ALBERT EMBANKMENT CONSERVATION AREA DRAFT CONSERVATION AREA STATEMENT London Borough of Lambeth January 2015 CONTENTS Page CONTEXT CONSERVATION AREA MAP 4 EXISTING CONSERVATION AREA MAP 5 INTRODUCTION 6 Consultation 7 1 PLANNING FRAMEWORK 8 2 CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL 10 Introduction 10 Geology and Landscape 10 Archaeology 10 Historic Development 10 City Context 13 Spatial Analysis 14 Open Spaces 19 Trees 22 Character Areas 22 Buildings Character and Materials 28 Boundary Treatments 29 Public Realm 29 Street Furniture 30 Public Art / Memorials 31 Signs and Advertisements 32 Activity and Uses 32 Listed Buildings 32 Buildings and structures that make a Positive 34 Contribution Buildings that make a Neutral Contribution 34 Buildings that make a Negative Contribution 35 Views 35 Capacity for Change 38 Appraisal Recommendations 38 Conservation Area Boundary 38 3. GUIDANCE 40 Alterations to Existing Properties 40 New Buildings 42 Pubfronts 43 Railway Arches 43 Signs and Advertisements 43 New Uses 45 Refuse Storage 45 Plant and Equipment 45 2 Boundary Treatments 45 Trees 45 Sustainability 46 Further Information 46 4. MANAGEMENT PROPOSALS 47 Planning Controls 47 Monitoring and Enforcement 47 Signs and Advertisements 47 Highways / Street works 47 Trees 48 Enhancement Opportunities 48 Management Conclusion 49 5. CONTACTS 50 6. SOURCES 52 APPENDIX 1 – STATUTORY LISTED BUILDINGS 54 APPENDIX 2 – PROPOSED CA BOUNDARY MAP 55 3 CONSERVATION AREA CONTEXT MAP 4 EXISTING CONSERVATION AREA BOUNDARY 5 INTRODUCTION This draft Conservation Area Statement is prepared by the Council to assist with the management and enhancement of the Albert Embankment Conservation Area. It is hoped that it will be useful for residents, property managers and developers alike in understanding the objectives of the conservation area designation. Lambeth has been designating conservation areas since 1969. The Albert Embankment Conservation Area was first designated on the 26 November 2001 in order to bring Lambeth’s remaining part of the River Thames along the Albert Embankment within a conservation area; the other parts of the Albert Embankment having already been designated within the South Bank and Lambeth Palace Conservation Areas. The western half of the conservation area is occupied by the River Thames itself, including the shingle foreshore and mud-banks, the piers and bridges and Albert Embankment structure. The northern boundary is currently formed by Lambeth Bridge, the eastern boundary is formed either by the railway viaduct or by building frontages lining the Albert Embankment; and the south boundary is the boundary with the London Borough of Wandsworth. At present the Albert Embankment Conservation Area designation does not cover the whole of the Albert Embankment – the section between Lambeth Bridge and Westminster Bridge is, at the time of writing, split between the Lambeth Palace and South Bank Conservation Areas. The anomalous boundaries of the current conservation area designations in this part of the borough comes about from the ad-hoc nature of designations over the years. The adjoining Lambeth Palace Conservation Area was designated in 1969 and the South Bank Conservation area in 1982; resulting in the carving up of the Embankment between three different conservation areas. Similarly, the Vauxhall Gardens Estate Conservation Area; an Inter-war housing estate was designated in 2001, but includes Victorian industrial premises and pubs more suited to the Albert Embankment Conservation. The draft Lambeth Palace Conservation Area Statement (2013) recommended that its section of the Albert Embankment (including St Thomas’ Hospital) would be best included within the Albert Embankment Conservation Area. The preparation of this Conservation Area Statement has taken the opportunity to further assess whether the other boundaries would benefit from rectification. The findings and recommendations are contained within and can be viewed on the Proposed Conservation Area Boundary Map in Appendix 2. Extensions are proposed to the north and eastern conservation boundaries to incorporate the 19th century buildings currently located within the Vauxhall Gardens Estate Conservation Area: Glasshouse Walk, Vauxhall Walk, Worgan Street, Tinworth Street and Black Prince Road and the northern sections of River Thames and the Albert Embankment, Lambeth Bridge and 6 St Thomas’s hospital currently located in both the Lambeth Palace Conservation area and the South Bank Conservation Area. In addition to this it is proposed to include the railway viaduct from Vauxhall Cross to Old Paradise Street, the open space in front of the railway arches along Albert Embankment, Newport Street and Randall Road, including the landmark 20th century buildings fronting the river Camelford House, Tintagel House and Peninsula Heights which are not currently designated. A similar exercise, and separate consultation, is being undertaken concurrently for the adjacent Vauxhall Conservation Area. CONSULTATION The Council is circulating this draft version of the document so that local residents, property owners / building managers and any other interested parties can comment on its content. All comments received will be given careful consideration and where appropriate amendments will be made prior to the adoption of a final version. When adopted the Council and other parties will use this Conservation Area Statement to manage change in a positive manner and will help inform future action. This draft document is out to consultation until 14 March 2016 Submissions should be made by e-mail: [email protected] or in writing to Conservation and Urban Design team Phoenix House 10 Wandsworth Road LONDON SW8 2LL All submissions will be considered in detail and amendments made where appropriate. The final version of this document will be made available to view on the Council’s website. 7 1. PLANNING FRAMEWORK 1.1 Section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (the Act) requires all local authorities to identify ‘areas of special architectural of historic interest the character and appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance’ and designate them as Conservation Areas. 1.2 Conservation Area designation brings with it additional planning controls, control over demolition and the protection of trees. Section 72 of the Act places a duty on the Council and other decision makers to pay special attention in the exercise of planning functions to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of Conservation Areas. This includes exercising control over development proposals that are outside the Conservation Area but would affect its setting, or views into or out of the area. 1.3 The National Planning Policy Framework (2012) sets out the national planning policies for England and how they are expected to be applied. There are dedicated policies protecting the historic environment throughout the document in particular section 12. To maintain and manage change to heritage assets in a way that sustains and, where appropriate, enhances its significance. 1.4 The Regional Spatial Strategy for the Lambeth area is the London Plan adopted in July 2011. This document sets out an integrated social, economic and environmental framework for the future development of London over a time span of the next 15-20 years. It recognises the importance of conservation areas, listed buildings and World Heritage Sites in contributing to the quality of life of local communities and to London’s international status as a world class city. The London Plan identifies central Vauxhall, Albert Embankment and Waterloo as an Opportunity Area and states that The Mayor expects boroughs and others to use appropriate tools to manage the historic environment, including character appraisals and conservation plans. It recognises the importance of conservation areas, listed buildings and World Heritage Sites in contributing to the quality of life of local communities and to London’s international status as a world class city. 1.5 The London World Heritage Sites Guidance on Settings Supplementary Planning Guidance March 2012 sets out guidance on protecting the setting of the Westminster World Heritage Site and the fundamental contribution the setting makes to the appreciation of the site of outstanding universal value. 1.6 The Vauxhall Supplementary Planning Document (2013) builds upon the work carried out in the Mayor’s Vauxhall Nine Elms Opportunity Area Planning Framework (OAPF) and helps guide and inform redevelopment in the Vauxhall and Albert Embankment Area. This document recognises the importance of the historic environment and the opportunities it presents in delivering a new and better Vauxhall. 8 1.7 The Waterloo Area Supplementary Planning Document (2009) builds upon the work carried out in the Mayor’s Waterloo Opportunity Framework (2007) and helps guide and inform redevelopment in the Waterloo Area. This document recognises the importance of the historic environment and the opportunities it presents in delivering a new and better Waterloo. 1.8 The Waterloo Area Supplementary Planning Document (2009) builds upon the work carried out in the Mayor’s Waterloo Opportunity Framework (2007) and helps guide and inform redevelopment in the Waterloo Area. This document recognises the importance of the historic environment and the opportunities it presents in delivering a new and better Waterloo. 1.9 The Lambeth Local Plan 2015 contains general policies relating to all