HERITAGE STATEMENT LAND TO THE NORTH OF LOWFIELDS LANE, PICKHILL, NORTH YORKSHIRE PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT Our Ref: 44998 April 2016 HERITAGE STATEMENT Contents 1.0 Introduction to the Proposals ..................................................................................................... 3 2.0 Planning Policy Relevant to Heritage Statements....................................................................... 5 3.0 Historic Development of Pickhill ................................................................................................. 8 4.0 Designated Heritage Assets ...................................................................................................... 13 5.0 Assessment of Significance ....................................................................................................... 15 6.0 Impact and Design Response .................................................................................................... 18 7.0 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 29 APPENDICES: APPENDIX A: Listing Details from Historic England APPENDIX B: Map of Heritage Assets within Pickhill APPENDIX C: Aerial Image showing extent of Ridge and Furrow APPENDIX D: Appeal Decision Ref: APP/H1840/A/12/2171339 AAH Planning Consultants Heritage Statement 2 Bar Lane, York Land to the north of Lowfields Lane 2 1.0 Introduction to the Proposals 1.1 AAH Planning Consultants has been commissioned to prepare a Heritage Statement in support of the application for the proposed residential development on land to the north of the Lowfields Lane in Pickhill. 1.2 The accompanying Planning Supporting Statement (PSS), including Design and Access Statement (DAS) provides an overall assessment of the proposed residential development and sets out our analysis of the relevant planning policy principles which need to be considered in support of the application. 1.3 It is the purpose of this statement to identify the potential impacts that the siting of the proposed residential development this site would have on designated heritage assets within the local area. The application site is identified in the following site location plan: Image 1.1: Location Plan (Site Outlined in Red) AAH Planning Consultants Heritage Statement 2 Bar Lane, York Land to the north of Lowfields Lane 3 1.4 The application seeks outline planning permission for residential development on land to the north of the Lowfields Lane in Pickhill. Access to the site is proposed from the village green to the north-east and along the lane. The village is located a mile east of the A1, with Sinderby 1.1 miles (1.8km) to the south, Holme 1.2 miles (1.9 km) to the south-east and Ainderby Quernhow 1.8 miles (2.9 km) to the south. Pickhill Beck runs through the village before joining the nearby River Swale. 1.5 The site lies outside the defined development limits of the village of Pickhill and therefore is located within the open countryside for planning policy purposes. The site does however immediately abut the development limits of the village and is less than 50m from the village green and opposite the primary school so has a central location despite the planning policy description. 1.6 There are eight designated heritage assets that lie within Pickhill as shown in Image 1.2 the nearest and most significant include the Motte and Bailey Castle (Schedule Ancient Monument (SAM)) and the Church Of All Saints (Grade II* listed building) which lie over 100m to the north of the site. The main planning considerations related to these heritage assets are examined in detail within this report and an assessment on the scheme’s potential to impact on heritage aspects will be made. Image 1.2: Site in Relation to the Local Heritage Assets AAH Planning Consultants Heritage Statement 2 Bar Lane, York Land to the north of Lowfields Lane 4 2.0 Planning Policy Relevant to Heritage Statements The NPPF 2.1 Planning applications must be determined in accordance with the Statutory Development Plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. If the Development Plan contains material policies or proposals and there are no other material considerations, the application should be determined in accordance with the Development Plan. Where there are other material considerations, the Development Plan should be the starting point, and other material considerations should be taken into account in reaching a decision. One such consideration is whether the planning policies are relevant and up to date. 2.2 The government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was adopted on 27th March 2012 and represents the principal national guidance document and a material consideration which must be taken into account, where relevant, in determining planning applications. 2.3 National guidance on Heritage Assets is contained within Section 12 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Paragraph 128 states that, “In determining applications, Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) should require an applicant to describe the significance of any heritage assets affected, including any contribution made by their setting. The level of detail should be proportionate to the asset’s importance and no more than is sufficient to understand the potential impact on their significance. As a minimum, the relevant historic environment record should have been consulted and the heritage assets assessed using appropriate expertise where necessary”. This Heritage Statement seeks to satisfy this requirement. 2.4 The NPPF states that when considering the impact of a proposed development on the significance of a designated heritage asset, great weight should be given to the asset’s conservation. The more important the asset, the greater the weight should be. Significance can be harmed or lost through alteration or destruction of the heritage asset or development within its setting. As heritage assets are irreplaceable, any harm or loss should require clear and convincing justification. Substantial harm to or loss of a Grade II listed building, park or garden should be exceptional. Substantial harm to or loss of designated heritage assets of the highest significance, notably scheduled monuments, protected wreck AAH Planning Consultants Heritage Statement 2 Bar Lane, York Land to the north of Lowfields Lane 5 sites, battlefields, Grade I and II* listed buildings, Grade I and II* registered parks and gardens, and World Heritage Sites, should be wholly exceptional. 2.5 LPAs should not refuse planning permission for buildings or infrastructure which promote high levels of sustainability because of concerns about incompatibility with an existing townscape, if those concerns have been mitigated by good design (unless the concern relates to a designated heritage asset and the impact would cause material harm to the asset or its setting which is not outweighed by the proposal’s economic, social and environmental benefits). Where a proposed development will lead to substantial harm to or total loss of significance of a designated heritage asset, LPA’s should refuse consent, unless it can be demonstrated that the substantial harm or loss is necessary to achieve substantial public benefits that outweigh that harm or loss. Where a development proposal will lead to less than substantial harm to the significance of a designated heritage asset, this harm should be weighed against the public benefits of the proposal. 2.6 The overriding principles of the NPPF are to preserve and conserve heritage assets such as listed buildings and conservation areas and developments which enable such preservation should be encouraged. The National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG) also sets out how the term ‘substantial harm’ which is referred to within the NPPF should be dealt with by decision makers. Local Planning Policy 2.7 The local polices of particular relevance to this proposal are contained within the Development Plan and are stated below: 2.8 DP28: Conservation DP28 Conservation of the historic heritage will be ensured by: i. preserving and enhancing Listed Buildings; ii. identifying, protecting and enhancing Conservation Areas; iii. protecting and preserving Historic Battlefields and Historic Parks and Gardens; AAH Planning Consultants Heritage Statement 2 Bar Lane, York Land to the north of Lowfields Lane 6 iv. protecting and preserving any other built or landscape feature or use which contributes to the heritage of the District. Development within or affecting the feature or its setting should seek to preserve or enhance all aspects that contribute to its character and appearance, in accordance with the national legislation that designates the feature, and in the case of a conservation area, any appraisal produced for that area. Permission will be granted, where this is consistent with the conservation of the feature, for its interpretation and public enjoyment, and developments refused which could prejudice its restoration. Particularly important considerations will include the position and massing of new development in relation to the particular feature, and the materials and design utilised. AAH Planning Consultants Heritage Statement 2 Bar Lane, York Land to the north of Lowfields Lane 7 3.0 Historic Development of Pickhill 3.1 The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book as Picala. The following section includes maps and aerial image to illustrate how the settlement of Pickhill has evolved around the village green and along