Old Harlow Conservation Area Character Appraisal

Old Harlow Conservation Area Character Appraisal Adopted December 2013 Old Harlow Conservation Area Character Appraisal Contents 1 Introduction 1 - 2 2 Background 3 - 7 3 Location & Setting 8 - 9 4 Historic Development 10 - 18 Character Appraisal 5 Urban Form & Townscape 20 - 28 6 Park Hill Character Area 29 - 32 7 Market Street Character Area 33 - 39 8 Station Road Character Area 40 - 42 9 High Street Character Area 43 - 46 10 Bury Road & New Road Character Area 47 - 52 11 Mulberry Green Character Area 53 - 56 12 Watlington Road Character Area 57 - 58 Appendices 59 - 66 Old Harlow Conservation Area Character Appraisal 1 Introduction Conservation areas OLD HARLOW - SUMMARY OF SPECIAL INTEREST 1.1 Conservation areas are parts of our local environment with special 1.4 Old Harlow conservation area is a unique place in a unique setting. architectural or historic qualities. They are created by local Nestled on the edge of a post-war New Town, Old Harlow is the planning authorities, in consultation with the local community, to original settlement of Harlow. It developed from the medieval preserve and enhance the specific character of these areas so that period as a market place and this is strongly reflected in the they can be enjoyed by people now and future generations. characteristic street pattern and historic buildings found on Market Street, Fore Street and the High Street. Appraisal aims 1.5 Old Harlow grew during the Victorian and Edwardian era with the 1.2 This document provides a character appraisal of the Old Harlow opening of the Great Eastern Railway in 1848. This resulted in Conservation Area. It has been prepared alongside a management attractive homes along Bury Road, New Road and Park Hill which plan to fulfil the local planning authority’s statutory duty to review are of significant historic and architectural interest. and monitor conservation areas in the District and to produce 1.6 Following the New Towns Act in 1946 Harlow was subsumed by proposals for their preservation and enhancement. New Town Harlow. Though the setting of Old Harlow has radically 1.3 The purpose of this character appraisal is to: changed over the last 50 years, it remains distinct from Harlow New Town and has retained much of its original market town character define and record the special architectural, historic and and provides an irreplaceable example of Harlow’s pre-New Town townscape character of conservation area; character. highlight special features of the conservation area which contribute to the character of the area and merit being preserved or enhanced; describe how Old Harlow and its setting has developed and changed over time and the factors which have influenced this process; review and clearly define the conservation area boundaries, so that they reflect what is considered worthy of preservation; increase public awareness and involvement in the preservation and enhancement of the area; and provide a robust framework for making planning decisions. Source: The Museum of Harlow Old Harlow Conservation Area Character Appraisal 1 1 Introduction The special architectural and historic interest that justifies the designation of Old Harlow as a conservation area and contributes to its overall significance as a heritage asset include the following features: The late medieval market town character and street pattern present on Market Street, Fore Street and the High Street - evidence of the organic growth of the village. The rich variety of listed buildings of different ages ranging from 15th, 17th, 18th, 19th century of significant historic and architectural interest. The enclosed and intimate character of the High street. A number of attractive and well-preserved original shop fronts. The presence of traditional building materials and historic local building methods such as timber frames, tiled roofs and pargetting. A collection of historic inns and taverns dating back to the 15th, 16th and 17th century - evidence of the area’s historic function as an important stop off point for horse drawn coaches moving passengers between London, Cambridge, Newmarket and Norwich. Victorian and Edwardian terraces and detached houses of significant architectural and historic interest both individually and in terms of their collective ‘group value’ - evidence of the growth of Harlow following the railway. A number of historic churches and village halls of significant architectural interest. Old Harlow Conservation Area Character Appraisal 2 2 Background Statutory status of conservation areas What is the planning status of this document? 2.1 Conservation areas are defined under The Planning (Listed 2.3 The appraisal and management plan are material considerations Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as “areas of special when determining planning applications within the Old Harlow architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of Conservation Area. They have the status of a supplementary which it is desirable to preserve or enhance.” Old Harlow was planning guidance and support and amplify the implementation of designated as a Conservation Area in 1969. It is one of ten adopted planning policies with respect to the Old Harlow conservation areas in Harlow. Conservation Area. Local planning authority duties and responsibilities Who should use this appraisal? 2.2 Once a conservation area is designated, a local planning authority 2.4 This appraisal will be used by: has a statutory duty to: development management officers determining planning monitor conservation areas from time to time; applications and defending the local planning authority review conservation area boundaries and consider if any decisions at appeal; further parts of their area should be designated as planning policy and regeneration officers formulating planning conservation areas; policies and regeneration initiatives for the area. publish proposals for the preservation and enhancement of owners and occupiers within the conservation area submitting conservation areas; and planning applications; consider the views of local people when formulating these developers and planning agents proposing development, proposals. demolition or redevelopment within the conservation area; and the highways authority, Essex County Council, when carrying out work to the highway and public realm. 2.5 Where technical urban design terms have been used in this document they are defined in the glossary found in the Appendix. Old Harlow Conservation Area Character Appraisal 3 2 Background 2.6 This character appraisal sits alongside a management plan and Public consultation both documents aim to provide an effective framework for managing 2.9 The Council carried out public consultation on the draft Old Harlow growth and change in this sensitive area. Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan for a period of six weeks between 21st March and 2nd May 2011. This Character Appraisal consultation process enabled residents and other stakeholders to 2.7 The purpose of the appraisal is to describe the historic development provide feedback on the initial proposals and shape the final of the area and to highlight all of the special architectural, historic adopted document via a public meeting and a questionnaire which and townscape qualities present in the area. The appraisal has was posted to all addresses within the conservation area boundary. been designed so that it can be used as a manual for making 2.10 A full record of the consultation process and the feedback received planning decisions in and affecting the conservation area. and changes made to the draft document is presented in the Management Plan accompanying consultation statement. 2.8 The purpose of the management plan is to highlight the issues and threats affecting the conservation area and to put forward proposals for enhancing, preserving and strengthening the special qualities and character of the conservation area. The management plan is an important output of the character appraisal process. Proposals contained in the management plan are based on the findings of the character appraisal. Public exhibition event at Old Harlow Arc - 29 March 2011 Character Appraisal Management Plan Old Harlow Conservation Area Character Appraisal 4 2 Background Extent of the Old Harlow Conservation Area 2.12 It should be noted that the conservation area boundary as shown on the adopted 2006 Local Plan has been altered following public 2.11 The Old Harlow Conservation Area is defined on the map below. It consultation on the draft conservation area appraisal and contains the historic core areas of Market Street, Fore Street and management plan. These changes are summarised on the following the High Street as well as the historic hamlet Mulberry Green. Also page. This final adopted conservation area appraisal enshrines the included within the conservation area are Victorian and Edwardian proposed boundary changes and these changes will be reflected in dwellings along Park Hill, Bury Road, New Road, High Street, Old any future Local Plan proposals map to be adopted by the Council. Road and Watlington Road. Old Harlow Conservation Area Character Appraisal 5 2 Background Recent boundary changes (2013) Buildings shaded green along station Road were added to the conservation areas as they were considered worthy of 2.13 The Draft Old Harlow Conservation Area Appraisal proposed a conservation areas status and provide an important gateway number of revisions to the conservation area boundary which were role on the approach into

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