Masterplan Brookwood Cemetery
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Appendix 1 MASTERPLAN BROOKWOOD CEMETERY Allies and Morrison February 2020 FOREWORD and EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BRIEF and BOUNDARY VISION FOR BROOKWOOD CEMETERY LONDON’S NECROPOLIS CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK 1 ANALYSIS 1.1 WHO IS THE MASTERPLAN FOR? 1.2 SIGNIFICANCE OF BROOKWOOD CEMETERY 1.3 THE SITE 2 CHALLENGES, ASSETS AND RESPONSES 3 PROPOSALS 3.1 SPATIAL PRINCIPLES 3.2 ONGOING TASKS 3.3 INITIAL MOVES 3.4 LONG TERM ADDITIONS 3.5 EXPANDED PROGRAMME 3.6 MUSEUM 3.7 NEXT STEPS 4 APPENDICES 4.1 MAPS 4.2 BUILDINGS ON THE SITE 4.3 CONSULTATIONS 4.4 MONUMENTS RESTORATION STRATEGY 4.5 TRANSPORT TECHNICAL NOTE 4.6 SOURCES OF INFORMATION 4.7 MANAGEMENT OF TREE CHAPELS 4.8 DESIGN GUIDELINES Foreword why a masterplan was commissioned masterplan authors Brookwood Cemetery is the largest cemetery in Allies and Morrison are the Masterplan coordinators Western Europe and a designated Grade I listed working with a small team of advisors comprising: heritage asset. It is currently on the Heritage At Risk Register following decades of dilapidation prior to its • Barker Langham - cultural consultants (business purchase by Woking Borough Council in 2014. and interpretive planning) • Bradley-Hole Schoenaich Landscape (landscape Woking Borough Council have undertaken significant design) emergency conservation work over the last five years. • Dr Roger Bowdler (heritage and funerary The Council is looking to the next ten years and consultant) the work of restoration which needs to be done. In discussion with Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, it was agreed a Masterplan masterplan documents Barker Langham is needed to guide the future development of the This Masterplan should be read with the two other culture and business planning cemetery. documents setting out proposals - the Experience Roger Plan and the Outline Business Plan. Bowdler This will be used to create a forward plan for the next funerary ten to twenty years which will assist in securing heritage future funding for the cemetery restoration, and in the subsequent implementation of any development. by whom The commissioning client is Brookwood Park Ltd, a private subsidiary company set up by Woking Allies and Morrison Borough Council to operate the cemetery. The core masterplan Bradley-Hole co-ordination client advisory group who have developed the brief Schoenaich and proposals with the Masterplan team comprises: landscape • Marilyn Scott, Director of The Lightbox, Woking • Ian Tomes, Woking Borough Council Strategic Asset Manager • Avril Kirby, Brookwood Cemetery Manager 2 Executive Summary briefing and vision five masterplan steps The Masterplan has been developed in dialogue The strategy to realise this Overall Vision comprises 4. Expanded Programme - this adds a temporary with the core client advisory group. Consultations five stages or ‘steps’ of development. Each of these exhibition space and a significantly expanded have been held with Brookwood Park Ltd, Historic builds upon the last to: programme of arts and learning associated with England, Woking Borough Council Planning and • enhance the cemetery environment the heritage cemetery. The diversification is Highways authorities, and with other cemetery • raise its profile and pitched to attract arts audiences from Woking stakeholders. • increase its usage and London. 5. Museum - this would take Brookwood Cemetery The Overall Vision for the cemetery, and a strategy The five Masterplan steps are: for achieving this have emerged through briefing as a destination to a new level. The Vision for the cemetery could be even more ambitiously and consultation. 1. Ongoing Tasks - everyday maintenance and fulfilled in a new museum developed on the repair activities ‘tuned’ to support the Vision for site of the existing office block. Perhaps, The Overall Vision sets the cemetery as an the cemetery, particularly relating to landscape provocatively, this would be a Museum of Death exemplar - a robust example of a sustainable management and structures repair. working cemetery leading the way for other heritage - uniquely suited to Brookwood Cemetery which is one of the most significant death-related cemeteries. It would achieve this as a restored 2. Initial Moves - relatively small-scale locations in Europe. heritage asset, a visitor destination and gracious improvements which can be implemented in the public amenity, bringing people to experience the short-to-medium term. These include conversion cemetery as a cultural destination, and showing of the former Superintendent’s Lodge to a small them its qualities as a place of rest. cafe and exhibition space, and the enhancement increase of the old railway line as an important historic The cemetery’s primary function is to provide a landscape feature. its usage dignified and respectful last resting place for the deceased of Woking and beyond, of many faiths 3. Long-term Additions - larger scale building and none. This remains the prime objective and and associated landscape and programme enhance its core focus for Brookwood as a working cemetery. All developments. These include a new larger environment aspects of any future development are to sustain and education building for visitors, highways- support this. related works to improve Cemetery Pales, and new avenues of trees, and allocates space for a potential new crematorium. raise its profile BROOKWOOD CEMETERY MASTERPLAN REPORT February 2020 3 Brief aims and objectives for the masterplan requirements must be balanced collectively with • Examine the site studies and constraints the current and future operational needs of the The requirements for the Masterplan were set out •M ake proposals for restoration and development cemetery in the Masterplanning Brief dated June 2018 issued for: •T here is a strong desire to open up the cemetery to those who tendered for the Masterplan project: to a wider audience by increased access, 1. Built Heritage The brief explains that Woking Borough Council interpretation, events and public engagement and 2. Green space and landscape are “looking for ideas and advice - the Council is 3. Interpretation - physical and digital and to increase volunteer activities currently investing £1.5 million in the (cemetery) events site each year plus support from Historic England • Improve visitor facilities, parking, toilets, signage 4. Community facilities including a visitor centre so there is an urgent need to look at other grant and services 5. Access arrangements support, but until a Masterplan is in place this is not •F uture funding needs will be considered •C onsult with stakeholders to contribute to the possible.” including some methods of income generation development of planning, interpretation and • Consultation should be an integral part of the activities The following list of aims and objectives for the Masterplan. This will involve primary consultees Masterplan are stated in the brief: - Woking Borough Council, Historic England. •I dentify a range of ways of generating community •A ssess the existing heritage assets and consider Secondary consultees - other site owners and participation and engagement their significance and work needed to remove any operators within the cemetery, interested amenity •R eview existing plan, and develop new plans risk to their continuing survival groups and founders - Natural England, HLF for programmes, activities and events which •A ssess the ongoing maintenance and (now NLHF) Brookwood Cemetery Society, The will engage target audiences, support volunteer conservation programme and make Gardens Trust. involvement and skills development, strengthen recommendations for the long term and build partnerships, and support the future masterplan services financial sustainability of Brookwood Cemetery •A ssess the existing wildlife on the site and make The following list of services is taken from the proposals to enhance the wildlife habitat •M ake recommendations for operational and Masterplanning Brief: management arrangements including security • Any physical intervention should be guided by a The consultant is required to review work to date, respect for the historic and aesthetic integrity of • Provide an outline business case and funding and to undertake new research and consultation in the site and its setting proposals order to: • Improve funerary services and develop a sound • Provide a phased timetable for the work to be •D evelop a high quality Masterplan based on financial future for the cemetery as a funeral carried out. the project vision and objectives for the site business encompassing the planning and context and • All recommendations will ensure that the historic designation and natural resources are to be sustainably managed through sensitive conservation. These 4 Boundary Grade 1 list entry boundary Thoughout the document we have shown The SSSI is excluded as it is no longer an area for the whole cemetery site as shown on the potential development Historic England list entry SU 95377 55906. This includes the Military Cemetery which is Other separately owned areas and private an important part of the interest of the whole cemeteries within the Brookwood Cemetery site cemetery. It also includes an area to the south are included in the Masterplan area as these areas west, now designated as an SSSI. will be used for interments. They also share the infrastructure of the cemetery and need to be masterplan boundary included in the the management of the site as a The area for which Woking Borough Council whole. commissioned a Masterplan does not