1. Historic Environment Objectives for Kingston Upon Hull
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1. HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT OBJECTIVES FOR KINGSTON UPON HULL 1.1. Summary of key issues • Kingston-upon-Hull has the highest levels of social deprivation in the Region. There is, potentially, a tension between the need for regeneration initiatives to improve the social and economic conditions in the City with the preservation and enhancement of the historic environment; • The wealth of heritage assets of Hull, especially in and around the Old Town, is underappreciated (particularly beyond the City boundaries) and its potential to contribute towards the delivery of the economic and social objectives of the area underexploited. There is considerable potential for heritage-led regeneration and the marketing of the area based upon its unique townscape quality. • The economic viability of the Old Town and its rich legacy of historic buildings is threatened by large-scale retail developments on the edge of the City Centre. • The Local Authority is one of the few in the Region which maintains a list of local assets and has a local Buildings at Risk Register. However, there have been some concerns about the implementation of certain aspects of conservation management within parts of the authority area. • The A63, the principal access road to the docks, passes through the middle of the Old Town Conservation Area and severs the historic areas alongside the Humber from the historic core of Hull. Although there are proposals to improve linkages between the City centre and the Humber, two Options currently under consideration would both have a degree of adverse impact upon the historic environment. • The future of the historic Fruit Market area remains uncertain in the current economic climate; • Little remains of Hull’s fishing heritage, raising the significance of the few surviving features such as the fish docks and smokehouses. Of the two Listed smokehouses, one was badly damaged by fire and has consent for its demolition.; • The National Picture Theatre – thought to be the only remaining ‘bombed out’ civilian building still standing in the UK – has no sustainable future in place, despite recently being Listed; • The quality of recent infill development, particularly on the edges of some of the City’s Conservation Areas, has often been poor. Four of the Conservation Areas were identified as being At Risk in 2010, including the one along the main arterial route into the City from the north (Beverley Road). 1.2. English Heritage’s Vision for Hull • Hull will be recognised for the high quality of its historic environment, particularly the area around the Old Town. The regeneration potential November 2010 1 and cultural significance of the City’s historic assets will be recognised by the local authority in both policy and decision-making and the potential of the historic environment to contribute towards other Council objectives and raising the profile of the City better exploited. • The regeneration of the City will reinforce the distinct identity of the various areas of Hull and will safeguard and enhance its historic assets. • The Old Town will be revitalised, its historic buildings will be in viable economic use, and its public realm will have been enhanced. Linkages from the Old Town to other parts of the City will have been improved. • The regeneration of the Fruit Market will reinforce the distinct historic character of this part of the City. • A sustainable future will have been secured for the National Picture Theatre. • The unique legacy of buildings and structures associated with Hull’s fishing industry and it maritime history will be better appreciated, protected, and used as a focus for heritage-led regeneration initiatives • The improvements A63 will reduce the degree of severance between the historic core of the City and the areas alongside the Humber and will be implemented in a manner which respects the townscape character of the Old Town Conservation Area and minimises the degree of harm to the City’s historic assets 1.3. English Heritage’s Objectives for the historic environment in Hull • To foster a better appreciation and understanding of the significance and value of the city’s historic environment and the contribution which it can make to the delivery of the wider social and economic aims of the Council. • To ensure that the regeneration of the City is informed by, and will help reinforce, the distinct identity of the various areas of Hull and, in particular, will safeguard and enhance the City’s historic assets. • To ensure that the character and viability of the Old Town will not be adversely affected by nearby development proposals and that an appropriate strategy will be developed to secure the long-term future of this area and to enhance its appearance. • To ensure that the strategy for the redevelopment of the Fruit Market area safeguards the distinct character and identity of that part of the City • To secure s sustainable future for the National Picture Theatre. • To increase awareness and foster greater appreciation of the significance of the buildings and structures associated with Hull’s fishing heritage and maritime history and the potential these offer for heritage-led regeneration. • To ensure that the remaining smokehouses and other distinctive buildings associated with the city’s fishing industry are appropriately conserved; • To raise awareness of the significance of the Victorian ‘court’ housing and explore how it might be adapted to meet the affordable housing needs of the city; November 2010 2 • To ensure that proposals for the improvement of the A63 are implemented in a manner which maximises connectivity between the historic core of Hull and the area beside the Humber and minimises the degree of harm to the townscape and historic assets within its vicinity. 1.4. What needs to be done to achieve this vision? • Discussions need to take place with staff within the Council, especially in the Regeneration Section, to raise awareness of the importance of Hull’s historic assets, the contribution which heritage-led regeneration can make to the delivery of the regeneration of the city • English Heritage will continue to engage with CABE and arc (the Architectural and Built Environment Centre for Hull) to explore the opportunities for greater co-operation on development proposals affecting the historic environment of the City. • The potential for a joint project between English Heritage (Research and Standards), the Council and the local community to study the extent and significance of the remaining buildings and structures associated with Hull’s fishing and maritime heritage should be explored. Development proposals should safeguard the remaining smokehouses and other significant buildings from the City’s fishing industry; • The regeneration strategy for the City needs to be informed by, and should reinforce, the distinct identity of the various areas of Hull • The development strategy for the City Centre needs to ensure that proposals for the regeneration of areas outside the Old Town help to sustain its historic environment and do not undermine the character or viability of the historic core of the settlement. • The strategy for the regeneration of the Fruit Market area needs to more closely reflect that set out in the Masterplan. It needs to ensure that the distinct character and identity of this part of the City is safeguarded and that new development is informed by its historic context. • A sustainable future needs to be secured for the National Picture Theatre. • Examine the potential for conservation and adaptation of surviving areas of ‘court’ housing; • Proposals for the improvement of the A63 need to be based upon a thorough understanding of the significance of the historic assets within its vicinity. The scheme needs to be designed so as to maximise connectivity between the historic core of Hull and the area beside the Humber, whilst minimising the degree of harm to the surrounding townscape character. • In order to help inform development proposals in and around the urban area of Hull, encourage Hull City Council, the East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the Humber Archaeology Partnership to undertake Historic Landscape Characterisation of this part of the Region, including characterisation of the urban archaeology of Hull November 2010 3 2. ACTION PLAN 2.1. Key actions/issues • English Heritage will use the new Pevsner for the City to seek engagement with the Council to raise awareness of the significance of the historic assets of Hull and to explore how the contribution which the historic environment can make towards the delivery of the wider economic and social objectives for the City might be more fully exploited. • English Heritage will, through its engagement with the emerging Heritage Strategy, explore how the Council might address the Conservation Areas at Risk (especially along the Beverley Road) as well as ways in which the management of the historic environment though the activities of the Planning Department could be improved. • Explore the possibility of an English Heritage research programme into the buildings associated with Hull’s fishing and maritime heritage (if possible in association with Grimsby). If possible, seek a joint approach with the Councils and other stakeholders for a joint publication (similar to that produced for the Sheffield Metals Trades) in order to raise the profile of this legacy. • English Heritage will continue to engage with CABE and arc (the Architectural and Built Environment Centre for Hull) on development proposals affecting the historic environment