Conservation Area Appraisal & Management Plan - Home Page

Leslie Conservation Area Appraisal and Management PlanThe Council expects high standards of design and environmental quality in all newdevelopments in order to enhance the built environment and to protect the character ofindividual areas.Scale, height and massing are all important considerations for these three proposedredevelopment sites. The overall heights should be no higher or lower than surroundingbuildings; the strong horizontal lines and the proportions of solid wall to windowcomponents should be maintained. Additionally, traditional materials should beconsidered to complement surroundings.View from Falkland roadEnhancement of the Backbraes of the village on the north side would serve to enrich thecharm of the village and encourage visitors to explore. Positive measures have alreadybeen put in place by the Council, such as path improvements. Further improvementscould be made to buildings and to Commonty land to augment the appearance of thetown.GraveyardThe management of the graveyard behind Christ’s Kirk on the Green and access to it isclearly an issue and needs to be resolved. There is also an opportunity for restoration ofthe headstones and buildings.Work to the Rothes and Douglas vaults requires to be adequately completed.Traffic ManagementTraffic calming measures should be considered for Leslie as a whole, as well asimprovements for pedestrians. It may be necessary to consider diverting through-trafficaway from the town centre.Shop frontsShop fronts and other business premises are an important part of the town’s appeal.Attractive, well designed frontages complementing the style and character of itsbuildings will help to promote Leslie, encourage investment and spending, and benefitall traders. Those shop fronts which are designed in isolation, or which clash with thestyle of their buildings or relate poorly to their surroundings are to be discouraged.Projecting signs should be avoided and the lighting, lettering and the use of roller shutterdoors should also be reviewed.The Victorian shop front at 101 High Street is important to the streetscape in Leslie andshould be enhanced where possible. The owners should be encouraged to protect andcare for the frontage to ensure its survival. For further information on shop fronts seeFife Council’s Shopfront Design Guide.Street Furniture and SurfacesThe quality and design of the street furniture should be considered for the future,particularly the street lamps and street name signage.30