To consider the progress to date in exploring the whole of the Battlefield as a heritage, cultural and economic asset for the Borough and to agree that officers meet with Historic England and other partners to explore utilising the Battlefield as a cultural and heritage asset; that officers continue to work through the preparation of the Borough Plan to ensure the wider Battlefield area is recognised in planning policy; and that future progress be reported to the Executive Committee.

20.1           The report of the Head of Development Services, circulated at Pages No. 70-81, outlined the progress to date in exploring the whole of the Battlefield as a heritage, cultural and economic asset for the Borough. Members were asked to request that Officers meet with Historic England and other partners to explore utilising the Battlefield as a cultural and heritage asset; to request that Officers continue to work through the preparation of the Borough Plan to ensure the wider battlefield area was recognised in planning policy; and to ask that future progress be reported to the Executive Committee.

20.2           The Deputy Chief Executive advised that, in December 2016, a petition had been received from the Tewkesbury Battlefield Society which asked that the Council communicate to the governors of Tewkesbury School its disagreement with its decision not to sell the Gastons to the Tewkesbury Battlefield Society; to make clear that any aspiration to sell the Gastons for development purposes was wholly inappropriate given its historical significance and would be vigorously opposed if this was attempted by the Trustees; and to consider formally designating the Gastons in the Local Plan as the intended site for the future creation of a Heritage Park for Tewkesbury and to work with the Society and residents to deliver that objective. At its meeting in January 2017, the Council had considered that petition and agreed that it was committed to the principle of developing the whole of the Tewkesbury Battlefield as a heritage, cultural and economic asset for the Borough. It had also requested that Officers considered the issues raised by the petition through a) the Borough Plan and other planning processes including supplementary planning guidance and enforcement and b) by exploring, with Tewkesbury Battlefield Society, the Tewkesbury School Trust and landowners, the potential for improving the Battlefield as a cultural and heritage asset; and that an update report be presented to the Council within three months.

20.3           Members were advised that Page No. 72 of the Council report detailed the current and proposed planning protection. The Gastons, together with the wider Battle of Tewkesbury 1471 area, was subject to saved policy HEN24, together with other saved policies contained within the adopted Borough Plan and the guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Paragraph 132 of the NPPF stated that assets such as Battlefields were areas of highest significance and should be protected, any proposals for development within the Battlefield would be judged against those policies, with proposals having to have regard to the conservation of the historic landscape, demonstrate they respected the character of the registered site and generally retained its character. Wider designation of the Battlefield in its promotion as a cultural and heritage asset would be considered through a policy designation in the Tewkesbury Borough Plan review. The existing saved HEN24 of the Tewkesbury Borough Plan was a policy of protection – this obviously had an important role to play in terms of preventing unacceptable development in the area – and any revised policy through the Borough Plan process could be drafted to retain this protective stance yet include greater reference to promoting the benefits of retaining or enhancing the battlefield asset; this could help support any cultural or heritage funding bids. In addition, Historic England had amended the boundary of the designation of the Battlefield - the new boundary removed the vast majority of properties built within the last 20 years and drew the boundary tighter around the Cambian School. A meeting had taken place with a representative of the Battlefield Society to broadly discuss how the Council could work with landowners and stakeholders to promote the asset. The first part of this approach would be to hold a landowner meeting to gauge landowner’s interest in terms of their engagement in further discussions and explore options for promotion. It was considered that a great opportunity for promotion of the Battlefield, and Tewkesbury as a whole, had arisen in light of the fact that 2021 marked 550 years since the battle of Tewkesbury as well as the 900^th anniversary of the Norman consecration.  Tewkesbury Abbey would be running a number of events and celebrations and was looking to collaboratively celebrate the double commemorations with the Council to maximise the benefits of the two events. It was felt that it would be a great opportunity to have one or more ‘landmark events’ that really put Tewkesbury and the Battlefield ‘on the map’.  So far it had been decided that a steering group should be established to look at individual promotional opportunities and to help organise and steer the project. The timeframe to 2021 would need careful planning and choreographing to ensure the dual celebrations were appropriately marked for the Town.  The double landmark celebration would provide extra focus and impetus for the Town’s heritage and tourism offer and the Council would look to maintain the momentum to maximise the cultural, economic and heritage asset which the Battlefield represented.

20.4           During the discussion which ensued, a Member indicated that, when the petition had been put before the Council, there had been a general consensus and agreement that it should do whatever it could to ensure the protection of the valuable area and to recognise its worth and historical significance. As the local authority, the Council would be the main influencer amongst the partners and it should do what it could to support the Battlefield Society. He felt the steps outlined within the report sought to do this and, as such, he proposed that the recommendations within the report be accepted. That proposal was seconded.

20.5           It was suggested that the Council needed to establish a set of objectives for the talks with landowners etc. and, in response, the Deputy Chief Executive explained that this would be necessary but first of all it needed to be understood what the objectives of the landowners and stakeholders were; this could then be used to establish a Battlefield ‘vision’. The broad aim was to maximise what Tewkesbury had already but this would be further defined as the discussions moved forward. A Member indicated that the Council needed to be careful with the approach it took. He felt that the Council was ultimately an influencer and could not take control of the project.

20.6           Another Member felt that the whole Council should be informed of progress and the Deputy Chief Executive undertook to ensure this was done. Accordingly, it was

                  RESOLVED          1.  That Officers meet with Historic England and other partners                                     to explore utilising the Battlefield as a cultural and heritage                                        asset.

2.   That Officers continue to work through the preparation of the Borough Plan to ensure the wider Battlefield area is recognised in planning policy.

3.   That future progress is reported to the Executive Committee.