HISTORIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT November 2013 Revb Contents
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MIDLAND METRO BIRMINGHAM CITY CENTRE EXTENSION (EXTENSION TO CENTENARY SQUARE) Colmore Row and Environs Conservation Area - Pinfold St, Victoria Square & Paradise St HISTORIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT November 2013 RevB Contents 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Background 3.0 Context 4.0 Identification of Heritage Assets and Setting 5.0 Chronological Development 6.0 Assessment of setting and contribution to significance of the heritage assets. 7.0 Assessing the effect of the proposed development on the significance of the assets and identifying any opportunities to maximise enhancement and minimise harm. 8.0 Summary 1 1.0 Introduction 1.1 This Heritage Assessment considers the impact of the proposed Metro line extension on part of Colmore Row conservation area that includes Pinfold Street, the south western section of Victoria Square and Paradise Street. 1.2 The purpose of this document is to accompany the application for the discharge of conditions in relation to hard and soft landscape works, details pursuant to the Town Hall stop, along with the re- location of the GP Telephone Boxes which will be dealt with as a Prior Notification application. 2.0 Background 2.1 The Midland Metro is a light rail rapid transit system that operates between Birmingham Snow Hill and Wolverhampton St Georges. The proposed works are linked to the extension of Midland Metro Line One to Birmingham City Centre. 2.2 The extension of the Line from Birmingham Snow Hill to Five Ways and Edgbaston was approved under a Transport and Works Act (TWA) Order (The Midland Metro (Birmingham City Centre) Extension Order 2005) and deemed Planning Permission granted under the reference TWA/03/APP/04. 2.3 The route of the Metro runs along Pinfold Street and passes through the southwestern section of Victoria Square then runs to the south of the Town Hall along Paradise Street, then on to Broad Street where it terminates at Centenary Square. 2.4 The works require adjustment of ground levels at the northern end of Pinfold Street to address engineering requirements. The alignment of the route also requires adjustment of steps and walls within Victoria Square. 2.5 A Metro stop is proposed immediately to the south of the Town Hall. 2 3.0 Context 3.1 The National Planning Policy Framework states that “In determining applications, local planning authorities should require an applicant to describe the significance of any heritage assets affected, including any contribution made by their setting.” Howl Associates has been commissioned to undertake a Heritage Assessment to address these issues as part of as part of the discharge of conditions for the TWA Deemed Planning Permission and a Prior Notification application for the relocation of GP telephone boxes. 3.2 This document therefore aims to: 3.2.1 Identify the heritage asset (and its setting) that has the potential to be affected by the proposed development. 3.2.2 Provide a brief overview of the chronological development of the asset, and its significance. 3.2.3 Assess whether, how and to what degree these settings make a contribution to the significance of the heritage asset. 3.2.4 Assess the effect of the proposed development on the significance of the asset. 3.2.5 Identify any opportunities to maximise enhancement and minimise harm. 3 4.0 Identification of heritage asset and setting Colmore Row & Environs 4.1 The key map opposite shows the location of the Conservation Area (shaded in green) heritage assets that lie adjacent the route of the proposed Metro. 4.2 Listing and heritage asset descriptions. 4.2.1 Colmore Row and Environs Conservation Area Colmore Row and Environs Conservation Council House Area was designated in October 1971 and extended in March and then in July 1985. The conservation area covers 21.70 hectares (53.62 acres) in Birmingham City Centre and is contained within Ladywood Victoria Square Ward in Ladywood Constituency. Pinfold Street, Victoria Square and the majority of Paradise Street fall within the designated area. Town Hall 80-83 New Street 4.2.2 Art Gallery, Council House & Council 84-87 New Street House Extension. Grade II* Listed. (List entry number 1210333) Listing Description “1874-9 by H R Yeoville 88-91 New Street Thomason. Stone; tile roof. Three storeys Paradise Street Victoria Pinfold Street Square plus basement; 3 bay centrepiece plus 8 House 92-93 New bay wings whose outer bays are advanced Street and carry segmental pediments. The centre piece with a wide and deep porte- Queen’s cochere carrying a balcony behind which College a central arch with mosaic tympanum Chambers by Salviati flanked by Corinthian piers and columns carrying a pediment with carved relief. Behind this, a dome on Proposed Metro Extension (shaded in red) a high drum. Either side windows with shoulders and the first and second floors articulated by giant Corinthian pilasters. Inside, a grand staircase beneath the Not to scale Conservation Area boundary dome leads up to a suite of 3 reception Colmore Row and Environs Conservation Proposed Metro extension Area Map Listed Buildings rooms on the first floor with Corinthian N Source: Birmingham City Council Locally listed buildings pilasters and coffered ceilings. The 4 Council Room is small and semi- circular. 4.2.4 Former General Post Office. Grade II On the left hand return, the entrance to Listed. (List entry number 1076142). the City Museum and Art Gallery which Listing Description “1889-91 by Sir Henry occupies part of the same site. 1881-5 Tanner. Stone; slate roof. Three storeys and also by Yeoville Thomason. In general plus attic; 5 bays, the centre one slightly design and decoration the building advanced and with superimposed follows the Council House. The entrance orders, plus diagonal corner bays with up steps within a 2 storeyed portico pedimented entrances and also with with sculptured pediment. To its left superimposed orders. Ground floor with ‘Big Brum’, a tall clock tower with tiled arched openings. First and second floors roof. At the head of the main staircase with cross windows. Exceedingly lively of the museum, a fresco, Corporation skyline with an arched window within Street in March 1914, by Joseph Southall a pedimented attic flanked by steeply 1915-6. Joined to the main building by a pitched roofs with dormer windows and bridge on a broad segmental arch over corner polygonal turrets with pediments, Chamberlain Square and bounded by little domes and urns as finials.” Great Charles Street, Queensway B3, Congreve Passage B3, Chamberlain 4.2.5 80 - 83 New Street (includes 49 and 50 Square B3 and Margaret Street B3 is Pinfold Street). Grade II Listed. (List entry the Council House extension housing number 1343089). also the Feeney Art Galleries of the City Listing Description “Later C19. Brick Museum and Art Gallery. 1911-9 by Ashley with stone dressings. In a Venetian and Newman. Stone. Two storeys plus Gothic style. Four storeys; 5 bays with basement and attic. In an Edwardian a complex system of pilasters dividing Renaissance rather than Baroque style the bays plus the corner towards Pinfold with banded rustication to the ground Street. Ground floor with modern shop floor and a giant order in the upper fronts. First floor with a shallow-pointed floors.” arched window, a segment-headed window and 3 more shallow-arched 4.2.3 Town Hall. Grade I Listed. (List entry windows. Second floor with a couplet number 1343161). of shouldered windows with colonnette Listing Description “Won in competition in and shouldered painted super-arches, 1830 by JA Hansom and E Welch; building a round-arched window with boldly started 1832 and completed and enlarged decorated pointed super-arch and 3 by Charles Edge. Anglesey marble. more couplets of windows. Thin floor Peripteral temple of the Corinthian with a couplet of segment-headed order, 8 bays by 15, and raised on a high windows with colonnette and pointed rusticated podium with round headed super-arches, an arched window openings. In the walls of the cellar tall with pointed super-arch and 3 more windows within eared surrounds and couplets of windows, 2 of them altered. standing on a moulded string course. The Elaborately bracketted eaves cornice interior altered 1926-7.” and parapet, missing in 2 bays.” 5 4.2.6 84 - 87 New Street (includes 45 to 48 standing on a moulded cornice and with Pinfold Street). Grade II Listed. (List entry their heads in decorated panels. Second number 1076242). floor with a central tripartite window and Listing Description “Later C19. Stucco. 2 windows, all standing on a moulded Four storey; 5 bays. Ground floor with and dentilled cornice in eared moulded modern shop fronts. First floor with surrounds and with cornices above. richly couplets of windows with Corinthian bracketted eaves cornice end blocking pilasters, altered in bays 3 and 4. Each course with altered parapet and attic second moor bay with 2 arched window above. The long left-hand return on standing on a decorated band and with Ethel Street (where the entrance to No 3 Corinthian columns and big round- Ethel Street is) in a similar style though headed super-arches. Each third floor altered.” bay with 3 sash windows standing on a decorated cornice. Elaborate bracketted 4.2.9 Queen’s College Chambers. Grade II eaves cornice.” Listed. (List entry number 1076221). Listing Description. “ 1904 ornate buff 4.2.7 88 - 91 New Street (includes 44 Pinfold terracotta and brick facade to the former Street). Grade II Listed. (List entry Anglican college of 1843 (now demolished number 1219731). to rear). Three tall storeys with 3 gabled Listing Description “Late C19. Brick with bays, with oriels in tiers through the 3 stone dressings. Four storeys; 5 bays.