Proposed Development, Grange Road, Longford, Coventry

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT, GRANGE ROAD, LONGFORD, COVENTRY

HERITAGE STATEMENT

Woodhall Planning & Conservation, Woodhall, Woodhall Lane, Calverley, Leeds. LS28 5NY

Tel: 0113 255 4660 Email: [email protected]

2863/4B

March 2016

CONTENTS Page No

1.00 Introduction 1

2.00 The Site and its context 3

3.00 Impact of the proposed development 10

4.00 Conclusions 14

APPENDICES

A List entry descriptions

B Photographs

C Historic maps

1.00 INTRODUCTION

1.01 Woodhall Planning and Conservation has been commissioned by Westleigh Developments to prepare a Heritage Statement in connection with the proposed development of land at Grange Farm on the north-west side of Grange Road, Longford in Coventry. Grange Farmhouse is Grade II listed and the whole site is located within the Coventry Canal Conservation Area. In addition, the brick outbuildings that are located to the south-west of the farmhouse are included on the Local List held by Coventry City Council. Immediately to the south-east of the site, Nos. 175 and 177 Grange Road are also Grade II listed. Planning permission was granted in 2009 for the demolition of a section of the outbuildings and the erection of 5no. houses to the west of the farmhouse.

1.02 Woodhall Planning & Conservation is a professional architectural and planning consultancy operating in the specialised areas of historic building conservation, urban design and planning law. The consultancy has extensive experience of building evaluations, conservation area appraisals and management plans, historical and archaeological research, public inquiry and “expert witness” work, condition surveys, strategies for conservation and re-use, the design and management of repair and conversion projects and conservation legislation.

1.03 This Statement is necessary as Section 72(1) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 indicates that special attention shall be paid to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of conservation areas. Section 66(1) of the same Act indicates that special regard shall be given to the desirability of preserving a listed building or its setting.

1.04 The Coventry Development Plan was adopted in 2001 and in 2007 a number of policies were ‘saved’. Policies BE8, BE9 and BE10 relate to the protection of conservation areas, policies BE11 and BE13 relate to the protection of listed buildings and policy BE14 refers to the protection of locally listed buildings.

1.05 One of the twelve core planning principles set out in paragraph 17 of the National Planning Policy Framework (the ‘Framework’) is to, ‘Conserve heritage assets in a manner appropriate to their significance ….’ Section 12 of the Framework (paragraphs 126 to 141) sets out general policies relating to the historic environment and further guidance is provided in the online Planning Policy Guidance. Heritage assets are defined in Annex 2 of the Framework as: A building, monument, site, place, area or landscape identified as having a degree of significance meriting consideration in planning decisions, because of its heritage interest. Heritage asset includes designated heritage assets and assets identified by the local planning authority (including local listing).

In Annex 2 of the NPPF ‘Significance (for heritage policy)’ is defined as, The value of a heritage asset to this and future generations because of its heritage interest. That interest may be archaeological, architectural, artistic or historic. Significance derives not only from a heritage asset’s physical presence, but also from its setting.

S:\2863 - RG+P Ltd\4 Grange Road, Coventry\Reports\Heritage Statement Final - 14.3.16.doc 1 This Annex also provides a definition of archaeological interest.

1.06 Paragraphs 133 and 134 of the Framework make a distinction between proposals that will lead to ‘… substantial harm to or total loss of significance ….’ of a designated heritage asset (paragraph 133) and proposals which will have ‘… less than substantial harm ….’ (paragraph 134). Paragraph 135 relates to the impact of proposed developments upon non-designated heritage assets.

1.07 Paragraph 137 of the Framework indicates that: Local planning authorities should look for opportunities for new development within Conservation Areas … to enhance or better reveal their significance. Proposals that preserve those elements of the setting that make a positive contribution to or better reveal the significance of the asset should be treated favourably.

1.08 Paragraph 138 of the Framework states that: Not all elements of a … Conservation Area will necessarily contribute to its significance. Loss of a building (or other element) which makes a positive contribution to the significance of the Conservation Area … should be treated either as substantial harm under paragraph 133 or less than substantial harm under paragraph 134, as appropriate, taking into account the relative significance of the element affected and its contribution to the significance of the Conservation Area … as a whole.

1.09 The assessment is based on a site visit on the 13th August 2015. Coventry City Council prepared The Coventry Canal Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan in 2012 and this report makes use of that document.

S:\2863 - RG+P Ltd\4 Grange Road, Coventry\Reports\Heritage Statement Final - 14.3.16.doc 2 2.00 THE SITE AND ITS CONTEXT

2.01 This section of the assessment considers the nature of the site of the proposed development (the Site) and the contribution that it makes to its context, particularly its contribution to the significance of the Conservation Area, the Grade II listed Grange Farmhouse and the setting of the other designated and non-designated heritage assets within the immediate surrounding area.

The Site 2.02 The Site lies to the south and west of Grange Farmhouse, which is situated on the north-west side of Grange Road in Longford. The farmhouse dates from the eighteenth century and has an L-shaped footprint. It is two-storeys in height with brick walls (now colourwashed) and has a pitched roof covered with red tiles (see Photo. 1 in Appendix B). To the south-west of the farmhouse, beyond its garden there is an L-shaped range of single storey brick outbuildings around a predominantly tarmaced yard. These buildings have been substantially altered over the years and now have a mono-pitched corrugated concrete sheet roof. The brick outbuildings were originally U-shaped in plan, but a section of the north-western range collapsed and was subsequently demolished (see Photo. 2 in Appendix B). The farmhouse has an L- shaped garden area that extends around the north and west sides of the house, with a smaller garden to the south-east. To the west, the garden is defined by two timber sheds, with a variety of timber fencing to the remainder with a group of trees in the south-east corner. To the west of the farmhouse, there are two large timber clad sheds with a small field enclosed by hedgerows (see Photo. 3 in Appendix B).

2.03 The farmhouse is surrounded by fields and these form a triangular area of land subdivided by hedgerows. This land is surrounded by the M6 Motorway to the south-west, predominantly terraced housing to the south-east and the northern boundary is defined by line of the former Oxford Canal which is currently in use as agricultural land. As noted above the agricultural fields are sub-divided by a number of hedgerows (see Photo. 4 in Appendix B) and two of the resulting field enclosures, Dry Close and Long Meadow, are noted in the Coventry Historic Environment Record (HER). However, these fields are now substantially fragmented as a result of the construction of the canals and M6 Motorway.

The surroundings 2.04 Further to the south-west of Grange Farmhouse is the Grade II listed Nos. 175 and 177 Grange Road. This pair of cottages are two-storeys in height, are constructed with red brick and have a pitched slate roof (see Photo. 5 in Appendix B). The listed building description (see Appendix A) notes that No. 177 was the birthplace of Tom Mann (1856-1941), a founder and the 1st General Secretary of the Amalgamated Engineering Union.

2.05 To the south-west and south-east of the Site are a variety of two-storey terraced housing located on both sides of Grange Road. The houses are constructed with red brick (although those on the south-east side of the road are pebble-dashed on the upper floor) and have pitched roofs covered with slates or concrete tiles (see Photo. 6 in Appendix B).

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2.06 The embankment to the elevated M6 Motorway adjoins the south-west boundary of the Site is the elevated M6 Motorway. The motorway is approximately 20 metres above ground level and sits at the top of a wooded embankment (see Photo. 4 in Appendix B). Immediately adjacent to northern boundary of the Site is a narrow field, created along line of the former Oxford Canal. The Oxford Canal was filled in during the 1980’s and the present field is defined by hedgerows and timber fencing (see Photo. 7 in Appendix B). The Coventry Canal lies immediately to the north of this field and further to the north beyond the Coventry Canal is a housing estate constructed in the early twenty-first century.

2.07 Immediately to the north of Grange Farmhouse is a large electricity pylon that carries cables away from the Site in a north-west direction across the Coventry Canal (see Photo. in Appendix B). To the north-east of the farmhouse is a brick road bridge that carries Grange Road across the canal. This bridge is noted within the conservation area appraisal as a positive feature within the designated area (see Photo. 8 in Appendix B).

Historic development The Coventry Canal 2.08 The Coventry Canal was promoted by a group of local business men to enable the export of coal from their mines in north Warwickshire. In 1767 the Coventry Canal Company committee appointed James Brindley, to survey a 38.5 mile route from Fradley to Coventry. The construction of the canal received Royal Assent in January 1768 and work commenced probably at Longford, in May 1768. The work proceeded in both directions and by August 1769 the canal reached the Coventry Basin.

2.09 James Brindley was also the engineer and surveyor of the Oxford Canal which was under construction at that time; Brindley anticipated that both canals would join together near Coventry to create a canal linking the Thames to the Mersey. The site of the junction was intended to be at Gosford Green to the east of Coventry City Centre, but the Oxford Canal Company decided that they wanted a junction at Bedworth. A lengthy dispute between the two companies followed and a compromise was eventually agreed in 1777 to building the junction at Longford with the canals running parallel alongside one another for a mile from Hawkesbury. In 1785 the present junction at Hawkesbury was built and the mile stretch of the Oxford Canal that ran parallel to the Coventry Canal was redundant.

2.10 The supply of coal led to the establishment of many of Coventry’s major nineteenth century industries in factories along the canal corridor. The earliest canal side factory was the weaving shops of J & J Cash. During the early twentieth century industries such as brick making at Great Heath expanded while other new industries, for example the Coventry Ordnance Works, were established alongside the canal. Further north, the Coventry Corporation established its gasworks at Longford. The spread of industry was accompanied by an expansion in house building for the growing workforce. The expansion of the city’s industry

S:\2863 - RG+P Ltd\4 Grange Road, Coventry\Reports\Heritage Statement Final - 14.3.16.doc 4 continued during the inter-war period, however, due to the closure of the north Warwickshire collieries, the use of the canal for the transportation of goods declined.

2.11 The Coventry Canal Company was nationalised in 1948 and became part of British Waterway. The canal was threatened with closure and this led to the foundation of the Coventry Canal Society, which in conjunction with the Council, has enabled the canal to become an important leisure and environmental resource.

The Site and its immediate surrounding 2.12 The Coventry HER identifies field enclosures on the site as follows: • The Dry Close - An enclosed field called Dry Close is recorded in a survey of ancient enclosures in Foleshill dating to 1774. • Long Meadow - An enclosed field called Long Meadow is recorded in a survey of ancient enclosures in Foleshill dating to 1774.

2.13 1888 Ordnance Survey indicates Grange Farm with its farmhouse and a U-shaped range of outbuildings to the south-west along with a small outbuilding to the north-west of the farmhouse. The field pattern that exists today is also evident, although at this date the fields extended further south, prior to the construction of the motorway. Immediately, to the north lies the former Oxford Canal (illustrated as a ditch at this date) and further north is the Coventry Canal. To the south-west of Grange Farm are a number of buildings (including Nos. 175 and 177 Grange Road) arranged around a small courtyard. Further south-west, residential properties are shown and to the south-east was a brick works. The land to the south, north, east and west was in agricultural use.

2.14 By 1903, further housing had been built to the south-west and south-east of Grange Farm. In addition, the brick works had expanded and a tramway had been laid out linking the brickworks to the canal towpath, immediately to the east of the canal road bridge. At this date no further development had occurred at Grange Farm or to the north or west.

2.15 By 1914, the Ordnance Survey Map illustrates that two small extensions had been added to the brick outbuildings at Grange Farm and the buildings associated with the Victoria brickworks had been demolished, although the pits were still evident. However, further terraced housing had been built on both sides of Grange Road. During the mid-twentieth century little development occurred although by 1951 a Joinery Works had been built immediately to the north of the Coventry Canal on the west side of Grange Road and electricity lines to the north of the farmhouse are illustrated. By 1972 three outbuildings had been erected to north-west of Grange Farmhouse and to the west of the brick outbuilding and the M6 Motorway had been constructed to the south-west of Grange Farm. This resulted in the demolition of some residential properties on Grange Road and the motorway severed Grange Farm from its agricultural land to the south and south-west. In addition, the electricity pylon that is currently located immediately to the north of the farmhouse is also identified at this date.

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2.16 By 2006 the principal changes to the surrounding area was the demolition of the Joinery works and its replacement with a large housing estate.

Conservation Area 2.17 Coventry City Council prepared an appraisal and a management plan for Coventry Canal Conservation Area in July 2012. The boundary of the designated area follows the line of canal and is five and a half miles in length from the Coventry Canal Basin on the edge of the city centre to the boundary of the existing Hawkesbury Junction Conservation. The Conservation Area has been divided into twelve localities and the Site is located in “No. 12 Longford to Hawkesbury Junction”.

2.18 The appraisal notes;

This final stretch of the canal sees the atmosphere changing from a suburban feel, to becoming distinctly more rural and this is particularly evident beyond the M6 motorway bridge.

As the canal heads north away from Longford, the non-tow path side is bounded by the gardens of houses on Bedworth Road and later by factory units, which are partially screened by trees and hedges. The tow path side is flanked by a tall Hawthorn hedge, beyond which is the former course of the Oxford Canal. The former canal cut was in-filled with thousands of tons of material dredged from the operational length of the Oxford Canal in 1980 and has been colonised by a dense band of woodland. The area contains Hawthorn, Ash and Crack Willow and is identified in the Canal Corridor Ecological Report as being an important wildlife habitat for nesting birds. Water voles are also thought to be present along this stretch of the canal.

The canal passes under the M6 motorway, which is carried by a high bridge supported by a forest of cylindrical concrete columns. On the non-tow path side is a scrap yard, which is very prominent and poorly screened.

Beyond the motorway bridge the canal begins to emerge into open countryside with Grange Farm to the south. The farm house is a very attractive two storey brick house, built on an L shaped plan and dates to the 18th century. To the south are a group of brick built agricultural buildings. The fields behind the farmyard are pasture and divided by dense high hawthorn hedges creating a sense of enclosure. The former course of the Oxford Canal has been filled in, but has not become overgrown and is still clearly discernible between two flanking Hawthorn hedges.

On Grange Road to the south of the farm is a pair of listed mid-19th century red brick cottages with slate roofs. The cottages are of historic significance as the pioneer Trade Unionist Tom Mann was born in number 177 in 1856. Mann worked in the Victoria Colliery from the age of 10 years and this link serves as an important reminder of the former character of the area when it was dominated by mining.

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The present Grange Road Bridge replaced the earlier bridge that would have crossed both canals. The bridge is brick built and late-19th century in date; alongside it is a modern steel footbridge with brick abutments. Beyond the bridge lies an area of amenity grassland and a car park that extends over the former course of the Oxford Canal. There are moorings along this stretch of the canal that are well used and provide plenty of visual interest when they are occupied.

The proposed Conservation Area terminates where the Hawkesbury Junction Conservation Area begins; at the steel bridge that formally carried a mineral railway to Wyken Colliery.

2.19 The appraisal also notes that the fields and hedgerows of Grange Farm and the greenspace on the former course of the Oxford Canal are considered to be features of value and that there is an important view of Grange Farm from the north end of Grange Road. It also identifies the outbuildings of Grange Farm to be positive buildings within the designated area. We understand this to be a reference to the brick outbuildings and not the large timber clad sheds to the west of Grange Farm.

2.20 The conservation area is principally experienced by pedestrians and cyclists along the canal towpath and by narrowboat users. Adjacent to the Site, the towpath is defined by a tall hedgerow and in some places a small embankment, which encloses this side of the canal. On the opposite side of the canal is a similar hedge which also contribute to the sense of enclosure. However, from the canal towpath it is possible to view, over the top of the hedgerows, the housing located to the north of the canal. Views towards the Site from the sections of the canal and its towpath adjacent to the Site are restricted to glimpsed views through small breaks in the hedgerows along the Coventry Canal and those along the former Oxford Canal (see Photo. 7 in Appendix B).

2.21 The section of the designated area from the M6 Motorway Bridge to Hawkesworth junction has a rural character with sections of its setting defined by housing. This is particularly apparent on the north side of the canal where modern housing estate has been constructed and around the road bridge on Grange Road, where rows of terraced housing line either side of the highway.

2.22 Views towards Grange Farmhouse and the section of the designated area in which the proposed Site is located are possible from the road bridge that crosses the Coventry Canal (see Photo. 9 in Appendix B). In this view the farmhouse and its outbuildings are visible but the remainder of the conservation area is screened from view by the hedgerows that line the route of the former Oxford Canal and the electricity pylon located immediately to the north of the Grange Farmhouse.

2.23 Further east along the canal, beyond the road bridge, views towards the farmhouse and the Site are restricted by the trees and the earthworks associated with the road bridge (see Photo. 10 in Appendix B).

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2.24 Views from Grange Road, into the Site are restricted to those immediately to the south-east of Grange Farm along the driveway to the yard. These views are somewhat restricted to short distance views by the farmhouse and its outbuildings and as a result of the hedgerows that cross the Site.

Significance 2.25 The appraisal prepared by the Council notes that the Coventry Canal Conservation Area is of significance primarily because of its architectural and historic interest. The historic interest is as a result of its development during the late eighteenth century, whereby the predominantly agricultural setting was gradually urbanised as the city expanded. The architectural interest is in the variety of historic buildings and structures associated with development of the canal. These include the towpath, locks, bridges, milestones together with the associated industrial buildings and housing that developed around the course of the canal during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

2.26 The fabric that holds this interest around the Site is the towpath, the canal bridge and the agricultural fields and hedgerows around Grange Farm, Grange Farmhouse and its brick outbuildings and Nos. 175-177 Grange Road. In terms of its level of importance, the Coventry Canal Conservation Area is considered to be of local significance.

2.27 Although Grange Farmhouse and its surrounding agricultural land does not relate to the construction or development of the Coventry Canal it does represent the rural setting that once existed along the extent of the canal and as a result the proposed Site is considered to be of significance to the Coventry Canal Conservation Area.

2.28 The significance of Grange Farmhouse relates to its architectural and historic significance as an eighteenth century farmhouse. Grange Farmhouse is Grade II listed and is therefore of national importance. The brick outbuildings to the south-west of the farmhouse are included on the Council’s Local List. The significance of the brick outbuildings relates to their historic interest and their association with the Grade II listed Grange Farmhouse but they have been substantially altered with the loss of pitched roofs, sections of buildings and infilling of openings. As a result of their inclusion on the Local List Held by Coventry City Council they are considered to be of local significance.

2.29 The field enclosures, Long Meadow and Dry Close are of historic interest but as noted in 2.02 above have been fragmented by the canal to the north and the M6 to the south. As a result of their identification as positive elements within the appraisal prepared by the Council they are considered to be of local significance.

2.30 Coney Lane Bridge, is of historic interest because of its association with the Coventry Canal. The fabric the holds the significance is the brick structure that carries the highway over the canal and as a result of its identification as positive element within the appraisal prepared by the Council they are considered to be of local significance.

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2.31 The former section of Oxford Canal between Longford and Hawkesbury Junctions it is considered to be of archaeological and historic interest and the hedgerows that define its route contribute to its significance. As a result of its identification as positive element within the appraisal prepared by the Council they are considered to be of local significance.

S:\2863 - RG+P Ltd\4 Grange Road, Coventry\Reports\Heritage Statement Final - 14.3.16.doc 9 3.00 IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT

The Proposal 3.01 The proposed development involves demolition of the outbuildings to the south- west of Grange Farmhouse and the construction of 107 residential units, comprising of two-storey houses and a three-storey apartment block. The proposal involves the development of a series of short terraces, together with semi-detached units arranged around the existing hedgerows within the Site, along with areas of public open space. At the western end of the proposed site is a large area of open space (designed as a dry depression) and at the eastern end, adjacent to the site entrance, is a small landscaped area.

Impact on the adjacent listed buildings 3.02 There are two listed buildings within the immediate vicinity of the Site: • Grange Farmhouse • Nos. 175 & 177 Grange Road

3.03 This assessment of the impact of setting makes use of methodology set out in the English Heritage document Historic Environment Good Practice Advice in Planning – Note 3 - The Setting of Heritage Assets. However, Step 5 (weighing the harm against the public benefits) has been omitted as this is a matter for the decision maker.

Grange Farmhouse Step 1 – Identify the heritage asset 3.04 As indicated in 1.01 above, the Grade II listed Grange Farmhouse is located on the north-west side of Grange Road. It is an L-shaped, eighteenth century farmhouse that is two-storeys in height with a pitched tiled roof. The windows are flush casement windows with glazing bars and some of the ground floor openings have cambered arches. The earlier building appears to have been as simple three-bay gabled building orientated north-west/south-east, with chimneys at either end. At the north-west end is two storey range, aligned north- east/south-west, with a hipped roof to the north-west corner and a gable surmounted by a chimney to the south-west. There is a narrow two-storey range adjoining its north-west elevation and a narrower two-storey extension adjoining the south-west gable.

Step 2 – Assessment of setting 3.05 The setting of farmhouse is provided by its garden area (including trees) and the brick outbuildings to the south-west of the farmhouse. The surrounding agricultural land to the north, west, east and south-west, and the predominantly two-storey terraced housing along Grange Road.

3.06 In view of the way in which the surroundings have changed since it was originally constructed, particularly during the twentieth century, it is considered that only a few attributes of its setting contribute positively to its significance. These are primarily, its relationship with its garden area, its brick outbuildings (although

S:\2863 - RG+P Ltd\4 Grange Road, Coventry\Reports\Heritage Statement Final - 14.3.16.doc 10 significantly altered), and the surrounding agricultural land, hedgerows and the trees to the west, south-west and east.

3.07 Views across the Site are limited to those from Grange Road looking west along the existing tarmaced access point to Grange Farm. In these views the agricultural land is largely screened from view by the brick outbuildings and the hedgerows and trees within the fields.

Step 3 – Effect of the proposed development 3.08 As noted within 3.01 above the proposed development involves the demolition of the brick outbuildings to provide access into the Site for the erection of 107 residential units. The demolition of the outbuildings would have an impact upon the setting of the Grange Farmhouse due to loss of ancillary structures. However, these outbuildings have been significantly altered such that they no longer reflect their historic form. They are also in a poor state of repair and therefore are considered to be of limited significance. The form and design of the proposed buildings has been carefully considered to reflect many of the characteristics of the buildings within the immediate vicinity of the Site. In addition, the proposed layout has been carefully considered in order to retain the some of the hedgerows within the proposed site layout. The development of the Site would reduce the sense of openness and thus impact on the setting of the listed building. However, the fields to the north and east of farmhouse would be retained, together with some of the hedgerows and this would retain an element of its agricultural setting. In addition, the garden area of the farmhouse will also be retained.

Step 4 – Maximising enhancement and minimising harm 3.09 As noted in 3.01 above the proposed development would retain the majority of the trees and some of the hedgerows and the proposed site layout provides the opportunity for some additional landscape planting. Units 95-98 create a courtyard which reflects the layout of earlier ancillary farm building.

Nos. 175 and 177 Grange Road Step 1 – Identify the heritage asset 3.10 Nos. 175 and 177 are located to the north-west side of Grange Road. The pair of Grade II cottages were built during the nineteenth century and are constructed with red brick and have a pitched roof covered with slates. The cottages have casement windows with glazing bars and have cambered arched openings. To the rear both cottages have modern two-storey flat roof extensions. It is considered that the significance is primarily historic interest as No. 177 was the birthplace of Tom Mann (1856-1941), a founder and the 1st general secretary of the Amalgamated Engineering Union.

Step 2 – Assessment of setting 3.11 The setting of the cottages is provided by their front and rear gardens, the surrounding housing to the south and east on Grange Road, the agricultural land to the west and Grange Farmhouse and its outbuildings to the north. Views towards the listed buildings are restricted to those along Grange Road. It is not

S:\2863 - RG+P Ltd\4 Grange Road, Coventry\Reports\Heritage Statement Final - 14.3.16.doc 11 considered that the setting of cottages contribute to their special interest (as the birth place of Tom Mann).

Step 3 – Effect of the proposed development 3.12 The proposed development would impact upon the setting of the buildings but as noted above this would not cause harm to the special interest of the buildings.

Step 4 – Maximising enhancement and minimising harm 3.13 The majority of the trees and some of the hedgerows within the proposed Site are to be retained as part of the development. In addition, the small landscaped area to the west of the proposed sub-station will provide a sense of openness immediately to the north-west of the cottages. As no harm has been identified there is no need to consider minmisation.

Conservation Area 3.14 Within the appraisal of the conservation area prepared by Coventry City Council, the masonry road bridge across the canal is identified as a positive feature. The bridge probably dates to 1768/69 when the Coventry canal was constructed (see Photo. 8 in Appendix B). It is located to the north-west of the Site and is of historic interest. The setting of the bridge is formed by the canal, its towpath and the highway. Views towards the bridge are possible along the highway and from the canal towpath but there are no views across the proposed site to the bridge. As a result it is considered that the proposed development will not impact upon the significance of the bridge.

3.15 A section of the Oxford Canal ran between Longford and Hawkesbury Junction, parallel to the Coventry Canal and was in use until 1802 when Hawkesbury Junction was opened. This area is now in agricultural use. The immediate setting of the former canal is formed by the Coventry Canal to the north and the hedgerows around the agricultural fields to the south. Views towards the line of the former Oxford Canal are restricted to views west from Grange Road. However, these views are dominated by the electricity pylon that is located immediately to the north of Grange Farmhouse. It is considered that the development of the site would reduce the sense of openness around the former Oxford Canal but it would not impact upon its significance. The proposed re- development could provide the opportunity for additional planting to enhance the setting of the former Oxford Canal.

3.16 The proposed development will result in the loss of part of the agricultural setting to the route of the canal. However, the Site is well screened from the canal towpath and as identified within the appraisal of the conservation area prepared by Coventry City Council, the only significant view towards the Site is from the north end of Grange Road adjacent to the canal bridge. The agricultural fields to the north, east and south-east of the farmhouse will be retained. Therefore, the views of open fields to the north and east of the farmhouse will be retained. In addition, views of the proposed housing from Grange Road would be restricted by the farmhouse, the electricity pylon and the trees and hedgerows.

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3.17 As a result of the above assessment it is considered that the proposed development would result in the reduction of this part of the designated areas rural character and thus result in some harm to the character and appearance of the designated area.

Non-Designated Heritage Assets 3.18 Within the site the brick outbuildings are included on the Local List held by Coventry City Council.

3.19 The proposed development involves the demolition of the brick outbuildings located to the south-west of the farmhouse. These outbuildings have been significantly altered and are in a poor state of repair and no longer reflect their historic form and are of limited significance. As noted in 1.01, planning permission was granted in 2009 for the demolition of the north end of the range facing Grange Road, in order to provide access to a new residential development of 5no. houses to the west of the farmhouse. The demolition of the outbuildings will result in harm but a photographic survey to record the building could mitigate against this loss.

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4.01 As indicated in 1.01 above, this Heritage Statement has been prepared in connection with the proposed development of land at Grange Farm on the north-west side of Grange Road, Longford in Coventry. Grange Farmhouse is Grade II listed and the whole site is located within the Coventry Canal Conservation Area. In addition, the brick outbuildings that are located to the south-west of the farmhouse are included on the Local List held by Coventry City Council. Immediately to the south-east of the site, Nos. 175 and 177 Grange Road are also Grade II listed. There are also a number of non-designated heritage assets within the site and immediate surrounding area. Planning permission was granted in 2009, for a scheme involving the demolition of a section of the outbuildings and the erection of 5no. houses to the west of the farmhouse.

4.02 The proposed development involves demolition of the outbuildings to the south- west of Grange Farmhouse and the construction of 107 residential units, comprising of two-storey houses and a three-storey apartment block. The proposal involves the development of a series of short terraces, together with semi-detached units arranged around the existing hedgerows within the Site, along with areas of public open space. At the western end of the proposed site is a large area of open space (designed as a dry depression) and at the eastern end, adjacent to the site entrance, is a small landscaped area.

4.03 It is considered that the proposed development would not cause harm to the setting of the Grade II listed Nos. 175 and 177 Grange Road.

4.04 The demolition of the brick outbuildings which are included on the Local List held by Coventry City Council would result in their loss and thus constitute harm. However, given that they have been substantially altered and are of limited significance (see 3.19 above) it is considered that a balanced judgement regarding their loss could be made by the decision maker in accordance with paragraph 135 of the Framework.

4.05 The proposed development would result in loss of some of the agricultural fields that surround the Grade II listed Grange Farmhouse would cause harm to the character and appearance of the designated area and to the setting of farmhouse. It is considered that, in accordance with paragraph 134 of the Framework this would be less than substantial harm in relation to both the listed building and the Coventry Canal Conservation Area. This harm should be weighed against the public benefits of the proposal by the decision maker.

S:\2863 - RG+P Ltd\4 Grange Road, Coventry\Reports\Heritage Statement Final - 14.3.16.doc 14 APPENDIX A List Entry Descriptions

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GRANGE FARMHOUSE, GRANGE ROAD, LONGFORD

Grade: II Date first listed: 24-Jun-1974 Date of most recent amendment: Not applicable to this List entry.

C18. Colourwashed brick, old tiled roofs. L plan, 2 storeys, corbelled brick cornice. Flush casement windows with glazing bars, ground floor cambered arches Lower extension to south.

Listing NGR: SP3580484379

175 AND 177, GRANGE ROAD, LONGFORD

Grade: II Date first listed: 24-Jun-1974 Date of most recent amendment: Not applicable to this List entry.

C19 red brick pair of cottages. Welsh slate roof. 2 storeys, 4 flush casement windows with glazing bars, cambered arches. Graded for historical interest. No 177 was the birthplace of Tom Mann (1856-1941), a founder and the 1st general secretary of the Amalgamated Engineering Union. 2 commemorative plaques.

Listing NGR: SP3580284321

S:\2863 - RG+P Ltd\4 Grange Road, Coventry\Reports\Heritage Statement Final - 14.3.16.doc 16 APPENDIX B Photographs

S:\2863 - RG+P Ltd\4 Grange Road, Coventry\Reports\Heritage Statement Final - 14.3.16.doc 17 Photo. 1 View north towards Grange Farmhouse

Photo. 2 View north-east towards the brick outbuildings Photo. 3 View south-east towards the timber shed

Photo. 4 Views south-west cross the agricultural fields. Note the M6 Motorway above the tree line Photo. 5 Views looking north-west towards Nos. 175 & 177 Grange Road

Photo. 6 View of terraced housing on the west side of Grange Road Photo. 7 View east along the line of the former Oxford Canal

Photo. 8 View east along the Coventry Canal. Note the road bridge in the distance. Photo. 9 View south-west from the road bridge towards the proposed site.

Photo. 10. View south-west towards the Site from the canal towpath APPENDIX C Historic Maps

S:\2863 - RG+P Ltd\4 Grange Road, Coventry\Reports\Heritage Statement Final - 14.3.16.doc 18 Warwickshire Published 1888 Source map scale - 1:2,500 The historical maps shown were reproduced from maps predominantly held at the scale adopted for England, Wales and Scotland in the 1840`s. In 1854 the 1:2,500 scale was adopted for mapping urban areas and by 1896 it covered the whole of what were considered to be the cultivated parts of Great Britain. The published date given below is often some years later than the surveyed date. Before 1938, all OS maps were based on the Cassini Projection, with independent surveys of a single county or group of counties, giving rise to significant inaccuracies in outlying areas.

Map Name(s) and Date(s)

Historical Map - Segment A13

Order Details Order Number: 71206675_1_1 Customer Ref: 2863/4 National Grid Reference: 435650, 284370 Slice: A Site Area (Ha): 0.01 Search Buffer (m): 100 Site Details Grange Road, Longford, COVENTRY, CV6 6DD