Heritage Statement in support of an application to District Council for work at Chestnut House, The Avenue, Bussage. Chestnut House lies within the Bussage and Brownshill Conservation Area. The Area was established in 1991 and does not have an adopted Conservation Area Statement or Appraisal. The house is not listed and there are no listed properties in the near vicinity. According to the Parish Design Statement the original villages which comprise the parish of Chalford, including Bussage and Brownshill, started as squatter settlements, expanding to house weavers and other cloth workers for the growing industries. Numerous lovely stone cottages in the parish date from this period, while many of the larger, grand houses can be seen, on inspection, to have started as humble cottages to which wealthy mill owners added extra rooms and imposing Regency fronts. And though few mills are still used for their original purpose, many remain, now converted into offices and dwellings, but still retaining the unmistakeable appearance of old mill buildings. As the wool trade ebbed and flowed so did the population and prosperity of the area. By the mid 19th century, the cloth industry had largely moved North to Lancashire and Yorkshire, and Chalford villagers fell on hard times. By the mid 20th century over twenty-five percent of cottages were deemed unsuitable for habitation. Fortunately, in the 1970s, the historic value of the villages and dwellings was recognised, and many cottages were sold for renovation and extension. The result is a collection of houses and cottages that can still be matched to their original period, though some would say, often with less sympathetic additions.

The village of Bussage has witnessed substantial growth over many years since first recorded as Bysrugg in 1304. Over the intervening years various other spellings have appeared – Byserugge (1354), Bussrige (1586), Byssridge (1598) and Bissridge (1601). The meaning of the name has been variously discussed and described, the two most common explanations suggesting it derives from ‘the ridge of does’ or ‘the ridge of Bissa’ (https://www.chalfordparishlocalhistorygroup.org.uk/parish/bussage/) Chestnut House lies in the part of Bussage known as Old Bussage, close to the boundary with Brownshill. Old Bussage, regardless of more recent development, some of it on land previously belonging to and adjacent to Chestnut House, is still identifiable. The Bussage and Brownshill Conservation Area: follows the linear layout of the village and it includes all the older properties spilling down the scarp. The mix of large houses and small cottages, some bordering the lanes creates a confusing place to navigate. Trees dominate the landscape, more so than in other villages. (Chalford Parish Design Statement) The oldest part of Chestnut House is believed to date from the mid-1800s around the time of the construction of the local Church of St Michaels and All Angels (consecrated in 1846). The house is clearly shown on the 1885 OS map below:

Chestnut House seen on the 1885 OS Map Source: Archives. In 1870-72, John Marius Wilson’s Imperial Gazetteer of and Wales described Bussage as ‘a chapelry in Bisley parish, Gloucester; adjacent to the Cheltenham and Western Union railway, 3 miles E of Stroud. Post Town, Chalford, under Stroud. Pop., 312. Houses, 73’. Whilst ongoing small-scale building continued from this date, the village was most notably transformed during the mid-1980s, when work commenced on a large housing estate in fields between the villages of Bussage, Eastcombe and Chalford.

As a Victorian building, Chestnut House is considered a later addition and therefore not of the same ‘Cotswold Vernacular’ as the older properties in the area. Notwithstanding this, it is a traditionally constructed building, more recently extended by virtue of s.13064/A 08.09.1980 (Cloakroom and lobby extension) and s.13064/B 10.11.1983 (First Floor Extension to form bedroom). The proposed wooden framed conservatory is to be built against this 1980s extension. The work will include the removal of uPVC windows and replacement with more appropriate traditional wooden sash windows. There have been a number of historic applications relating to a garage at Chestnut House; the earliest dating from 1953 (s.1711).

Whilst many of the older properties in the Parish have been greatly extended in more recent years, or indeed have taken advantage of their large plots in order to built additional dwellings; Chestnut House has maintained a large plot regardless of the aforementioned buildings which have been developed on its land. The addition of the proposed conservatory will have little impact on the sense of space on the plot. As can be seen from the 1922 map below, Chestnut House’s original land - lined here in red - extended well beyond its current boundary.

1992 OS Map Source: Gloucestershire Archives

Much of the land within the red line above (parcels 224, 225 and 328) was developed following outline applications, and planning applications in 1976. Fifteen new detached houses were permitted and these modern properties are in close vicinity to or overlook Chestnut House. Policy National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 2019

The NPPF at paragraph 189 requires applicants to describe the significance of any heritage assets where work is proposed. The level of detail should be proportionate to the asset’s importance and no more than is sufficient to understand the potential impact of the proposal on their significance.

Paragraph 192 notes that in determining applications, local planning authorities should take account of:

a) the desirability of sustaining and enhancing the significance of heritage assets and putting them to viable uses consistent with their conservation;

b) the positive contribution that conservation of heritage assets can make to sustainable communities including their economic vitality; and

c) the desirability of new development making a positive contribution to local character and distinctiveness.

At paragraph 193 it advises that when considering the impact of a development on the significance of a designated heritage asset, great weight should be given to the asset’s conservation (and the more important the asset, the greater the weight should be). This is irrespective of whether any potential harm amounts to substantial harm, total loss or less than substantial harm to its significance.

The proposed development at Chestnut House has little significance on the character of the Conservation Area, and in the case of the replacement garage and windows, will undoubtably enhance it. SDC Adopted Local Plan (2015) The proposed development accords with SDC’s Guiding Principle 3.8 9. (SDC Adopted Local Plan 2015) to:

Conserve and enhance the valleys’ heritage assets, including the features of the area’s unique industrial heritage. Secure high quality, distinctive design, in keeping with local character, with particular emphasis on the high number of conservation areas within the Valleys and 3.91 4 & 5:

Conserve and enhance the area’s heritage assets and secure high quality, distinctive design, in keeping with local identity and character to preserve the individual character and distinctiveness of communities, villages and hamlets - with particular emphasis on the conservation areas at the heart of , Bisley, Miserden, Pitchcombe & Sheepscombe

Conserve and enhance high quality and distinctive characteristics of the Cotswold AONB

The proposals meet the demands of delivery policies CP14, ES7, ES10 and ES12

Conclusion

It is considered that the proposed replacement garage and new conservatory, because of their position, design and materials, will not cause harm to the character, setting or significance of the heritage asset (that being the conservation area). It is a deliberately designed and detailed proposal to provide additional living space, improve the appearance of the windows to the 1980s extension and replacement and improve an old garage and lean-to which has seen better days and will include the removal of an asbestos roof.