Swindon Village Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
DRAFT Swindon Village Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan Cheltenham Borough Council Planning Policy Team Local Plan Draft Document May 2017 The Swindon Village Conservation Area Appraisal is a draft document and will not come into force until the consultation stage is completed and they have been adopted by Cheltenham Borough Council. Any suggested boundary change will not take place until that time. For any comments please contact [email protected] For more information on the existing Conservation Area Apprisails please click here. Swindon Village Prestbury Pitville Springbank Hester’s St Way Peter’s Whaddon Fiddler’s Green Oakley Fairview St Mark’s Lansdown Battledown The Reddings Bournside Hatherley The Park Charlton Park Charlton Kings Leckhampton Swindon Village Conservation Area Conservation Areas (c) Crown copyright and database rights 2016 Ordanance Survey 10024384 Map 1. The location of the Swindon Village Conservation Area and other conservation areas in Cheltenham Swindon Village Conservation Area Appraisal- Contents Contents 1.0 Introduction 01 6.0 Assessment of Condition 24 1.1 What is a Conservation Area? 01 6.1 General Condition 24 1.2 What is a Conservation Area Ap- 01 6.2 Key Threats 24 praisal and Management Plan? 6.3 Threats to Buildings 25 Implications of Conservation Area 1.3 01 6.4 Threats to Streetscape 25 Designation 1.4 Community Involvement 01 1.5 Dates of survey, adoption and pub- 01 lication 1.6 Proposed extensions 01 1.7 Statement of Special Character 02 Part 1: Appraisal 2.0 Context 05 2.1 Location and Setting 05 2.2 Historic Development 05 2.3 Garden Suburb Principle 08 2.4 Archaeological Significance 08 3.0 Townscape Character 09 3.1 Layout and Plan Form 09 3.2 Land Uses 09 3.3 Building Height and Massing 09 3.4 Key Views 10 4.0 Streetscape Character 12 4.1 Public Realm and Open Space 12 4.2 Street Furniture 13 4.3 Private Drives 13 4.4 Boundary Treatments 14 4.5 Trees 14 5.0 Architectural Character 16 5.1 General Architectural Character 16 5.2 Historic and Architectural 16 Significance of Buildings 5.3 Architectural Analysis 17 5.4 Positive Unlisted Buildings 17 5.5 Locally Listed Buildings 23 5.6 Neutral Buildings 23 Map 2. The boundary of the Swindon Village Conservation Area Swindon Village Conservation Area Appraisal- Introduction 1.0 Introduction 1.1 What is a conservation area? 1.4 Community Involvement 1.1.1 A conservation area is an area of special 1.4.1 To start an initial meeting with Swindon architectural or historic interest, the character Village Parish Council took place in October or appearance of which it is desirable to 2016 aiming to outline the review process. preserve or enhance. The power to designate Following this the draft version will be circulated is given to councils through the Planning for comment before a full public consultation in (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) 2017 of both the Appraisal and gement plan. Act 1990 (Sections 69-78). Under section 69 local planning authorities must also review 1.5 Designation Background their conservation area from time to time. This 1.5.1 Swindon Village Conservation Area was document supersedes the previous appraisal designated by Tewkesbury Borough Council on and management plan which was previously 22 November 1986 and designation was taken reviewed in 2009. over by Cheltenham Borough Council on 1st April 1991 when the councils boundaries were 1.2 What is a conservation area revised. The area covers roughly 16 hectares. appraisal and management plan? 1.2.1 A Conservation Area Appraisal and 1.6 Statement of Special Character Management Plan is a document which 1.6.1 Swindon Village Conservation Area supplements Cheltenham’s Local Plan. encompasses the historic core of the village, and despite its close proximity to Cheltenham 1.2.2 The appraisal aims to describe the special still retains much of its distinctive village historic and architectural character of an area. character through a visual dominance of A conservation area’s character is defined by a historically and architecturally important combination of elements such as: buildings. • Architecture • Uses 1.6.2 It has largely retained its historic planform • Materials with buildings located off Church Lane, • Detailing along with a high concentration of statutory • Relationship between buildings and their setting listed buildings with a diverse range of • Appearance and placement of buildings within their plots architectural styles which adds to the character • Key views and vistas and appearance of the area. Today the • Relationship between the street and the conservation area is largely surrounded by mid buildings twentieth century developments, but despite • Trees and green spaces this the village characteristic are still clearly evident. 1.2.3 A Management Plan addresses the issues raised in the Appraisal and provides area 1.6.3 The public realm adds to the significance specific guidelines, in addition to potential of the Conservation Area, due to the lack enhancement schemes are also explored. of street clutter and the large number of mature trees located throughout the village. 1.3 Implications of Conservation Area Historic boundary wall treatments also form an important element of the character and Designation appearance of the conservation area and 1.3.1 Once designated proposals within a significantly contribute to the street scene. conservation area become subject to local Open spaces form an important role in the conservation policies outlined in the council’s conservation area; in particular this includes the Local Plan and national policies including the St Mary’s Churchyard, and open field behind. Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation This is in addition to the playing fields which Areas) Act 1990 and the National Planning have considerable historical value as the former Policy Framework (NPPF). grounds of Swindon Village Hall. Part 1: Conservation Area Appraisal This Appraisal defines the characteristics that make the conservation area special, including its wider context, historic development, townscape, streetscape and architectural character. It also describes the conservation area’s current condition. DARK LANE M A N O R C O U R T RIVER LANDS ROAD Q U A T G O O S E L A N E C H MANOR U R FARM C Map 3. Aerial photograph of the Swindon Village Conservation Area and surrounding area H RO AD R U N N I N W G S Y M R O A A N D ’ S B SWINDON R HALL O C O H U K R C H R O A D KINGSDITCH TRADING ESTATE SWINDON VILLAGE PRIMARY SCHOOL PLAYING FIELD WYMAN’S LANE Swindon VIllage Conservation Area Appraisal- Context 2.0 Context 2.1 Location and Setting regards use, building types, age, size and 2.1.1 Swindon Village Conservation Area is massing. Currently greenbelt is to the north and located in the historic core of the village, west, however these sites are subject to change approximately 2 miles north west of the centre in the coming months once the examination of of Cheltenham. The village is set within a the Joint Core Strategy is complete. low lying landscape which is predominantly 2.1.3 The Conservation Area contains 19 Grade agricultural land. Today Swindon Village II listed buildings and structures and 1 Grade is largely overshadowed by the growth of II* listed building. There are also 3 buildings/ modern Cheltenham, but still retains many of structures on the Index of Buildings of Local the village qualities. Importance (Local List). 2.1.2 Swindon Village’s physical character has, 2.2 Historic Development to a large extent, been determined by the 2.2.1 The earliest written evidence of a settlement presence of the built environment, for example at Swindon Village is its presence in the the raised railway to the east which has Domesday Book of 1086, when it is described created a physical boundary for development. as a manor of less than a square mile under To the south of the village and Conservation cultivation with some 13 families and 9 plough Area there is a large industrial park which teams in residence. However, Swindon may detrimentally affects the setting and contrasts have been in existence as a small village from the characteristics of Swindon Village with Fig.2.1 St Lawrence Church Swindon VIllage Conservation Area Appraisal- Context as early as 909 when land in the area was granted by Aethelflaed to the Priory of St Oswold in Gloucester on its formation. 2.2.2 The earliest surviving building is the tower of St Laurence’s Church, dating from the early 12th century, and today Grade II* listed (FIG. 2.1). It is one of only two six-sided towers in the county. The remainder of the homestead, located just off Hayden’s Lane, outside the conservation area marks the site of the now demolished Preist’s Mill, later known as Bedlam Mill, with a history traceable from 1250. A second mill and mill pond was located (c) Crown copyright and database rights 2016 Ordnance Survey 10024384 on Wyman’s Brook just to the Map 4. Swindon Village OS Map 1884-1893 south of the manor in the 15th century, but was removed in the late 19th century. 2.2.4 In 1840 to the east of the Conservation Area the Birmingham and Gloucester railway was 2.2.3 Parts of Swindon Hall and Swindon Manor constructed. This encroached on open land, date from the 17th century, however, both thus creating a strong visual impact, and an have been heavily altered and extended. enduring boundary, largely preventing the The majority of the historic buildings date from growth of the village to the east.