Welcome to Fownhope!  Fownhope Parish Council welcome new residents and are pleased that you have decided to make your home in our village.  We hope that you will enjoy living here and will find some interesting activities in the many clubs and organisations run by parish volunteers. 

One of the things that many people love about Fownhope is the rural feel to the village and the wonderful countryside that is right on our doorstep.   These features are in no small part due to the fact that the older part of the village benefits from the protection of a Conservation order and that we are completely surrounded by the Wye Valley National Landscape.  Although many aspects of the Conservation Area are covered by planning code, and management of the National Landscape is the responsibility of the Wye Valley National Landscape Partnership, there are a number of things that residents can do to help maintain and enhance both the village itself and surrounding landscape. 

Dark Skies

One of the simplest and most effective ways for residents to help maintain the integrity of the National Landscape is to comply with the Dark Skies policy that Wye Valley National Landscape and Fownhope Parish Council have adopted.  You will probably have noticed that there are very few street lights in the village.  This is a deliberate policy adopted by Fownhope Parish Council in response to requests to reduce night time light pollution during two parish wide consultations (Fownhope Community Led Plan – 2005; Fownhope Neighbourhood Development Plan – 2015). 

The Parish Council’s Environment Working Group has made Dark Skies a key focus, and we are working with the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (see here) to help us make improvements in policy and implementation.

The good news is that it’s pretty straightforward for individual households to help maintain our dark skies…

Work to trees

If you live within the Conservation Area you will need to contact Herefordshire Council planning department at least 6 weeks before working on any trees on your property.  Fownhope Parish Council will be asked to comment on the application and will obtain advice from our Tree Warden.  We might visit the site, but will typically work from the information provided in your application, so it is important to state clearly why you wish to conduct the work and what the impact and benefits will be to the tree, surrounding landscape and neighbouring properties. If you use a professional tree surgeon they will usually make the application on your behalf.

Planning applications

In many parts of the country, Permitted Development has relaxed planning law, however, the National Landscapes are considered to be equal in value to National Parks and command the same levels of planning protection.  Planning applications must therefore be submitted via the Herefordshire Council Planning Portal for consideration following the traditional route.  Applications will be passed to Fownhope Parish Council for consideration and comment.  The Parish Council consider planning applications against the planning policies contained within the Fownhope Neighbourhood Plan, which includes specific details relating to our place within the Wye Valley National Landscape and the Fownhope Conservation Area.  It is important that applicants demonstrate how their application conforms to the Neighbourhood Plan so that the Parish Council can make an informed decision as to whether to support, or object to an application.   Details are often submitted in the form of a Design and Access Statement, which your architect or agent will be able to prepare based upon their knowledge of the local environment.

Fownhope Parish Council appreciate that you might not be familiar with some of these policies and will be happy to provide guidance, if required.  Further details of the planning rules impacting home owners living in the Wye Valley National Landscape and Fownhope Conservation Area can be found at:

The Planning and Building Control pages of the Herefordshire Council website: www.herefordshire.gov.uk/planning-building-control

Or, in the current Wye Valley National Landscape Management Plan: The AONB Management Plan | Wye Valley | Wye Valley AONB (wyevalley-nl.org.uk)

Alternatively, please feel free to make contact via our Clerk if you have any questions or would like further advice or clarification.