Lower Ouseburn Valley Conservation Area

LOWER OUSEBURN VALLEY CONSERVATION A REA CHARACTER STATEMENT Lower Ouseburn Valley Consevation Area Character Statement CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 2 1.1 Terms of reference: conservation areas evaluation 2 1.2 Lower Ouseburn Valley – purpose of designation, principles of character and boundaries 4 2. CONTEXT OF LOWER OUSEBURN VALLEY CONSERVATION AREA 7 2.1 Historical development 7 2.2 The Lower Ouseburn Valley in the 20th Century 14 2.3 Characteristics of the Valley 15 2.4 Statutory designations within the Valley 17 2.5 The future of the Valley 18 3. SETTLEMENT ASSESSMENT 19 3.1 Sub-area 1 19 3.2 Sub-area 2 22 3.3 Sub-area 3 23 3.4 Sub-area 4 34 3.5 Sub-area 5 44 Acknowledgements 46 Lower Ouseburn Valley Consevation Area Character Statement 1 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Terms of Reference Conservation Area Appraisals This character statement has been The approach to conservation area prepared in response to the proposed designation has altered dramatically in designation of the Lower Ouseburn valley recent years. It is now recognised that Conservation Area and is in accordance development plan policy, development with Government guidance contained in control decisions, proposals for PPG15. It is modelled on the existing preservation or enhancement and the character statements for the Central “management” of conservation areas can Conservation Area and Leazes be best achieved when there is a clear Conservation Area. and sound understanding of the special interest of the conservation area. PPG15 Conservation Areas – “Planning and the Historic Environment” Conservation areas were first introduced urges Local Authorities to prepare by the Civic Amenities Act 1967, and are detailed assessments of their defined as being “areas of special conservation areas and states “the more architectural or historic interest the clearly the special architectural or historic character of appearance of which it is interest that justifies designation is desirable to preserve or enhance”. They defined and recorded, the sounder the depend on much more than the quality of basis for local plan policies and individual buildings, and take into account development control decisions, as well as features such as building layout, open for the preservation and enhancement of spaces, boundaries, thoroughfares, the the character and appearance of an area”. mix of uses, use of materials, and street Value of the Appraisal furniture. It is common for a conservation The value of the appraisal is two-fold. area to include a number of buildings, First, its publication will improve the which are designated as “Listed understanding of the value of the built Buildings” because of their individual heritage. It will provide property owners architectural or historic value. within the conservation area, and potential developers with clearer guidance on planning matters and the types of development, which are likely to be encouraged. Secondly, it will enable Newcastle City Council to improve its strategies, policies and attitude towards the conservation and development opportunities and priorities within the conservation area. The appraisal will form a sound basis for establishing effective conservation area policies; support the effective determination of planning and listed building applications; and form relevant evidence in planning appeals with specific emphasis on those relating to the demolition of unlisted • Steenberg’s Warehouse buildings. - residential and business conversion - Lime Street. 2 Lower Ouseburn Valley Consevation Area Character Statement Evaluation criteria Buildings and Development sites Streetscape • Existence/proximity to listed buildings, • Historical pattern schedule monuments, protected trees, features of interest • Effect of proportion, alignment and topography on enclosure • Grouping cohesiveness, linkage/ relationships to other buildings • Street furniture, signs and features • Period, style, materials, colour, detail, • Landscaping and surfacing proportions, status • Shopfronts and commercial treatment • Uniqueness, distinctiveness, • Period, style, materials, colour, detail, consistency, inventiveness proportion, status • Local, regional or national importance • Relationship to urban grain • Completeness. Condition, • Relationship and hierarchy with construction connecting spaces • Cultural, historical or “folk/popular” • Cohesiveness and relationship with associations adjacent buildings • Archaeological and industrial • Local, regional or national importance archaeological value • Completeness, condition, • Orientation, access, form, height, plot construction shape • Cultural, historical or “folk/popular” • Relationship to topography and urban associations grain • Archaeological or industrial • Density/proximity to other buildings archaeological value • Historical or planning precedents • Uniqueness, distinctiveness, • Opportunity for creative contemporary consistency, inventiveness solutions • Visual and physical activity • Threat from unsympathetic • Traffic and access development • Effects of differing lighting conditions Lower Ouseburn Valley Consevation Area Character Statement 3 1.2 Lower Ouseburn Valley Conservation Area The Conservation Area lies to the east of the City Centre, linking the residential suburbs of Byker and Walker with the main commercial and retail core of the City. The Lower Ouseburn Valley consists of a deep valley which stretches upstream from the mouth of the Ouseburn for approximately two thirds of a mile, to the southern entrance of the culvert. • The historic core of the conservation Boundary of area, looking north to the Conservation Area high level bridges. The boundary is largely established by the The boundary returns eastwards onto City development of the landscape within the Road and follows the line of the road as far valley. On the northern edge it clearly as the proposed stairway down to Horatio follows the ridge of the valley, separating Street, as part of the Wimpy Quayside the descent into the valley from the City development. This effectively excludes the Stadium which lies immediately north of new residential development from the the conservation area and is of a different conservation area. The line of the stairs character due to its relatively level, follows the west elevation of the Sailor’s grassed appearance. The boundary Bethel and returns westwards to take in returns southwards along Stepney Road the whole of Horatio Street, included due as far as Byker Bridge. At this point it to its association with the valley’s industrial follows the south face of the bridge before history and the retention of its traditional returning southwards along the boundary floorscape. The boundary returns of the Stepney Bank Stables. The eastwards along the south line of the street remainder of Stepney Bank has been and continues over the low-level bridge to excluded as a result of the loss of Back Maling Street where it follows the line character, due to the development of of the steps, which rise up the east bank of modern garage workshops. The boundary the valley to Ford Street. The boundary follows an arbitrary line across the bank becomes much clearer as it takes in the onto Coquet Street. At this point it former Ouseburn School and Ballast Hills becomes less defined as it follows the line burial ground. It returns onto Ford Street at of the valley bank rather than a defined the junction with Cross Street, excluding road or walkway. However, it clearly the modern Shepherds Scrap Metal site. separates the valley from the modern The boundary returns eastwards along residential development of St Ann’s and in Byker Bank before returning north along places is marked by tree growth. The the edge of Byker Buildings and takes in boundary takes in the former stable yard the Cumberland Arms before heading at the end of Breamish Street as this is of north along Back Stephen Street where it a similar character to that of the Valley in meets Byker Bridge. The boundary then general and is associated with the follows the ridge of the bank, along the line industrial heritage of the valley. of tree growth where it meets the northern ridge. 4 Lower Ouseburn Valley Consevation Area Character Statement For the purposes of this study the 3 The central section of the river conservation area has been sub-divided stretching from the Byker Bridge to into five distinctive sub-areas (see map): the Ouseburn Bridge 1 The northern head of the valley 4 The lower section of the river from the underneath the three high level Ouseburn Bridge as far as the bridges southern boundary of the conservation area 2 The grass bank separating the St Ann’s residential development from 5 The former stable yard at the end of the industrial nature of the valleys west Breamish Street bank © Getmapping/Bluesky International • Aerial photo showing boundary of conservation area. Lower Ouseburn Valley Consevation Area Character Statement 5 Map showing Sub Areas 6 Lower Ouseburn Valley Consevation Area Character Statement 2 CONTEXT OF LOWER OUSEBURN VALLEY CONSERVATION AREA 2.1 Historical Development of the Conservation Area Originally the valley formed part of the township of Byker, one of the first outside of the town walls, and prior to the industrial revolution of the 19th Century, was largely agricultural. The River Ouseburn is the longest and largest of Newcastle’s streams, and was formed some 10-15,000 years ago after the last ice age. The river is tidal up to the • “Historic” Ouseburn (date unknown). base of Stepney Bank, and traditionally turn around. As

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