Complex sentence: Machin's protest did not prevent the lamp-post from being replaced by a concrete one; however, the estate subsequently received the distinction of being the first designated conservation area in Stoke-on-Trent.
Split into simpler sentences: Machin's protest did not prevent the lamp-post being replaced by a concrete one. However, the estate subsequently received the distinction of being the first designated conservation area in Stoke-On-Trent.