Droitwich Spa Conservation Area Droitwich Spa The Droitwich Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan was adopted by Wychavon District Council as a document for planning purposes on 3rd September 2013 Minute 42 of the Executive Board meeting of 3rd September 2013 refers. Wychavon District Council Planning Services Civic Centre Queen Elizabeth Drive Pershore Worcestershire WR10 1PT Tel. 01386 565000 www.wychavon.gov.uk 1 Droitwich Spa Part 2. Management Plan Part 1. Appraisal 1 Introduction 1 Introduction What is this Management Plan for? What is this appraisal for? Planning Policy Framework 2 Management Proposals 2 Summary of Special Interest Statement of Community Involvement 3 Assessing Special Interest Location and Setting Historical Development and Archaeology Plan Form Spaces Key Views and Vistas 4 Character Analysis Character Areas Dodderhill Vines Park High Street, Friar Street, St Andrew’s Street and Queen Street Victoria Square and St Andrew’s Road Lido Park and St Peter’s Fields Lyttelton Road Buildings Shop Fronts and Signage Materials Local Details Boundaries Natural Environment Enhancement Opportunities 5 Issues Note Sources Further Information Appraisal Map 2 Droitwich Spa Planning Policy Framework 1.4 Part 1. This appraisal should be read in conjunction Droitwich Conservation with the national, regional and the local planning policy framework, particularly: Area Appraisal • National Planning Policy Framework which set out Government policy and 1 Introduction guidance on the protection of What is this Appraisal for? conservation areas and other elements of the historic environment; 1.1 A conservation area is an area of special • Policies CTC19 and CTC20 of the architectural or historic interest, usually the adopted Worcestershire County historic part of a town or village, where we Structure Plan 1996-2011, which seek to wish to preserve or enhance its character or protect and enhance conservation areas; appearance. Part of Droitwich is a and conservation area. • Policy ENV12 of the Wychavon District 1.2 Under Section 72 of the Planning (Listed Local Plan (June 2006) which is intended to ensure that development Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 we must pay special attention to the preserves or enhances the character or appearance of conservation areas. desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of the conservation 1.5 area. This appraisal identifies the special interest and character of the Droitwich Broadly, these policies seek to ensure that the conservation area is preserved by: Conservation Area, and provides guidance on how the preservation or enhancement of Refusing permission for: its character or appearance can be achieved. The first part of the appraisal • the demolition of any building or identifies its special interest and character. The second part sets out management structure if its loss would damage its character or appearance proposals for addressing the issues identified in the appraisal. • the extension or alteration of a building where the change would damage its 1.3 character or appearance The Droitwich Conservation Area was • development which would be harmful to designated in November 1974 and extended its setting or character or appearance in 1980. The boundary was reviewed during • development which would adversely the preparation of this appraisal. The affect or result in the loss of historic current conservation area boundary is plots, layouts and street pattern, shown in the appraisal. important views, open spaces, tree cover or boundary features within the conservation area • signage which would be harmful to the character or appearance of the conservation area, and requiring new development to: 3 Droitwich Spa • respect its context in design, including century tourist spa resort. Each of these scale, form, proportion and detailing phases of development has left its mark, • use materials in accordance with those with a legacy of historic buildings and traditionally used in that particular part of structures overlaying an historic settlement the conservation area, and maintain a form, with much evidence of its early origin similar mix and changing role in history and a very high significance of archaeological interest and • be located on their sites in a similar way potential. to the general pattern of building in that part of the conservation area 2.3 • boundary walls, railings and hedges Droitwich today is a small regional town. It should be incorporated in the is a place of contrasts, with an obvious development in a similar way to those divide between the old town and newer already in existence in that part of the planned areas linked to its development as conservation area, and these should use a spa resort. Its old streets are a lively mix similar materials and detailing, or of timber frame, brick and rendered species, and buildings dating from the 13th to the 21st • signs to respect the character of the centuries. The medieval town is still readily buildings and quality of the historic apparent in its layout, with a back lane and environment in their siting, size, well defined rectangular plots divided and materials and design. defined by brick walls behind tight lines of buildings fronting narrow streets. The later 1.6 planned areas are readily identifiable in In accordance with the new planning system large detached Victorian and early 20th introduced in 2004 we are preparing a century buildings set in generous plots in South Worcestershire Development Policy. tree lined avenues, reflecting the wealth of This will contain conservation area policies new visitors and residents. that will supersede the Structure and Local Plan from 2013. 2.4 The integrity of the historic town has been 1.7 badly affected by 20th century development This appraisal supplements Structure Plan but nevertheless retains elements of its and Local Plan policies CTC19, CTC20 and historic plan, many of its historic buildings ENV12. and a strong local identity. 2.5 Summary of Special Interest The conservation area is focussed on the 2.1 surviving historic areas of the town centre Droitwich has considerable architectural, and nearby residential areas. historic and archaeological interest with more than two thousand years of settlement The special interest of Droitwich that history. Droitwich is known for its salt. The justifies its designation as a Droitwich salt industry is exceptional in conservation area includes: preserving evidence for salt production from the Iron Age until the 19th century. Its long history, still evident in the layout of its streets, in its buildings and other 2.2 structures and in visible archaeological Droitwich has been a small Roman town, an remains important Anglo-Saxon, Medieval and post- Medieval commercial centre, a busy The strong survival of the medieval Georgian and a Victorian industrial town and street pattern, urban form and buildings, latterly a popular Victorian and early 20th 4 Droitwich Spa including burgage plots and rear Landscape Setting ancillary buildings 3.2 The historic core of the town lies on rising The distinct identity of the Spa town ground to the south of the river, with a development phase fragment of old settlement, and St Augustine's Church at Dodderhill standing Its significant archaeological interest and high on a spur, to the north. potential 3.3 The number and quality of historic The fringes of much of the historic town buildings have been enveloped by 19th and 20th century suburban expansion. The exception The high level of survival of historic is the remnant fields to the south of Lido fabric and architectural detailing Park (St Peters Fields), where a sense of its former rural setting is preserved. The contribution of trees, gardens and open spaces Historical Development & The conservation area boundary is drawn to Archaeology reflect this special interest. The Origins & Development of Droitwich 3 Assessing Special 3.4 Droitwich has considerable architectural and Interest historic interest, with over two thousand years of settlement history dating back to Location & Setting the Iron Age period and earlier. Location 3.1 3.5 Droitwich sits astride the River Salwarpe Mesolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age and roughly mid-way between Worcester and Roman finds around the town suggest a Bromsgrove on the A38 road linking the two. long history of settlement in the area. Archaeological investigations have revealed a large scale and well-organised Iron Age salt production centre in the vicinity of Friar Street and there are extensive buried remains of a salt making industry along the River Salwarpe covering a period of over 2000 years. Salt was a rare and important commodity in history, and it is likely that the presence of brine springs in the area attracted early settlement and was the reason for development of the town. The Droitwich brine springs are particularly pure and highly concentrated, providing ideal conditions for the development of a salt manufacturing industry. 5 Droitwich Spa 3.6 although salt production continued on a Archaeological evidence indicates that substantial scale into the Saxon period. urban occupation had commenced by the end of the 1st century AD, probably developed from the nucleus of an Iron Age 3.10 th industrial centre. By the 7 century Droitwich was the property of the Saxon King of Mercia, and there is Anglo-Saxon charter evidence from 3.7 the late 7th century to suggest a commercial There is much evidence for Roman centre, possibly associated with the royal occupation of Droitwich. Shortly after palace at Wychbold to the north-east. invasion in AD43 the Romans built a Droitwich at this time was known as Wic, a temporary marching fort at Crutch Lane at name usually indicating a coastal/river Dodderhill to guard the crossing of their trading or industrial centre. Trade in such a military road over the River Salwarpe. A rare commodity as salt would have been second more permanent fort was built important and a source of considerable around AD 61 where St Augustine's Church wealth.