Buckinghamshire County Council
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Buckinghamshire Historic Landscape Characterisation Appendix 1 Industrial Industrial (Post 1885) (in) Legend Total Area: 2557.25ha 1.37% Av. Polygon: 16.29ha Polygons : 157 1.27% Occurrence: Rare Fig.60: The Cubit Car Works, Aylesbury • Description: This type encompasses a wide variety of industrial sites from foundries and factories to more modern industrial estates on the outskirts of large towns. Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes is not renowned for its industrial heritage, although more detail survey has revealed some important sites such as the Cubit car works in Aylesbury. The greatest concentration of sites is in Milton Keynes and High Wycombe. • Period: 19th/20th century. The majority of sites in Buckinghamshire date to this period, was although many industrial sites were established in the late 19th century in the large towns of Aylesbury, High Wycombe and at Wolverton, Milton Keynes. • Trajectory of Change: 97% Increasing – The older industrial sites such as mills or declining and are at risk from development. Conversely the 20th century has seen an increase in modern industrial estates. • Factors influencing change: Older industrial sites and building are at risk from demolition and development • Capacity to Absorb Change: High. Most Industrial areas have the capacity to absorb major change • Biodiversity potential: Low However, some buildings or unmanaged areas may be of value to wildlife. • Archaeological potential: Low/Medium: The archaeological potential is dependent upon the site in question and its location. Older industrial sites may have industrial archaeology interest. • Management: On older and more unique sites, (where possible) an effort should be made to preserve built fabric of buildings. The majority of new industrial sites have less archaeological value. 62 Buckinghamshire Historic Landscape Characterisation Appendix 1 • Quality of Life Potential: Low This type has a generally low quality of life potential, although historic industrial landscapes can represent an opportunity for a sense of place and even an aestheitic quality. Beneficial re-use of old industrial buildings can also have economic benefits. • Research: Industry in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes is not fully understood. Most pre-modern industry was small scale and is not captured at this broad landscape scale analysis. Recognising the industrial component of urban, village and rural landscapes should prove be a more fruitful means of charting this influence. • Sensitivity Rating: Low Fig.61: Industrial Estates, Wycombe Further Reading Reed, M. 1979 The Buckinghamshire Landscape (Hodder and Stroughton) Miller, M.2005 Furniture Manufacturing Industry in High Wycombe (Unpublished MSc Dissertation University of Reading) 63 Buckinghamshire Historic Landscape Characterisation Appendix 1 Industrial Industrial Disused (Post 1885) (id) Legend Total Area: 33.71ha 0.02% Av. Polygon: 16.68ha Polygons : 2 0.02% Occurrence: Very rare Fig.62: Disused Industry, Chersley • Description: This type accounts for disused industrial sites in the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. It is by nature likely to be a transient category. • Period: 20th century. • Trajectory of Change: 100% Increasing There are only a few examples of this type remaining as most are the immediate focus for redevelopment and change. • Factors influencing change: Older industrial sites and building are at risk from demolition and development. • Capacity to Absorb Change: High Industrial areas accommodate have the capacity to absorb change such as development without compromising the type. • Biodiversity potential: Low/Medium. Brown field and former industrial areas do have value for wildlife and often provide niches for species associated with disturbed habitats, a number of which are rare or unusual; re-development of sites is a threat. • Archaeological potential: Low/Medium: Depending upon the quality of the nature of the industry and its age. Most disused sites are risk from demolition and redevelopment below ground archaeology. • Management: Although this type is often derelict, any proposed changes should assess the sites heritage interest. • Quality of Life Potential: Low/Medium. This type has the potential for reusing existing building fabric for new development. Older established buildings including industrial ones have can give a sense of place and historical continuity. The reuse of older established buildings can be greener and more economically viable than modern ones. • Research: Industrial Buildings at Risk. • Sensitivity Rating: Low 64 Buckinghamshire Historic Landscape Characterisation Appendix 1 Fig.63: Disused Industry, Further Reading Miller, M. 2005 Furniture Industry of High Wycombe (Unpublished MSc University of Reading) Reed, M. 1979 The Buckinghamshire Landscape (Hodder and Stroughton) 65 Buckinghamshire Historic Landscape Characterisation Appendix 1 Industrial Mineral Extraction (Post 1885) (me) Legend Total Area: 618.83ha 0.33% Av. Polygon: 24.75ha Polygons : 25 0.02% Occurrence: Very rare Fig.64: Mineral Extraction • Description: This type accounts for mineral and extractive sites in Buckinghamshire. This tends to be a transient category. The distribution of sites are determined by the county’s geology Gravel extraction is found principally in the Thames Valley at Dorney, Hedsor and the river valleys, Denham along the Colne; while chalk extraction sites are found in Pitstone in the Vale of Aylesbury. • Period: 20th century. • Trajectory of Change: 100% Increasing There are only a few examples of this type as most are the immediate focus for redevelopment and change. • Factors influencing change: The increase in demand for housing and the built environment in the 21st century will see a corresponding growth in extractive sites in Buckinghamshire particularly along the Thames Valley. • Capacity to Absorb Change: N/A Not applicable for active mineral extraction sites, although huge to absorb major change once disused, (see disused mineral extraction below). • Biodiversity potential: /Medium – limited available habitat, though occasionally used by transient or opportunist species e.g. birds. • Archaeological potential: High. Extractive sites have a high concentration of archaeological sites particularly those of prehistoric origin. Although much of the archaeology is destroyed once the excavation of aggregates begins in earnest. Sometimes fragments survive on the margins. • Management: N/A • Quality of Life Potential: Low An open extraction site is a poor attraction • Research: Some investigation into the distribution of extractive industries in Buckinghamshire and their distribution (Beckley 2005). • Sensitivity Rating: Low 66 Buckinghamshire Historic Landscape Characterisation Appendix 1 Fig.65: Mineral Extraction Further Reading Beckley, R. 2005 Extractive Sites of Buckinghamshire (MSc thesis University of Sheffield) Reed, M. 1979 The Buckinghamshire Landscape (Hodder and Stroughton) 67 Buckinghamshire Historic Landscape Characterisation Appendix 1 Industrial Disused Mineral Extraction (Post 1885) (de) Legend Total Area: 709.05 ha 0.33% Av. Polygon: 18.66ha Polygons : 38 0.31% Occurrence: Very rare Fig.66: Disused Mineral Extraction, Edgcott • Description: This type accounts for disused mineral sites. This tends to be a transient category. • Period: 20th century. • Trajectory of Change: There are only a few examples of this type as most are the immediate focus for redevelopment and change. • Factors influencing change: Reinstatement of disused workings into landfill sites or water bodies such as reservoirs. • Capacity to Absorb Change: High Old mineral extraction sites have the capacity to absorb major change. • Biodiversity potential: Low/Medium. This type is often devoid of any significant flora and fauna, however, interest can be exceptional on some disused sites and this is reflected by a number being designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, (SSSI). Examples also exist where geodiversity is the primary feature of interest and once again some are represented in the SSSI series for Buckinghamshire. • Archaeological potential: Low. Earlier remains will normally have been destroyed by mineral extraction, although fragments sometimes survive on the margins. • Management: • Quality of Life Potential: Low • Research: Some research already undertaken on older extractive sites in the county, (Beckley 2005). • Sensitivity Rating: Low 68 Buckinghamshire Historic Landscape Characterisation Appendix 1 Fig.67: Disused Mineral Extraction Further Reading Beckley, R. 2005 Extractive Sites of Buckinghamshire (MSc thesis University of Sheffield) Reed, M. 1979 The Buckinghamshire Landscape (Hodder and Stroughton) 69 Buckinghamshire Historic Landscape Characterisation Appendix 1 Civic Utilities (ut) Legend Total Area: 156.94 ha 0.08% Av. Polygon: 5ha Polygons : 30 0.24% Occurrence: Very rare Fig.68: Claydon substation, Middle Claydon • Description: This type accounts for the salient utilities sites in the county, from electricity power stations, large sewage and water works. • Period: 20th century. Most of the utility infrastructure was constructed in the mid to late 20th century. • Trajectory of Change: N/A This type is dates from the 20th century the increased growth in development and housing in the county should see a growth in this particular type. • Factors influencing change: Growth in housing settlement; redundancy of technology. • Capacity to Absorb Change: Low Utilities in active use have a low capacity for absorbing change. • Biodiversity potential: