New Wear Footbridge, Sunderland Heritage Statement
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New Wear Footbridge Heritage Statement Sunderland City Council 15 December 2020 SCC-NWF-ATK-SGN-RP-LH-000108 New Wear Footbridge, Sunderland Heritage Statement Client: ATKINS AB Heritage Project No: 61354 Date: 14/12/2020 NEW WEAR FOOTBRIDGE, SUNDERLAND HERITAGE STATEMENT New Wear Footbridge, Sunderland Heritage Statement Client Atkins Project Number 61354 Prepared By Leanne Tindle & Daniel Dodds Illustrated By Pighill Illustrations Approved By Andy Buckley Rev Number Description Undertaken Approved Date 1.0 Draft LT & DD AB 08/12/2020 2.0 Final LT & DD AB 14/12/2020 This document has been prepared in accordance with AB Heritage standard operating procedures. It remains confidential and the copyright of AB Heritage Limited. Any unauthorised reproduction or usage by any person other than the addressee is strictly prohibited Enquiries To: AB Heritage Limited (Head Office) Jarrow Business Centre, Rolling Mill Road Jarrow, South Tyneside, NE32 3DT Email: [email protected] Tel: 03333 440 206 ©AB Heritage Limited 2020 | i | www.abheritage.co.uk NEW WEAR FOOTBRIDGE, SUNDERLAND HERITAGE STATEMENT CONTENTS 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 1.1 Project Background ............................................................................................................................... 6 1.2 Site Location & Description .................................................................................................................... 6 1.3 Overview of Proposed Development ..................................................................................................... 7 1.4 Planning Background & Consultation .................................................................................................... 7 1.5 Project Qualifiers ................................................................................................................................... 8 2. Aims & Methodology ...................................................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Aims of Report ....................................................................................................................................... 9 2.2 Methodology .......................................................................................................................................... 9 3. Planning & Legislative framework ................................................................................................................ 14 3.1 Heritage Legislation ............................................................................................................................. 14 3.2 National Planning Policy 2019 ............................................................................................................. 14 3.3 Local Planning Policy........................................................................................................................... 14 4. Heritage Review of the site ........................................................................................................................... 16 4.1 Historic Development of the Site & Surrounding Area ......................................................................... 16 4.2 Current Site Condition ......................................................................................................................... 22 5. Statement of Significance ............................................................................................................................. 29 5.1 Focus of Study ..................................................................................................................................... 29 5.2 The Wearmouth Bridge - Grade II Listed ............................................................................................. 29 5.3 The Monkwearmouth Railway Bridge - Grade II Listed........................................................................ 31 5.4 The N.E.R Stables - Grade II Listed .................................................................................................... 32 5.5 Summary of Heritage Significance ...................................................................................................... 33 6. Impact Assessment ...................................................................................................................................... 35 6.1 Details of Proposed Development ....................................................................................................... 35 6.2 Predicted Impact of Proposed Development ....................................................................................... 35 6.3 Summary ............................................................................................................................................. 36 7. Recommendations & Conclusions ................................................................................................................ 38 7.1 Outline Recommendations .................................................................................................................. 38 7.2 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 38 8. References ................................................................................................................................................... 40 ©AB Heritage Limited 2020 | ii | www.abheritage.co.uk NEW WEAR FOOTBRIDGE, SUNDERLAND HERITAGE STATEMENT FIGURES Figure 1: Site Location Plan Figure 2: Cultural Heritage Features Map TABLES Table 1: Examination of Appropriate Sources Table 2: Assessing the Importance of a Heritage Asset Table 3: Criteria for Determining Magnitude of Impact Table 4: Significance of Effects PLATES Plate 1: The Projected Line of the New Wear Footbridge Plate 2: The Original Settlements of the City of Sunderland Plate 3: Rowland Burdon’s Wearmouth Bridge Plate 4: Six-Inch OS Map of 1862 Plate 5: 25-Inch OS Map of 1897 Plate 6: 25-Inch OS Map of 1919 Plate 7: The Wearmouth Bridge, Lambton, and Hetton Staithes in 1928 Plate 8: 25-Inch OS Map of 1946 Plate 9: View of the Wearmouth Bridge and Monkwearmouth Railway Bridge in 1949 Plate 10: Aerial View of the Proposal Site PHOTOS Photo 1: The View Eastwards from the South Bank of the River Wear Photo 2: The View Northwards from the Proposed South Bank Abutment Photo 3: The View South West of the Proposed South Bank Abutment Photo 4: The View Westwards Looking Towards the Proposed Footbridge Location Photo 5: The View Eastwards of the Proposed New Footbridge Photo 6: The View Westwards Towards the Bridges and Proposed Footbridge Photo 7: The Grade II Listed Former N.E.R Stables Photo 8: The View Northwards of the Proposed North Bank Abutment Photo 9: The View Southwards Towards the Proposed North Bank Abutment Photo 10: The Grade II Listed Former N.E.R Stables ©AB Heritage Limited 2020 | iii | www.abheritage.co.uk NEW WEAR FOOTBRIDGE, SUNDERLAND HERITAGE STATEMENT Photo 11: The Wearmouth Bridge APPENDICES Appendix 1: Historic Environment Gazetteer ©AB Heritage Limited 2020 | iv | www.abheritage.co.uk NEW WEAR FOOTBRIDGE, SUNDERLAND HERITAGE STATEMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AB Heritage Limited has been commissioned by Atkins to produce a Heritage Statement covering proposed works for a new pedestrian and cycle bridge across the River Wear in Sunderland, forming part of the Riverside Sunderland Regeneration Scheme. The proposed New Wear Footbridge will be a high-level footbridge that will carry the Keel Line, which radiates out from the Keel Square in the City Centre, across the River Wear from an abutment adjacent to the Beam development at the former Vaux site. The Keel Line will land on the north bank at the southern corner of Easington Street, where it will be carried c. 195m north to the Stadium of Light. The report has identified that the Grade II Listed Wearmouth Bridge, Monkwearmouth Railway Bridge, and the former N.E.R. Stables have the potential to be affected by the proposed new bridge through development in their heritage settings. The proposed new development will create a new addition to the small group of bridges at this part of the River Wear, which will afford the opportunity for a new appreciation of the existing historic bridges. The new views of the iconic Monkwearmouth Railway Bridge and the Wearmouth Bridge possible from the new bridge, would allow a more considered appreciation than those glimpsed from fixed points on land or from vehicles passing over the road and rail bridges. The proposed new bridge is considered to have a Moderate Beneficial Magnitude of Impact to the significance of the historic wear bridges. The proposed new footbridge will be located to the south of the Grade II Listed former N.E.R. Stables. This is a heritage asset of High significance because of its special architectural and historic interest. These special interests derive from the quality of the architectural appearance and from association with William Bell, the chief architect of the North Eastern Railway. The proposed new abutment will require the improvement of a currently redundant and overgrown site within a few metres of the Listed Building. The proposed works will make way for the inclusion of the Keel Line within the setting of the Listed Building, which would result