historical documents. The committee were impressed by the professional Character Assessment that accompanies the ASLC adoption and lays the ground in significant detail to help protect the future integrity of both the ambiance and the build quality of the area. This will be a key document in driving the decisions of planning officers when evaluating planning applications.

 

It was clear that SSNA had created a blueprint that others could follow, not just in Sutton but around the UK, to secure similar designation for their area if the argument is there.

 

The ASLC designation will help significantly in fighting threats to our area particularly given the recent challenges of the Harris Academy school open day. The designation also allows us to have strategic conversations with the school (and any other future threat), councillors and LBS to now be proactive in protecting the ASLC and we shall no doubt be in touch with residents regarding our ideas to protect the open spaciousness and car free nature of the area. To that end SSNA have been invited to join the Harris School Transport Committee and we are also active in the broader Neighbourhood Development Plan. 

 

Areas of Special Local Character (ASLC) are a local designation that recognise areas of locally distinct character and identify the particular features that the London Borough of Sutton (LBS) wishes to preserve and enhance.  It is an additional local designation designed to capture historically important areas that do not meet the more demanding criteria for the statutory designation of a conservation area.

 

ASLC designation does not impose any additional statutory controls and does not remove permitted development rights for homeowners. The purpose of the designation is to ensure that the development is in keeping with the character of the surrounding area and does not result in harm.

 

This ASLC strategy seeks to lay down a structure to maintain or indeed enhance the area bounded by the proposed ASLC. It reflects a desire to maintain civic pride and a preservation of Arts and Crafts, Surrey and British vernacular and Tudorbethan styles whose collective influence make the Sutton Farm Estate so unique to London.