Lasswade & Kevock Conservation Area Midlothian LASSWADE & KEVOCK CONSERVATION AREA Midlothian Strategic Services Fairfield House 8 Lothian Road Dalkeith EH22 3ZN Tel: 0131 271 3473 Fax: 0131 271 3537 www.midlothian.gov.uk 1 Lasswade & Kevock Conservation Area Midlothian Lasswade and Kevock CONTENTS Preface Page 3 Planning Context Page 4 Location and Population Page 5 Date of Designation Page 5 Archaeology and History Page 5 Character Analysis Lasswade Setting and Views Page 8 Urban Structure Page 8 Key Buildings Page 9 Architectural Character Page 10 Landscape Character Page 12 Issues Page 13 Enhancement Opportunities Page 13 Kevock Setting and Views Page 14 Urban Structure Page 14 Key Buildings Page 15 Architectural Character Page 15 Landscape Character Page 16 Issues Page 17 Enhancement Opportunities Page 17 Issues Applicable to the Whole Conservation Area Page 17 Character Analysis Map Page 19 Listed Buildings Page 20 Conservation Area Boundary Page 25 Conservation Area Boundary Map Page 26 Article 4 Direction Order Page 27 Building Conservation Principles Page 28 Glossary Page 30 References Page 33 2 Lasswade & Kevock Conservation Area Midlothian PREFACE attention to the character and appearance of the area when Conservation Areas exercising its powers under planning legislation. Conservation area status 1 It is widely accepted that the historic means that the character and environment is important and that a appearance of the conservation area high priority should be given to its will be afforded additional conservation and sensitive protection through development management. This includes plan policies and other planning buildings and townscapes of historic guidance that seeks to preserve and or architectural interest, open enhance the area whilst managing spaces, historic gardens and change. This does not mean that designed landscapes, archaeological development will be prohibited but sites, and ancient monuments. These that proposals should be of an contribute to the distinctive appropriate character, scale and character of the urban and rural appearance to the area. environment, are a valuable part of our heritage and have an important Additional Powers role to play in education, recreation and the wider economy. 5 The additional powers automatically conferred by designation of the 2 The Planning (Listed Buildings and conservation area extend only to the Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act demolition of unlisted buildings and 1997 requires that local authorities to the protection of trees. Minor determine if there are “areas of developments, such as small special architectural or historic alterations to unlisted buildings, still interest, the character of which it is do not require consent. The desirable to preserve or enhance”, cumulative effect of such changes and if so, to designate these as can greatly erode the character and conservation areas. appearance of the conservation area. Midlothian Council therefore Character Appraisals intends to make a Direction under Article 4 of the Town and Country 3 A Character Appraisal is an Planning (General Permitted effective tool in defining the Development) (Scotland) Order character and appearance of 1992 which will bring these small conservation areas and their special alterations under planning control. interest. The appraisal sets out the This control is set out in greater main characteristics of the area, detail in Section 10. Before carrying identifies where enhancement is out any tree work within the required and where stronger controls conservation area prior written notice over certain types of development must be given to Midlothian Council are necessary. The appraisal forms detailing the nature and extent of the Supplementary Planning Guidance proposed work and identifying the and will be a material consideration trees. Failure to notify the Council is in the determination of development an offence under the 1997 Town and proposals. Country Planning Act. 4 Once a conservation area has been designated it becomes the duty of Midlothian Council to pay special 3 Lasswade & Kevock Conservation Area Midlothian PLANNING CONTEXT compromised, or the social or economic benefits to be gained from 6 The character appraisal is important the proposed development outweigh to the formulation and information the conservation or other interest of of planning policy and proposals for the site. the conservation, protection and positive management of the natural 10 The Adopted Midlothian Local and built heritage. Management is Plan (2003) seeks to guide achieved through non-statutory and development while protecting the statutory planning policy, environment. The Plan seeks to enhancement schemes and Article 4 protect the character and appearance Direction Orders. of the natural and built heritage. The Plan envisages no further National Guidance development other than the new development of brownfield / infill 7 National Planning and Policy land and / or conversion of buildings Guideline 18: Planning and the within the Conservation Area Historic Environment requires (RP20). The Plan allows for conservation area character sensitive alteration and/or extension appraisals to be prepared when local of existing properties in the authorities are reconsidering conservation area. Outwith the built existing conservation area up area, the remaining part of the designations, promoting further conservation area is covered by the designations or formulating Protection of the Countryside policy enhancement schemes. Article 4 (RP1), the Protection of the Direction Orders will not be Greenbelt (RP2) which limit confirmed by the Scottish Ministers development, Areas of Great unless a character appraisal is in Landscape Value (policy RP6) and place (NPPG18, 1999, para 40). Nationally Important Gardens and Designed Landscapes (policy 8 Planning Advice Note PAN 71: RP22). Other policies apply. Conservation Area Management complements existing national 12 The Finalised Midlothian Local policy and provides further advice Plan was put on deposit in 2006. It on the management of conservation included proposals for the extension areas. of Lasswade and Kevock Conservation Area. While these are Statutory Policies not currently within the Conservation Area, they have been 9 The Edinburgh and the Lothians included in this document for Structure Plan 2015 (ELSP) appraisal. Objections to these provides the strategic context for changes that were submitted during development until 2015 and the deposit period will be dealt with contains a policy (ENV1D) that through the Hearing/Public Local seeks to protect and enhance the Inquiry process. character of conservation areas. Policy ENV1D states development 11 Areas of Great Landscape Value affecting conservation areas or their (AGLV) may be designated under setting will only be permitted where S.D.D. Circular 2/1962. it can be demonstrated that the objectives and overall integrity of the designated area will not be 4 Lasswade & Kevock Conservation Area Midlothian LASSWADE & KEVOCK CONSERVATION AREA LOCATION AND POPULATION History 12 The Lasswade and Kevock When there was nae brig to cross conservation area lies on either side the Esk river, of the river North Esk, two miles On Jenny‟s broad back they a‟ gaed south west of Dalkeith. The thegither, population of the area is For Jenny was honest, stout, sober, approximately 460 persons. and steady, She carried the laird, she carried his DATE OF DESIGNATION leddy; When he was richt seated the doggie 13 The Lasswade and Kevock first gaed, conservation area was designated by Then, weaving his stick, he cried: Midlothian District Council in July “Jenny, lass, wade!” 1990. 15 The often repeated rhyme has ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY nothing to do with the origin of the place name Lasswade. The rhyme Ancient Monuments was written by a Miss Walker when she was staying at Hawthornden 14 The following ancient monument is Castle perhaps one hundred years situated within the Lasswade and ago. The name of Lasswade is most Kevock Conservation Area. likely to have originated from the combining of the words leas (a Lasswade Old Parish Church meadow) and gewaed ( a ford). 16 Lasswade developed around the ford at this point across the river North 5 Lasswade & Kevock Conservation Area Midlothian Esk. Milling, harnessing the power Midlothian and established before of the river North Esk, was an that of Dalkeith. In 1949 however important industry here by 1500. the St Leonard‟s paper mill and Paper making was established in carpet factory closed and the area 1750 and soon flour milling and lost much of its prosperity. During carpet making. Almost all traces of the 1950s much of the population these have now vanished although a removed to housing estates in converted mill building remains at Bonnyrigg with a resultant large- the bridge end of Westmill Road. scale demolition of traditional housing in the village. A substantial part of Lasswade‟s architectural and historic character was lost at that time. Redundant industrial buildings were also demolished. Recently these derelict sites have been developed with the construction of more houses and some environmental improvement has taken place. Lasswade today is largely a residential area. 19 In the 18th and 19th centuries the Old Lasswade Church wooded countryside of the steep- sided valley saw the development of 17 Early origins are documented in a a number of country cottage retreats record of 1150 which reveals that from the city, especially in the Lasswade‟s first church was Kevock area.