Llandaff Conservation Area Appraisal December 2020 1 This document is available in Welsh / Mae’r ddogfen hon ar gael yn Gymraeg Placemaking - Planning www.cardiff.gov.uk/conservation [email protected] Liability and Disclaimer While reasonable care has been taken in the preparation of this document to ensure that the information contained is accurate, this document, its content, names, text and images included in this document, are provided ‘AS IS’ and without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. To the fullest extent permissible pursuant to UK law, the County Council of the City and County of Cardiff [‘The Council’] disclaims all warranties expressed or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of reasonable care, satisfactory quality or fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement of title. The document contains guidance and notes on certain aspects of law as they might affect the average person. They are intended as general information only and do not constitute legal or other professional advice. It should not be relied on as the basis for any decision or legal action. The Council cannot accept liability for any loss suffered due to reliance on the contents of this document. The law is constantly changing so expert advice should always be sought. To the extent permitted by applicable laws, no liability is accepted for any direct, indirect, incidental, special or consequential loss or damage to any user (whether arising in contract, tort including negligence or otherwise) arising out of or in connection with the use of this document. The contents of this document shall not fetter the Council in the exercise of any of its statutory functions, including, without limitation to the generality of the foregoing, its functions as Local Planning Authority or Local Highway authority 2 Contents 1. Introduction 4 1.1 Background 4 1.2 Appraisal Review Process 4 1.3 Llandaff Conservation Area 5 1.4 Boundary Review 6 2. Planning Policy Context 11 2.1 UK and Welsh Legislation 11 2.2 Local Planning Policy 11 2.3 Other Guidance 11 2.4 Consultation 12 3. Historic Significance 13 3.1 Summary of Significance 13 3.2 Llandaff’s Historic Background 13 3.3 The Architectural and Historic Importance of Llandaff 13 4. Character Assessment 19 4.1 Appraising Character 19 a. A Distinctive Quality of Place 19 b. The Presence of Landmark Buildings and Landscape Features 27 c. Hierarchies of Public and Private Space 27 d. High Quality Local or Unusual Materials in the Townscape 32 e. High Quality Architectural Detailing 33 f. High Quality Hard and Soft Landscaping 38 5. Areas of Special Character 41 5.1 The Cathedral Precinct and River Taff 41 5.2 The Cathedral Green 44 5.3 High Street and Chapel Street 47 5.4 Mitre Place, Bruton Place and Fordwell 48 5.5 Cardiff Road 49 5.6 Western Avenue 50 5.7 Bridge Street, Bridge Road, Heol-y-Pavin and Heol Fair 51 5.8 The Avenue and Fairwater Road 52 6. Management Plan – Aims and Objectives 53 7. Guidance and Design Standards 54 3 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Background Conservation areas are areas of special architectural or historic interest. A decision to designate a conservation area is made by the Council after an assessment of the character of the area. This assessment extends beyond the buildings alone; the road layout, street scene, trees and green spaces can all contribute to the quality of an area. Designation gives special protection to this character and to achieve this, the Council has extra controls over demolition, minor alterations or development and the protection of trees. A conservation area is formally defined as an area ‘of special architectural or historic interest the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance’ (Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas), Act 1990). 1.2 Appraisal Review Process The Council has a duty to review conservation areas. More specifically, local planning authorities are required to ‘formulate and publish proposals for the preservation and enhancement of any parts of their area which are conservation areas’ and review them from time to time. (Ref. Section 71 (1), Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas), Act 1990). It is important to review conservation areas at regular intervals to note any characteristics that have improved or diminished, to propose any necessary changes to conservation area boundaries and to create a plan for any further management. In Cardiff, the Conservation Area Strategy (1997) provides an overarching framework for managing the Conservation Area Appraisal process. The strategy identifies priorities for the city, together with criteria for appraising character in both existing and new areas. The Llandaff Conservation Area was designated in March 1968 following the first environmental study and planning brief to be undertaken in Cardiff. A series of further studies were undertaken during the 1970s and 1980s. In 2005, Cardiff Council undertook a conservation area appraisal which was later adopted and published in 2006 and included an extension to the boundary. A dialogue with the Llandaff Conservation Group between 2017-19 has informed this current review. The overarching aim is to preserve and enhance the character and appearance of the Llandaff Conservation Area and to provide a basis for making sustainable decisions about its future evolution. In order to undertake works of enhancement, the character of the conservation area needs to be clearly defined and understood (through a character appraisal). This Conservation Area Appraisal and management plan seeks to: • Appraise the historic character of Llandaff; • Identify those elements of Llandaff which contribute to its character; • Identify elements which detract from the character; • Propose measures to maintain or improve the positive character, local distinctiveness and sense of place; • Identify opportunities and priorities for action to provide the basis for a more detailed management plan; • Analyse the policy and management needs of the area; • Assess the effectiveness of current planning controls; 4 • Identify the need for supplementary protection; • Identify ways in which special character can be preserved or enhanced; • Identify whether Article 4 Directions are applicable; • Ensure controlled and positive management of change that encourages economic vibrancy and social and cultural vitality that accords with the area’s special architectural and historic qualities; • Ensure that where there are buildings that make no positive contribution or detract from the conservation area, their replacement are of high quality design that enhances the area. 1.3 Llandaff Conservation Area Llandaff is one of 27 currently designated conservation areas in the city. It is adjacent to the River Taff in an elevated position, which was fundamental to the siting of the first settlement. Llandaff is approximately two miles away from Cardiff city centre and the landscape setting to the east forms part of an important network of green spaces through the city. Map 1: Llandaff in Cardiff city context The Llandaff Conservation Area recognises the historic value of this ‘city within a city’, which was its own entity until 1922 when Cardiff extended its boundaries. The area still retains a village atmosphere close to the cathedral, which includes a village green, a memorial and a cross, terraces, cottages and a high street. The village was built on a rock outcrop next to the River Taff and includes some steep topography. The change in levels from the Cathedral Green down to the Cathedral adds to the unique sense of place and provides a dramatic setting for the Cathedral. 5 Photos around the Cathedral Green 1.4 Boundary Review 1.4.1 Boundary Extension The 2006 boundary of the conservation area was reviewed and revised to be extended to the west to include ‘The Avenue’ and ten additional buildings along Fairwater Road. This area includes a number of high quality detached and semi-detached buildings which date to the early 1900s. They typically include grand gable-fronted bay windows and terracotta brick detailing mixed with white render. Whilst ‘The Avenue’ itself was developed after the core of the conservation area, the street layout ties in logically behind Cardiff Road, next to Rookwood Hospital. It is regrettable that one characterful building in the street has recently been demolished for infill development, however, inclusion within the Conservation Area will enable change to be managed more effectively. It is proposed that an Article 4 Direction be served for this new area, with controls similar to those described in Section 7. Fairwater Road contains some The Avenue contains a number of high quality early C20th white rendered houses remarkable locally listed buildings and with terracotta brick, clay tiled roofs, hung tile detailing and gable fronted bay positive contributors set within large windows. There are also buildings with black half-timbering and bay windows, plots. such as this 3-storey villa. Summary of the change to the boundary The western boundary has been extended to include The Avenue, Nos. 1a-13 (odds) and Nos. 2a-16 (evens) and Fairwater Road Nos. 3a-7 (odds), Nos. 6-16 (evens) and Nos. 15 and 17. 6 Map 2: Boundary as designated in 2020 N 7 1.4.2 Boundary retention A brief review of the historic and architectural character of the Conservation Area suggests: 1. The Conservation Area provides protection for the delicate landscape surrounding the Cathedral, the river and Llandaff Fields. 2. The continued inclusion of the Cardiff Metropolitan University (formerly UWIC) and the landscape around the buildings can maintain and emphasise the educational role that links the college to Llandaff. The views of the Cathedral from Western Avenue are important, as is the historic avenue of trees, which, during the 19th century were an integral part of a riverside walk between the grounds of Cardiff Castle, Bute Park and Llandaff Cathedral.