Management Historic England Advice and getting the job done Reading - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Conservation Areas: Appraisal and Management Historic England Advice and getting the job done Reading 24 th th February 2016 24

Programme for the day  Recap on pre-course learning  Exercise 1: Identifying Special Historic Interest  Exercise 2: Assessing Character and Special Architectural Interest  Preparing an Appraisal  Exercise 3: Considering management options  Implementing management options and monitoring change

What did you learn?  Time for a pub quiz

Round 1, Fill in the blanks Q1. What is the official definition of a Conservation Area* Areas of special historic or architectural interest the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance 1 point for each correct word (9 max.) *S.69 (1a), Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990

Round 2, Make a List Q2 Q2. Identify three pieces of national policy, guidance or advice that promotes the use of conservation area appraisals or similar evidence? Q3. Identify three possible users of a conservation area appraisal Q4 Q4. . Identify five uses of a conservation area appraisal

Round 3. True or false? A Conservation Area can include areas of Q

Round 4, Sport, Television, Arts and Drama,  Q10. What does any of this have to do with heritage?

Swap your papers and add up your scores  Totals out of 25.

Q1. What is the official definition of a Conservation Area* Areas of special historic or architectural interest the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance 1 point for each correct word (9 max.) S.69 (1a), Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990

Q2. What current National policy, guidance or advice promotes the use of conservation area appraisals or similar evidence?  National Planning Policy Framework  National Planning Practice Guidance  Understanding Place: Conservation Area Designation, Appraisal and Management  Historic England Planning Advice Note 4: Conservation Area Appraisals

Q3.Identify three possible users of a conservation area appraisal* Planning Policy Development Control Developer – planning, Officer Officer consultant, architect, urban designer, Parish Council Conservation Officer landscape designer Property Tree officer Amenity Societies / owner Residents Association Highways department Historic District/County Councilor Heritage Lottery Fund England Planning Neighbourhood Planning Inspector Forum *1 point for each, ½ bonus point for each user over 3, 1 point for a valid user not on our list.

Q4. Identify five uses of a conservation area appraisal* evidence to Information for Develop consensus Build support for protection – fulfill duty to officers re: between Council and raise awareness give ‘special planning community Identify areas most at risk of consideration’ applications decay and neglect Inform site Provide Robust basis for specific planning Justify the area’s designation evidence to decisions – policies / develop implement policies develop’t briefs To review the boundary of the management area (from time-to-time) Identify what Inform owners – rights proposals should be and requirements Inform developers, encourage (Article 4?) – a preserved vs better applications, save statutory duty ‘enhanced’ Attract external funding officer time *1 point for each, ½ bonus point for each use over 3, 1 point for a valid user not on our list.

Round 3. True or false? - False - True - True - False Q - False

Round 4. Popular Culture

Identifying Special Historic Interest  What is the story of the area?  Does anything stand out as distinctive?  Does the area illustrate or provide a strong connection with this story particularly well?  Form hypotheses - test through survey.

Resources to use  The National Heritage List • Use it online • • Use the map search feature • Look for patterns in the information

Resources to use  Record Office ask for help, phone ahead • Historic maps • Ordnance Survey • Tithe and Inclosure • • Estate records • Trade directories • Local history

Other sources  Victoria County History   Old-maps.co.uk   Local History Societies  Local history websites be critical

Resources to use  The Historic Environment Record • Visit • Or use online • Archaeology • Historic buildings

Exercise 1: Oxford Road Identifying Special Historic Interest  Use the form in your pack to develop an outline chronology of the history of the study area  Identify possible sources of special interest

What came before?  Prehistory?  A medieval Castle?  Roads to from  Civil War defences

What came before?  Gardens, nurseries, paddocks  Turnpike roads  Inns

 Jesse Family Speculations  middle class exodus  Municipal reform?

What changed over time?  The impact of new transport infrastructure  The city expands over its suburb  A change in economy, demand and consumers?  Changing modes of transport

What changed over time?  High demand for low cost housing – court housing  Filling in the grid  Later … slum clearance

What changed over time?  High demand for low cost housing court housing  Filling in the grid  Later

Has any recent change obscured the story?

So what was the special interest?  The Changing role of Castle Hill? Medieval to modern  Gentrification housing for the workers  Illustration of the impact of changing transport and growth of industry

Hypotheses to test  focus of special interest for architecture?  Survival of pre-1860s terraced artisan housing?  Use of locally distinctive materials Reading bricks?  Evidence of early/mid 19 th Century speculative development in the streetscene?  and grid iron residential streets?

The Oxford Character Assessment Toolkit

What contributes to character?  Spaces  Buildings  Green stuff, wet stuff, solid stuff, high stuff, low stuff …  Views  The effects on your other senses  Activities and ‘ busy-ness ’

What makes these characteristics?  These features make a place recognisable and distinct  The result of an historical process  Could be common or unusual  Singular or repeated  Physical features  Activities - People  Character is something that is continually changing

Character Assessment  Adding value judgements  What is the ‘significance’ of each feature as part of the whole?  What contributes positively / negatively?  How ‘important’ is it ?

Character Assessment Toolkits  Help you describe character  Help you justify value judgments  May help you work together observation reflection analysis

The Survey Tools • A detailed toolkit • A fast toolkit • A comparable approach • Observations are guided to have weight • A scoring system to help convey positive and negative contributions

One Area or Many?

Things to bear in mind:  Record what you see  How is the history visible?  What features are repeated (characteristic)? are they part of the architectural or historic interest?  Record the negative as well as the positive • What disguises the special interest? • What makes it harder to be in the place?  Look beyond the limits of the area

Scores  Compare your results  Do the scoring of the positive, negative and neutral features together  Try to explain why you gave these scores  Keep trying to refer back to the special interest or ‘ character as a whole ’  Beware of relying on aesthetic judgments alone

Exercise 2: Castle Hill and Oxford Road Russell Street CA Sample study area 1. In your groups, use the Initial Reaction and one other page of the toolkit to assess the character of 1 street in the study area 2. Report back on your street ’ s top three key positive character features and three lowest scoring negative features / issues

Writing your Appraisal

Historic England Advice Note 4 Consultation Draft  Changes resulting from consultation expected to be minimal  approach

Need for information to inform decision making managing change

Designation  Ref. to para 127 - Local authorities must ensure areas merit designation for special interest

Significance = Special Interest  What makes the interest special? • • Age, rarity, integrity, group value, identity • Context

Significance = Special Interest  Focus of designated assets  Varied architectural styles or historic associations  Focus of industry/ philanthropy with local interest  Original, historically significant layout evident  Particular architectural style / traditional materials   Open areas relating to built fabric or spatial element 