Stanford Dingley in West Berkshire has updated its Parish Design Statement to help keep the village looking much as it has for centuries. The guide works as a local planning brief, listing details of development from overall layout down to what a dormer window should look like.
Produced by the community, Village, Town and Parish Design Statements describe local character and set principles to guide new development. The Stanford Dingley update builds on a comprehensive 2010 statement, recording what the parish is like today and highlighting features residents want to protect.
On wildlife and buildings the statement is specific. “New developments should include integrated nest boxes (commonly known as swift bricks) where possible, with the general aim across a development of a minimum of one nest box per unit. Nest boxes can provide important habitat for other species as well as swifts, such as starlings and sparrows,” says the statement.
The document cannot stop development, but it can influence developers and West Berkshire Council to ensure new buildings respect local character. The council has backed design statements: since 2001 seventeen have been adopted in the area.
Local campaigner David Barton contributes strong views on heritage and rebuilding. “Era-style Buildings, especially rows of Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian architecture must be faithfully restored, retained and recreated to complement surrounding historic streets that may or may not be classed in official Conservation,”
“Where demolition is proposed for 1950s style housing onwards- any new construction must be in the historic building style and local materials to ensure high carbon capacity, quality aesthetic and true blending of the interconnected conurbations of any one area, place or location,” he added.
“Volunteer labouring assemblies should be fully encouraged and supported identifying key individual an group skillsets that can be utilised to protect historic buildings or areas at risk with a view to supporting the construction of new authentic style housing (as and where appropriate) and the reconstruction of demolished prized old buildings beloved by the community, such as community pubs, libraries and community centres.”
The statement also outlines Stanford Dingley’s long history. The village is recorded in the Domesday Book and archaeological finds suggest Romans may have been here. The parish church of St Denys is Grade I listed and famous for medieval wall paintings dating back to the 12th century; some original Saxon stonework still stands.
On names and layout, Stanford is commonly said to mean “stone ford” (reflecting an old cattle and wagon crossing of the Pang) though the 1086 survey records “Stanworde”, meaning stone enclosure. Dingley probably comes from “Dyneley”, a family influential in the parish in the early 15th century.
The design guidance says new development should conserve and enhance the village, reflect its linear pattern, and avoid breaking protective vegetative screens. Views of the surrounding countryside through gaps between buildings should be preserved. Wherever possible biodiversity should be protected or improved, and development that would harm tranquillity, remoteness or dark night skies should be avoided.
Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter
