Kensal Green Conservation Area Character Appraisal/Management Plan Kensal Green Conservation Area Character Appraisal Brent Council Page 1 Kensal Green Conservation Area Character Appraisal/Management Plan Character Appraisal Contents The Appraisal 1.1 Planning Policy Context 1.2 Location and Setting 2.0 Location and Context 2.1 General Character and Plan Form 2.2 Landscape Setting 2.3 Historic Development and Archaeology 3.0 Origins and Historic Development 3.1 Archaeological Significance and Potential 3.2 Spatial analysis 4.0 Character and inter-relationship of spaces 4.1 Views and Vistas 4.2 Character Analysis 5.0 Definition of Character Zones 5.1 Activity, Prevailing and Former Uses 5.2 Architectural and Historic Qualities of the Buildings 5.3 Audit of Heritage Assets 6.0 Contribution of Significant Unlisted Buildings 6.1 Prevalent and Traditional Materials and Finishes 6.2 Local Details 6.3 Public Realm Audit 6.4 Contribution of the Natural Environment 6.5 Extent of Loss, Intrusion or Damage 6.6 Capacity for Change 6.7 Community Involvement 7.0 Boundary Changes 8.0 General Condition 9.0 Recommendations 10.0 Technical Terms 11.0 Contact Details 12.0 Appendix one: Management Plan Page 2 Kensal Green Conservation Area Character Appraisal/Management Plan 1.0 Introduction 1.1 The Appraisal This appraisal will identify, analyse and describe the historic and architectural character of the Kensal Green Conservation Area. It will identify the factors that lead to the declaration of the Conservation Area. It will highlight the prevailing quality and level of preservation of the details that define the character of the conservation area. The analysis will consider the merits of the layout, streetscape, buildings and the natural environment. It will identify the principal elements of these factors that define the character and establish how the ongoing alteration of these essential elements and gradual development has either preserved or detracted from the overall quality. Following on from the appraisal a series of recommendations will be produced. The appraisal will outline a strategy for the future of the area suggesting further protection and controls that will prevent future decline. The Kensal Green Conservation Area was originally designated in March 1990 and takes a linear form following the north side of the Harrow Road. The Road defines the boundary between the Borough of Brent and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The Kensal Green Cemetery on the South side, within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, is also a Conservation Area and a Registered Park and Garden. There are a number of listed structures within the Cemetery including the Boundary wall that flanks the Harrow Road. List of properties within the Conservation Area: Harrow Road 776-864 1.2 Planning Policy Context Definition of a Conservation Area Conservation Areas are areas of special architectural and historic character with an overall quality worthy of preservation and enhancement. The strength of their character is dependent on the way the individual buildings spaces and gardens compliment each other. The Local Planning Authority is responsible for designating Conservation Areas from the law set down in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. This enables the Council, with the aid of localised design criteria and additional controls over Page 3 Kensal Green Conservation Area Character Appraisal/Management Plan Permitted Development, to influence the type of physical changes that would otherwise be detrimental to the area. Statutory Framework Local Authorities are obliged by the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, to undertake periodic reviews and re surveys of their Conservation Areas. The Act requires this to ensure that Conservation Areas retain the character that brought about their designation. If Conservation areas retain their designation but do not retain their essential character, they undermine the credibility of a Conservation Area status. They also dilute the available resources for Conservation Work. Designations The standards by which historic areas are judged worthy of Conservation Area status have changed significantly, (In particular since the publication of PPG15 in 1994). Conservation Area assessment has become more stringent to prevent the designation of areas that either, have very low levels of building and landscape preservation or, are designated for strategic reasons. The Borough like many other Local Authorities had a number of Conservation Areas that were designated some time ago and which are no longer of a sufficient standard to retain their designation as Conservation Areas. Policy Context Conservation Areas are protected by hierarchy of policies at national regional and local levels. The Planning (listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 sets out the legal framework for the development and protection of the historic environment. Planning Policy Guidance Note 15 expands upon and develops the policies from the Act which together with London Plan establishes a regional frame work for the development of London‟s historic environment. The historic areas of the Borough are also subject to local control through the core policies of the Local Development Framework and Supplementary Planning guidance. Change and Development As with all Conservation Areas, Kensal Green is at risk from insensitive development. As families grow the need to extend and improve homes becomes more acute. The housing stock is also of an age where more significant maintenance work is required prompting owners to replace doors and windows and roof coverings. There is also the pressure to split larger houses into smaller multi occupancy units which is a particular pressure in Kensal Page 4 Kensal Green Conservation Area Character Appraisal/Management Plan green. This not only has an impact on the houses but the setting of buildings and the number of cars that residents want park off road. However, residents are becoming more aware of the value of the historic houses and their relative location in an area of character and more owners are keen to retain the “original features” that prompted them to buy their home. Kensal Green is now protected by an Article 4 Direction which should help to stop the decline in character through permitted development and possibly in time reverse the influence of unsympathetic development. 2.0 Location and Setting 2.1 Location and Context The Conservation area is located along the southern boundary of the Borough of Brent, within the Queens Park ward, and borders the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to the south. The Conservation Area is approximately 0.9 hectares in size. The Conservation Area covers a number of adjacent properties located along the northern side of the Harrow Road opposite to Kensal Green Cemetery. The William IV Public House Harrow 2.2 General Character and Plan Form The properties in the Conservation Area are of a variety of architectural styles due to the relatively long development period. The street scene is dominated by groups of large late Georgian properties, and number of which have some early Victorian features, broken up by short terraces of worker cottages from the 1820‟s. The street scene is further punctuated by properties the Regency Villa, located at 842 Harrow Road, and the William IV public house which are architectural unique Harrow Road from the North to the Conservation area. Page 5 Kensal Green Conservation Area Character Appraisal/Management Plan The Conservation Area has a linear form running along one side of the Harrow Road opposite the walls of the Kensal Green Cemetery. The stretch of the Harrow Road along which the Conservation area runs is wide and planted with trees which have now reached maturity, which adds to the distinctive character of the area. 2.3 Landscape Setting The estate was mainly developed following the opening of Kensal Green Cemetery. As such form of Kensal Green Harrow Road and the Conservation Area was restricted by the boundary wall Cemetery wall from the north running along the northern edge of the cemetery. The Conservation Area gently undulates from Northwest to Southeast. The building heights and relatively flat topography mean that there are no significant views to either man made or natural landmarks. 3.0 Historic Development and Archaeology 3.1 Origins and Historic Development The area known as Kensal Green lies astride the Harrow Road on the boundary of the Borough of Brent and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It formed a natural expansion of Kensal Town and became fashionable after the opening of Kensal Green Cemetery in 1832. The General Cemetery Company acquired approximately 22 hectares of land on the south side of the road in 1831 for £9,500. The cemetery was the first of the great commercial cemeteries to be opened in London After the Duke of Sussex was interred here in 1843 and 5 years later his sister in 1848 the „garden of the deceased‟ became socially accepted. The earliest housing in the conservation area is a row of terraced houses probably erected for agricultural labour between 1816 and 1824 These houses are typical for the period with a simple vernacular composition in complete contrast to the aspirational, fashion conscious houses just twenty years later. The main phase of development was carried out following the opening of the cemetery during the two decades after 1840. The houses were un- ashamedly in the Modern style of two bay configuration