Hanover Primary School Heritage Statement

HANOVER PRIMARY SCHOOL HERITAGE STATEMENT Author: Mark Sanderson Reviewed by: Chris Thomas Finance code: MT006 Date: December 2010 Heritage Statement MetroMOLA 2010 Contents 1.0 Introduction P.1 2.0 Planning Framework P.4 3.0 Historic Background P.6 4.0 The Conservation Area P.13 5.0 The Listed Building P.17 6.0 Proposals & Impacts P.21 7.0 Summary P.24 8.0 Sources P.25 Figures Cover: Hanover Primary School, North Elevation Fig 1 Location Plan, Hanover Primary School Fig 2 Duncan Terrace & Colebrooke Row Conservation Area Fig 3 Roque‟s Map of 1746 Fig 4 Greenwood‟s Map of 1824-6 Fig 5 St Mary Islington Tithe Map, 1848 Fig 6 1871 OS Map Fig 7 1894-6 OS Map Fig 8 1932 OS Map Fig 9 Hanover Primary School, Front Elevation, 1933 Fig 10 Hanover Primary School, Rear Elevation, 1933 Fig 11 1954 OS Map Fig 12 Regent‟s Canal, entrance to Islington Tunnel (Cosh 2005) Fig 13 Hanover Primary School Fig 14 The Island Queen Fig 15 Noel Road (North Side) Fig 16 Noel Road (South Side) Fig 17 Noel Road (view west) Fig 18 City Road Basin, from Rooftop Playground Fig 19 Rooftop Playground Fig 20 Rooftop Shelters Hanover Primary School Heritage Statement MetroMOLA 2010 Fig 21 Noel Road Elevation Fig 22 Single-Banked Classrooms Fig 23 Corbelled Projection and Date Plaque Fig 24 Interspersed Fenestration and Floral Plaques Fig 25 Boy‟s Entrance Fig 26 Girl‟s Entrance Fig 27 Parquet Flooring Fig 28 Dado Tiling & Internal Glazing Fig 29 Stairwell Balustrade Fig 30 Brave Deeds Board Appendix 1 Advice Report & List Description, English Heritage, 04.03.10 Appendix 2 1930s Drainage Plans of C19 School Hanover Primary School Heritage Statement MetroMOLA 2010 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Balfour Beatty Refurbishment has commissioned MetroMOLA, a regional subsidiary of Museum of London Archaeology, to undertake this Heritage Statement in respect of Hanover Primary School (Figure 1), a Grade II Listed Building designated 04/03/10 (Appendix 1). This relates to a number of works proposed under the Primary Capital Programme to refurbish, extend and update the building to contemporary educational and DDA (2005) standards. Proposals have been formulated in full consultation with English Heritage and the local authority. Figure 1: Location Plan, Hanover Primary School 1 Hanover Primary School Heritage Statement MetroMOLA 2010 1.2 The list description for Hanover Primary School notes the building to be a former Elementary, now Primary School of 1931-2 by London County Council (LCC) Architects Department. Built to five bays and three storeys with rooftop playground, to the principal façade on Noel Road, the central bay is set back behind a portico of four square piers. The list description goes on to note that it is constructed in a „loose‟ Arts & Crafts style, in yellow stock brick with mixed red and blue brick and Portland stone dressings. Roofs to roof-top playground shelters are tiled and hipped. 1.3 The school is described as being laid out to a linear plan with single-banked open-air classrooms to the south of an axial corridor. Slightly angled pavilion blocks to each end contain halls to the east and, originally, practical workshops to the west, with an additional infants‟ class on the ground floor. Separately expressed stair blocks project from the principal façade between classroom blocks and pavilions. These have an additional storey to the front of the building, providing rooftop shelters and access. 1.4 Hanover Primary School is included on the Secretary of State‟s list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest for its „unusual design‟. This is noted as mixing Arts & Crafts and what are termed „stripped-classical‟ styles, whilst being considered one of the best examples of LCC Victorian „triple-decker‟ designs, adapted to embrace the hygiene-led approach to open-air schools typical of the inter- war period. Also noted in this regard is its high quality brickwork detailing and good survival of internal fabric. 1.5 The site is also located at the east of Duncan Terrace/Colebrooke Row Conservation Area, or CA3, designated in 1969 and extended in 1991 (Figure 2). This is described by the local authority in both their design guidelines and leaflet for the area (both undated) as: “ . predominantly residential and largely made up of late Georgian and early Victorian terraces. There are also important commercial uses in the area which contribute to its character. The Regent's Canal and City Road Basin are also important features, the former emerging from the Islington Tunnel at Vincent Terrace. A small section of the New River Walk also runs through the area. Overall the area has a remarkable architectural consistency, homogeneity and historic interest, which gives the area its special character and appearance . .” 1.6 In response to contemporary minimum accommodation standards for schools (as defined by the Government‟s Building Bulletin 99), DDA (2005) requirements and more general issues of climate change and sustainability, proposals entail the creation of a single centralised main entrance; the installation of lifts and disabled hoists; the increase of classroom size; the provision of a new hall, dining facilities and sanitary accommodation; the resolution of excessive solar glare; and, the reduction of school energy bills and carbon footprint. 1.7 In accordance with Policy HE6 of PPS5, the statement first identifies and describes the significance of the heritage asset - in this instance comprising the listed building and wider conservation area - before going on to consider the projected impact of proposals upon that significance. 1.8 The author of the report is Mark Sanderson, Regional Project Manager for MetroMOLA (South). Mark has over ten years‟ experience of major heritage projects and conservation strategy throughout the UK, in both private and public sector roles. He is a full member of the Institute of Historic Buildings Conservation. 2 Hanover Primary School Heritage Statement MetroMOLA 2010 Figure 2: Duncan Terrace & Colebrooke Row Conservation Area 3 Hanover Primary School Heritage Statement MetroMOLA 2010 2.0 Planning Framework Legislation 2.1 Legislation relating to the historic environment is contained in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. Of particular relevance are Sections 16, 66 and 72, summarised as follows: Concerning a listed building or its setting, the local planning authority or Secretary of State shall have special regard to the desirability of preserving the building or its setting or any features of special architectural or historic interest which it possesses. Concerning conservation areas, special attention shall be paid to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of that area. National Guidance 2.2 National guidance concerning the historic environment is now contained in Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment (March 2010) and is supplemented by the Historic Environment Planning Practice Guide (English Heritage, March 2010). Relevant extracts are again summarised as follows. 2.3 Paragraph 7 of PPS 5 sets out the Government‟s principal objectives for planning for the historic environment. These „recognise that intelligently managed change may sometimes be necessary if heritage assets are to be maintained for the long term‟. 2.4 Policy HE1.1 states that local planning authorities should identify opportunities to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change when making decisions relating to heritage assets, seeking the appropriate modification of the asset where opportunities to adapt would include enhanced energy efficiency. 2.5 Policy HE1.3 notes that where conflict between climate change objectives and the conservation of heritage assets is unavoidable, the public benefits of mitigating the effects of climate change should be weighed against any harm to the significance of heritage assets. 2.6 Paragraph 25 of the Historic Environment Planning Practice Guide goes further, noting that in instances where the ongoing energy performance of a building is unsatisfactory, there will almost always be some scope for suitable adaptations to be made without harm to the asset‟s significance. 2.7 Policy HE7.2 states that local planning authorities should take into account the nature of the significance of the heritage asset and the value it holds, using such an understanding to avoid or minimise conflict between the asset‟s conservation and any aspect of proposals. 2.8 Policy HE7.4 notes that local planning authorities should take into account the desirability of sustaining and enhancing the significance of heritage assets. 2.9 Policy HE7.5 states that the local authority should take into account the desirability of new development making a positive contribution to the character and local distinctiveness of the historic environment. 4 Hanover Primary School Heritage Statement MetroMOLA 2010 Local Policy 2.10 Islington Unitary Development Plan (2002) also contains relevant policy. This is summarised below. D22 The Council will pay special attention to ensure that the design of new development within conservation areas is of a high standard, and will normally require that new buildings and extensions to existing buildings should conform to the height, scale and massing of existing buildings and spaces within the conservation area. D39 The Council will seek to ensure that external or internal works or changes of use to buildings on the statutory list do not adversely affect their character or appearance. The Council will also ensure that their setting is protected or enhanced. 5 Hanover Primary School Heritage Statement MetroMOLA 2010 3.0 Historic Background 3.1 At the outset of the post-medieval period, the proximity of Islington to the City of London had already made this largely rural area popular with the wealthy. Many large country houses were built on manorial lands some distance from the less attractive environs of the City, whilst allowing their occupants sufficiently close contact with its trade and employment.

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