Ancient sites in Binfield are set to become part of a conservation area after being recognised for their architectural and historical interest.

Residents will now have additional duties in protecting Wick’s Green and Monk’s Alley, with the council also having greater control over the site.

Cllr Chris Turrell, Executive Member for Planning and Transport said: “By creating Monk’s Alley conservation area, we are ensuring we can protect its unique character for our present and future residents.

“Any proposed changes to the area will have to go through a rigorous assessment process, to ensure they are sympathetic to the current outstanding architectural and aesthetic qualities.”

New rules mean should residents want to demolish a building, they will need planning permission from the council, and if they would like to develop on the site, they also need planning permission where they may not have previously have needed it.

Trees will get extra protection too, but planning permission is reduced for minor developments such as extensions.

Wick’s Green contains eight listed buildings, a series of large Georgian houses in landscaped grounds, important specimen trees and “important early structures” including The White Gate and Binfield Place.

The area has suspected historic links to the Anglo-Saxon era and is notorious for being a place of refuge for Catholics when they were expelled from London in the late 17th century.

The site was assessed by conservation consultants in 2010 following an earlier inspection in 2007, but only now has it been decided that the green is worthy of designation as a conservation area.

The decision was expected to be confirmed in 2011 but due to the requirements set to be placed on Binfield Parish Council (BPC), ward members and residents as a result of its new status, it was decided that the council should not designate the site as a conservation area.

But BPC approached Bracknell Forest Council in February asking that the original 2010 proposal be reconsidered, citing a new inspection from 2017 which also highlighted the “special character of the area”.

The council undertook a consultation in August asking residents and the Parish council for their thoughts on the proposal, and a report produced for the council claims “nine residents wrote wholeheartedly in support of the conservation area, four being resident within the proposed conservation area boundary.”

It continued: “However, four residents within the boundary expressed their objection, citing additional bureaucracy in relation to the management of their homes and land, particularly in relation to tree management.”

Despite this, the decision was confirmed by Cllr Turrell on Friday, November 30.