Norland Neighbourhood Plan Draft for Local
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NORLAND NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN DRAFT FOR LOCAL CONSULTATION Foreword The Norland Conservation Area was first In accordance with Section 277(1) of the Town designated in 1969 under the then recently & Country Planning Act, 1971, as amended by introduced Civic Amenities Act 1967. The Estate the 1974 Act, the Norland Conservation Area itself was laid out and built in the mid-nineteenth was designated on the 29th January 1969 with century over a remarkably short period starting in extensions designated on 2nd June, 1978, and a the 1840s: just fifteen years separated green fields Conservation Area Policy Statement published in from a suburban estate. September 1982. Its magnificent set pieces of Royal Crescent, The objective of the Council is to conserve Norland Square and St. James’s Gardens led to this Conservation Area as an area of special the confirmation of the area as an outstanding architectural and historic interest. This does Conservation Area by the Department of the not mean that no change should take place, Environment. for conservation is as much concerned with ensuring that changes are compatible with The development was prompted by advantageous their surroundings, as with retaining the exact draining works for a new railway. But the estate appearance of the buildings. was premature and too near to the notorious potteries. The freehold owner of the estate was Since then much has been done by individual bankrupted by the scheme. He was nevertheless owners as well as the Royal Borough and the instrumental in creating an estate of grand Norland Conservation Society, to preserve and compositions which, although not designed by enhance the area: great architects of the day, resulted in a townscape of innate quality. ● The gardens of Royal Crescent and Norland Square (as well as St James’s Gardens) now It comprises many types of urban streetscape: boast fine new cast-iron railings, and the gar- grand compositions of linked terraces, coupled dens have been beautifully landscaped and, to with more modest, but nonetheless unified a considerable extent re-planted smaller-scale houses and mews, creating different ● Article 4 directions (see Appendix C) have airs of urbanity and spacious style. It retains been implemented to protect the street scene homogeneity due to the dates of building being in most streets in the area so close. The varied style east of Pottery Lane ● Adherence to the agreed painting scheme in is partly due to the historical age difference, Royal Crescent and Norland Square (covered and partly to the influence of the neighbouring by Article 4 direction) has done much to en- Ladbroke Estate. hance the unity of the Crescent and the ter- A few feature buildings at significant locations races of the Square create foci of attention in the formal layout whilst ● The increasing affluence of individual owners a wide variety of detail and changing styles create has enabled a lot of improvements to individual progressive interest throughout the area. Modern properties, including reinstatement of all-im- imaginative design does not detract much from the portant architectural details of façades area, although some eyesores identify themselves ● A lot of the paving has been replaced with York for remedial action. stone, to change the “feel” of the area very The north-south traffic route down St. Ann’s Villas much for the good and round Royal Crescent creates some major problems. The solution to these problems requires At the same time, as any highly desirable inner striking a careful balance between the need to London conservation area, Norland has been protect and enhance Grade II* listed buildings and subject to many new development pressures (as important parts of the Conservation area, and the owners have sought to stay put and expand their communication needs of areas immediately to the houses, rather than move elsewhere to something north. larger), as well as the increasing noise and dirt Despite the inevitable problems in the area, caused by traffic in Royal Crescent and St Ann’s the overwhelming impression is of remarkable Villas. preservation requiring only a helping hand to remedy the minor eyesores which detract from the delicate classicism of the architecture in the area. Aims of this Neighbourhood Plan The Council has a statutory duty to preserve The aims of this Neighbourhood Plan, just as and enhance the character and appearance earlier Conservation Area Policy Statements within of conservation areas as areas of special RBKC are: architectural and historic interest – “to pass on the legacy”, in the words of the Local Development 1. To set out agreed aims for development and Framework. conservation in the area, including planning control, traffic, tree planting, neighbourhood and This has been the principal aim of the Norland streetscape. Conservation Society since its founding in 1969. This does not mean that no change should take 2. To provide a useful guide for residents, place, for conservation is as much concerned with owners, developers and their architects as well ensuring that changes are compatible with their as for the Council’s officers. neighbours, surroundings as with retaining the exact appearance of the area and its buildings. Specifically with reference to the Norland Conservation Area, the aims of the Neighbourhood Plan are: 1. To define the essential character and features which make it “outstanding” as a conservation area, in terms of: • Townscape – primarily buildings and garden squares • Landscape – primarily gardens, trees and planting • Streetscape – primarily street furniture, movement and traffic • Neighbourhood – uses, facilities and amenities 2. To define the aspects that should be protected, preserved or enhanced. 3. To identify the important aspects of quality of life in the area, such as • tranquility • overall security • ease and security of movement • access to public facilities and amenities and to define those aspects which should be protected, preserved or enhanced. 4. To provide guidance for: • control of development • streetscape design and management, landscaping • detailed design in the area 5. To identify areas where improvements should be made Conservation is a partnership. This much Boundaries Of The Neighbourhood Area is clear from the past 43 years since the designation of the Norland Conservation Area. This Neighbourhood Plan covers the Norland Neighbourhood Area designated on 22nd May Everyone living and working in Norland, as well as 2012. It comprises the Norland Conservation the Norland Conservation Society and the Royal Area and includes 2-32 St Ann’s Road and 65- Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, share a 117 Wilsham Street. These properties have been responsibility to preserve and enhance the area - included as they belong stylistically to Darnley everyone sensitive to what will enhance and what Terrace, and historically to the development of the will detract, what is authentic and in keeping with Norland Estate. the original design ideas for the area, and active in upholding them. The Norland Conservation Area was designated on 29th January 1969. It included the original The policies and guidance set out in this Norland Estate as built up to 1852 and the Neighbourhood Plan are not all subject to planning completed north side of St. James’s Gardens control; they are aspirational, but also exemplify which dates from 1864-79. best practice. Where appropriate, through Article 4 directions, the planning authority maintains control The boundaries of the conservation area were of development and alterations to ensure the most adopted by the Council on 26th April, 1978. important architectural heritage is preserved. The complete list was published in the London Gazette on 2nd June, 1978. On 25th June, 1979 On the basis of 43 years experience of working the Secretary of State of the Department of to preserve and enhance the area, the Norland Environment accepted that the extended Norland Conservation Society has a vital role to play in Conservation Area is of “outstanding historic and guiding best practice and promoting quality, as architectural interest”. well as developing the policies and guidance set out in this Neighbourhood Plan. Individual owners also have a responsibility to take care of the very special part of London in which they live – in relation to their own properties and gardens, by raising the awareness of their neighbours, and being alert to alterations and changes that would be detrimental to the area. Status of this Neighbourhood Plan This neighbourhood plan becomes part of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s statutory development plan and will form the 111-117 Wilsham Street basis for determining planning and listed building applications in Norland. The plan conforms to the policies within the Core Strategy and other development plan documents which form the Local Development Framework. The Local Development Framework, together with The London Plan, determines how the planning system helps to shape Norland – the London Plan provides Londonwide policies to help achieve the Mayor’s vision for London, whilst LDFs provide more focused and localised policies to shape development within the borough to achieve the Council’s vision. 14 St. Ann’s Road CONTENTS 1. OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE 2. DEVELOPMENT PRESSURES OF NORLAND 2.1 USE CLASS CHANGES 1.1 QUALITY OF LIFE IN NORLAND 2.2 PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT 1.2 VISION FOR THE FUTURE 3. ESSENTIAL CHARACTER AND FEATURES OF THE AREA 3.1 TOWNSCAPE 3.3.5 Street Furniture – lights and signs 3.3.5.1