R Elliott Associates Ltd Consulting Structural & Civil Engineers APPLICATION FOR LISTED BUILDING CONSENT DESIGN & ACCESS STATEMENT/ HERITAGE STATEMENT FOR: REPLACEMENT ROOF for PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE, WALHAMPTON SCHOOL, LYMINGTON, HAMPSHIRE, SO41 5ZG R Elliott Associates Ltd DESIGN AND ACCESS/HERITAGE STATEMENT Walhampton School, Walhampton, Lymington, SO41 5ZG Proposed Replacement Roof for the Performing Arts Centre. Introduction This Design and Access Statement, incorporating the Heritage Statement, sets out the details for the replacement roof for the Performing Arts Centre and any impact this may have on the Performing Arts Centre, main school building and surrounding environment. Heritage of the Walhampton School Site Walhampton House was originally constructed in 1711 as a country mansion, though smaller in size than the current structure, on the site of a former substantial farm house. Built in red brick, which was customary during the early 18th century, it was modelled in Queen Anne style. Extensions to the building included canted bays to the south in 1770, and, in the early 19th century, a wing to the east, and to the north, two pavilions, one on each side of the front door. In 1884 the previously added eastern wing of the house was demolished and a major extension, in the form of a new eastern wing, more than doubled the size of the house. Designed by Norman Shaw in Queen Anne Revival style, this extension makes a distinct contrast with the rest of the house. What remained of the pre-1884 house was almost entirely demolished in 1911 and rebuilt to the design of Edmund Fisher in the Neo-Georgian style. This and the Norman Shaw addition comprise the house of the present day. The interiors of the present house, save for the conference room which dates from the 18th century, originate from either the 1884 extension or the 1911 rebuilding and renovation. The most impressive of these, on account of the details in their ceilings and panelling, are perhaps the front hall and chapel, the latter having been formerly a music room and ball room. The Italian terrace was designed by Harold Peto and dates from 1905. The Edwardian terrace and the colonnade beside the swimming pool were designed by Thomas Mawson and date from the 1911 rebuild of the 1711 house. They reflect the Italianate style that was fashionable at that time. The present Walhampton House therefore includes remnants of the 1711 Queen Anne building, the 1884 Norman Shaw extension, and the 1911 Neo-Georgian rebuild of the House. All together these are listed as a Grade II* structure. The extensive listing concerns, among other structures, the detailing of the main door, sashed windows, quoins, the cornice and stone coping. Other structures that have connections with Walhampton House, such as walls, gateposts and sundials, are individually listed and graded according to their significance. Walhampton Home Farm is another listed building situated in the proximity of Walhampton House, constructed in a model farm layout around 1900. Further buildings have been constructed around Walhampton House in more recent times to provide additional facilities required since the house was converted to a school, and these range widely in style and materials. The main house and other buildings lie within an estate that along with other surrounding estates, like Newtown and Pylewell, form an important reminder of the heritage of the large country estates in this area. These estates all form their own individual character areas within the Forest South East Conservation Area, with Walhampton being Area G. The Walhampton character area is bordered on the west side by the Lymington River, beside which is located the main development in this area, other than that associated with Walhampton House/School. This development is linear and follows along Undershore Road around to the golf course and ferry terminal before the road heads off to Pylewell Park. Whilst this development is low lying down by the river, Walhampton House is set high up on the hill, and dominates this character area. Front Elevation of the 1911 Queen Anne style part of the House, with the Shaw addition to the left Performing Arts Centre The Performing Arts Centre (PAC) is a high, single storey building that was constructed in the 1960s. It is located to the east side of the courtyard, behind buildings that would once have been used in conjunction with the stables. In more recent times, the older buildings around the courtyard have been used as classrooms, whilst the PAC building was previously a gymnasium. It was then repurposed for performing arts following the construction of the new Sports Hall around 2000. Infilling around the PAC means that it is now an integrated part of the built-up area to the east of the courtyard rather than a stand alone building as it once was. OS Map 1964-1972 The PAC building is built up from a number of goalpost frame sections around which the roofing and cladding is constructed. The lower part of the building is externally clad in brown stained vertical cladding, and the cladding on the upper part, contained between a white band above and below the windows, is aligned horizontally. A flat roof above the white painted eaves completes the rigid, box-like appearance of the building. Existing Condition of the Performing Arts Centre The design of the building has sought to keep a clean appearance by directing rainwater towards the centre of the roof rather than having gutters around the roof perimeter. The rainwater is then directed out to the east side through the void between the ceiling and the roof construction. Unfortunately, this system has now developed leaks and is causing water to drip down inside the building. This has led to the PAC being effectively closed while the defects have been investigated and until a solution is in place. Proposed Replacement Roof The proposed solution is to replace the roof. Whilst it is possible to repair the existing roof, the long-term future of the building has been considered, and it is deemed more sensible to keep the rainwater outside the building completely, rather than continue with a system that has been shown to fail and will likely do so again in time. Employing a more conventional approach to rainwater management will eliminate the risks associated with the current internal system. It will also reduce the likelihood of needing to carry out works internally and therefore reduce any impact on the use of the building. The proposed roof is a felt flat roof that will retain as much similarity with the existing roof as possible and maintain the style of the building. The roof will be ‘flat’ but actually pitched at a shallow angle so that rainwater drains out to the eaves. This will be a negligible change that won’t be visible from ground level. Gutters and downpipes will be required around the perimeter of the roof, which will be white powder coated aluminium, and the eaves and fascias will be white painted timber as existing. The use of felt as a material has been chosen by the school in preference to other materials, taking into account that it will be barely visible, as prior consultation with roofing contractors has revealed that felt is considered less susceptible to damage by birds, for example. The rainwater will be directed to the existing downpipes on the east side of the building, which currently come through the wall and down to ground level. On the west and north sides, downpipes will be added as frequently as possible to enable rainwater to be split between a number of existing gutters and downpipes to reduce the amount of water being added to each gutter and downpipe. With the replacement of the roof comes an opportunity to improve the performance of the building. The roof replacement will be required to comply with current building regulations, and so a warm roof will be applied that will provide insulation that the current roof does not have. The vents and other penetrations through the current roof will be removed, thus making it a more thermally and maintenance efficient roof. Where the pipes will be removed from the side of the building, the chance to eliminate cold bridging at these points also applies. Impact on Listed Building and Surroundings The almost indiscernible change of roof on the surrounding scene is deemed to be acceptable as the development will not adversely affect the PAC building or its environs. The visible works will be the addition of the gutters and downpipes, but these will be carried out using appropriate materials to ensure that any impact from these works is commensurate. The PAC is not generally visible from the north and west elevations, and cannot be seen alongside the more historic elements of the school unless viewed from the east, around in the pre-prep garden. More distant views are possible from the main drive and pre-prep car park to the north-east but are only glimpses and the PAC stands out no more than any other buildings in the vicinity. Conclusion The proposal put forward in this application seeks to obtain consent for a replacement roof for the Performing Arts Centre. The roof has suffered from water damage due to a design that directs water towards the middle of the roof before conveying rainwater internally to the outside through the ceiling void. A replacement roof that directs water to the eaves and collects it with gutters will cause less issues and provide the school with a more reliable roof for the long term. The materials that will be used are felt for the roof covering, powder coated aluminium for the gutters and downpipes and painted timber for the fascias and soffits.