Whitchurch-on-Thames Conservation Area Appraisal

Residents of Whitchurch-on-Thames and key stakeholders for their views on the Whitchurch Conservation Area Appraisal during a 4-week consultation period, running from September until October 2025.

As part of the review process, we proposed a number of changes to the conservation area boundary as follows:

• Addition of land on Hardwick Road to include a historic avenue of trees. 
• Removal of the modern dwellings at Old Gardens.
• Corrections of the boundary to reflect property boundaries at Eastfield House, Pluto and Chiltern Edge.

In total, 19 responses were received during the public consultation period. The majority of respondents (84 per cent) are individuals / members of the public and 10 per cent (2) from a business / organisation.

Comments were generally positive about the content of the document. There were mixed comments received on the proposed boundary extension along Hardwick Road. Directly affected residents were concerned about the implications for their responsibility to maintain the trees and not keen to see the boundary extended.

However, residents of the wider village were keen to see the trees included in the designated area to ensure their ongoing protection.

Overall, it is considered there is good evidence of the historic contribution the trees make to the area. The addition of the trees to the boundary does not restrict the owners from doing necessary works, it just ensures that where works are needed these are agreed first and ensures suitable replacements for important trees can be secured if necessary.

You can view a copy of the comments received to the consultation for Whitchurch-on-Thames Conservation Area Appraisal consultation.

The feedback received to the consultation resulted in several amendments to the appraisal document which can be viewed in the Cabinet Report. The updated Whitchurch-on-Thames Appraisal document was adopted by the council democratic process in December 2025 and is available to view on the conservation pages of our website.