Shirehampton Conservation Area Character Appraisal Public Consultation Draft on adoption and extension. 7 City Design Shirehampton Conservation Area Group Character Appraisal Prepared by: City Design Group Planning Division Growth and Regeneration Bristol City Council Authors: David Martyn, Senior Conservation Architect. With thanks to Professor Richard Coates. Public Consultation Draft, September 2020. © Crown Copyright and database rights 2020 Ordnance Survey 100023406 Aerial images © Blom Pictometry 2012 All historic maps and images are used courtesy of Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives © City Design Group March 2020 No portion of this document can be reproduced without the permission of City Design Group, Planning and Place Strategy Division, Bristol City Council Adopted ---- 2020 Shirehampton Conservation Area City Design Group Character Appraisal Contents 1 Introduction 5 Policy context, scope and status 6 Language of the document 7 Conservation Area boundaries 8 2 Local character and distinctiveness 9 Landscape 10 Summary of character & Special interest 11 3 Historic development 13 Summary of historic development 14 Historic development sequences 17 4 Character Areas 19 Character Area 1: High Street 23 Character Area 2: The Green 26 Character Area 3: Station Road 29 Character Area 4: The Bradleys 32 Character Area 5: Bristol Garden Suburb 35 Character Area 6: Lamplighters 38 5 Challenges and opportunities 42 6 Statement of community involvement 49 Shirehampton Conservation Area Shirehampton Conservation Area August 2020 Character Appraisal Character Appraisal City Design Group 3 Preface A distinctive historic city The City of Bristol is one of the most historic cities highway infrastructure has eroded the physical fabric character appraisal process, and reviewed. in the UK. Founded in about 1000AD the city has of the city on a scale unlike any other period. This process revealed that significant portions always been a place of change, economic growth and Within this broad context, modern Bristol’s character of historic townscape were omitted. The new innovation. is defined by a variety of distinct neighbourhoods, and extended Shirehampton Conservation Area The city began from a core around a bridge many now designated Conservation Areas - areas with boundaries are intended to reflect and include these crossing on the River Avon and flourished around a distinctive character informed by their topography, historically important areas the wharves that developed along the river banks. landscape, views, layout, land use and social Radiating out from the medieval city was a network development, architectural style, materials, etc. of roads, connecting it with the rest of the region People value conservation areas for their and dissipating its wealth along these highways. distinctiveness, visual appeal and historic character Immediately around the city many small towns and and research by the London School of Economics and villages flourished in its shadow. Historic England has found that this value is reflected As Bristol grew it expanded beyond its ancient in the property values of homes in conservation walls, but remained densely built. The smaller areas. Designation brings social, cultural, economic, satellite villages that benefitted from proximity to and environmental benefit for communities that live the city were free to grow organically and were within and around them. less restricted by the need to cling to the central A Character Appraisal is intended to help to explain commercial heart. Many were separate manors lying how a specific conservation area has evolved, and within the neighbouring counties of Somerset and highlights the key features that define the area as Gloucestershire, and expanded gradually, each to its it exists today; This understanding provides a basis own rhythm and pattern. to guide appropriate change, whilst respecting the During the Victorian era and 20th century Bristol saw historic legacy and unique sense of place of special its most dramatic changes, with the city expanding areas. Ultimately it will help to deliver Local Plan rapidly. It successively subsumed many of the policies, particularly around issues concerning historically separate settlements in a new sprawling local character and distinctiveness and the historic conurbation. Suburbs grew to meet the villages, but environment. most survived as the heart of individually recognisable This Character Area Appraisal for Shirehampton districts. identifies the current and special character of Bombing during the Second World War, post-war Shirehampton, and also makes a significant extension depopulation of the central areas, and the dominance of its boundaries to cover areas of equal or greater of private motor car use have all contributed to huge architectural and historic value. The boundary of the change in the shape of the city. The dominance of Conservation Area has been reassessed as part of this Shirehampton Conservation Area September 2020 4 Character Appraisall - Public Consultation Draft City Design Group Introduction 1 Shirehampton Conservation Area September 2020 Character Appraisal - Public Consultation Draft City Design Group 5 Introduction Shirehampton Conservation Area Policy context, scope and status 1.1 Planning Policy Context BCS22 of the Core Strategy and the Local Character and Distinctiveness Policy (DM26) and Heritage Assets The statutory definition of a Conservation Area is “an Policy (DM31) in the Development Management Policy area of special architectural or historic interest, the document. The Core Strategy (June 2011) is the overall character and appearance of which it is desirable to approach for planning in Bristol, guiding development High Street preserve or enhance” (Town and Country Planning and setting out key elements of the planning (Listed Building and Conservation Areas) Act The framework up to 2026 and beyond. Park Hill 1990, s.69(1)). Bristol currently has 33 designated Green Conservation Areas, covering approximately 30% of 1.2 Purpose and scope the city. A character appraisal provides a basis from which There is a requirement to review those areas change can be appropriately managed. Elements that Priory Road from time to time so that changes in both the make a positive contribution are identified as are understanding of the area and its physical context can features that offer an opportunity for enhancement. be accommodated. This imperative is emphasised in Bradley Crescent Section 12 of the National Planning Policy Framework ‘Loss of a building (or other element) which makes Sprinfield Avenue (NPPF), 2012. a positive contribution to the significance of the Station Road Conservation Area... should be treated either as The 1993 Conservation Enhancement Statements substantial harm... or less than substantial harm... (PAN 2) were the last wholesale assessment of the Taking into account the relative significance of city’s Conservation Areas. Since 2008, the City Design the element affected and its contribution to the Group have been undertaking a programme reviewing significance of the Conservation Area... as a whole’. the city’s Conservation Areas, following English (NPPF para. 201) Heritage best practice guidance ‘Understanding Place: Conservation Area Designation, Appraisal and ‘Opportunities for new development within Portway Management’ (2005; revised 2011). Conservation Areas (and their setting) that enhance or better reveal their significance or preserve elements Adopted Character Appraisals are Planning Guidance that make a positive contribution will be treated with status as a material consideration in planning Station favourably.’ (NPPF para. 200) decisions. An appraisal provides an evidence base for determining character and context intended to guide Conservation Area designation with an adopted and inform Development Management process and Character Appraisal will also be a tool to help highlight Lamplighters appeal decisions. the value and significance of the Shirhampton Conservation Area, raising its profile, and helping to Character Appraisals also form part of a suite of promote it as a special place worthy of its status as a guidance documents referred to in Policy BCS21 and Designated Heritage Asset. Shirehampton Conservation Area September 2020 6 Character Appraisall - Public Consultation Draft City Design Group Introduction Language of the document Character/context Local Landmark Building Types Built Form The main visual characteristics of an area resulting A terminating feature in local views or a well known Unlisted Buildings of Merit – buildings that make a Buildings and structures described using the following from the influence of geology, topography, urban or prominent building in the local context rather than special contribution to the character or appearance terms. layout, plot form, land use, and predominant building across the wider townscape. of the Conservation Area; usually of particular ages, types, form and materials. architectural or historic interest. Categorised as Scale Urban structure ‘undesignated heritage assets’, they area of material Park Hill The size of a building described in terms of the number Heritage Asset The framework of routes and spaces and the way they consideration in planning decisions. Their preservation of floors. relate to one another as defined in The‘ Dictionary of and sensitive adaptation will be encouraged through Heritage Assets are irreplaceable and are identified as Urbanism’ Cowan, R. the Development Management process.