Heslington Village Design Statement HESLINGTON VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT

INDEX

1 Introduction ...... 1 7 Elvington Airfield ...... 16 2 History ...... 4 8 Social Aspects of Heslington Today - 3 The Countryside and the Village...... 5 Implications for Development ...... 16 3.1 The Village Setting ...... 5 9 Commercial...... 18 3.2 Open Spaces in and around the Village ...... 6 10 Roads, Paths and Traffic ...... 19 3.3 Farming ...... 9 11 Visual Intrusion and Noise ...... 21 3.4 The Conservation Area ...... 10 11.1 Signs and Street Furniture ...... 21 4 The Built Environment ...... 13 11.2 Lighting and Security...... 22 5 Crime Prevention ...... 15 11.3 Noise and Disruption ...... 22 6 Campus 3 Development ...... 15

Acknowledgements Key to cover photographs (left to right):-

This Village Design Statement has been produced with the help Front cover: ; Main Street South; the Paddock; and support of so many that they cannot all be named St Paul’s Church; More House. individually, though the following are recorded who have Back inside cover: details of vernacular building materials in particularly contributed to its text and illustration; Nick Allen, Heslington. Mike Fernie, Angela Fisher, Richard Frost, Peter Hall, Sally Hawkswell, John Hutchinson (illustrations), John Jones, Back outer cover: window, Village Meeting Room; bell-tower, Jon Lovett, Bill McClean, Jeffrey Stern, David Strickland, Lord Deramore's School; window detail, St Paul’s Church, Tony Tolhurst and Ifan Williams. We would also like to thank doorway, number 10 Main Street [South]; headstone of Diane Cragg and Katherine Atkinson of CYC for their help and John West-Taylor (St Paul’s Church); door, Almshouses, advice in the preparation of this document. Thanks also to Main Street [South]; date stone, Wesleyan Chapel (now the Heslington Village Trust and the Ward Committee for funding. Village Meeting Room); chimney, Heslington Hall. HESLINGTON VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT

questionnaire circulated to the entire Heslington Village Design Statement Village.

1 Introduction This VDS therefore aims to describe the (b) A preliminary meeting involving over special character of the Village of 100 people was held in the School. The production of a Village Design Heslington and to shape future development through its adoption as the basis for Statement (VDS) is a Countryside Agency (c) A further meeting held in the Village Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) initiative dating from 1996 and supported Meeting Room, to which those who had to the Draft Local Plan. This VDS should and endorsed by the then Secretary of State registered interest in the VDS were invited be considered in the context of the for the Environment. and a steering committee formed which Council’s emerging Local Plan and the oversaw the whole process. It comprised Development Briefs for the existing The objectives of a Village Design approximately 30 people from all sections Campus and Campus 3. It should be noted Statement are to:- of the community, including the School that the VDS fully represents the views of Headmistress, the local Vicar, members of 1. Describe the distinctive character of local villagers and includes some the University living in the Village and the village and the surrounding aspirations that are outside current planning members of both the Parish Council and countryside regulations. Heslington Village Trust.

2. Show how character can be identified With the exception of section 6, this (d) A daylong workshop open to all at three levels:- document does not apply to the existing villagers was held at the School with an campus outside the conservation area or the • The landscape setting of the village exhibition of maps, historical documents 65 ha proposed Campus 3 site. • The shape of the settlement and photographs. This was overseen by an • The nature of the buildings independent professional facilitator. themselves This document has been accepted as Supplementary Planning Guidance to the (e) The output from the workshop was 3. Work in partnership with the local City of Council's emerging draft Local summarised and edited into a series of planning authority in the context of Plan on 22nd April 2004. drafts by a team of about 20 people, existing local planning policy to supervised by the steering group. influence future policies The sequence of events for the formulation of this VDS was:- (f) Seven weeks were allowed for 4. Draw up design principles based on comments by the villagers on the final the distinctive local character (a) An invitation along with a preliminary draft.

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The Paddock from Boss Lane

(g) A further public meeting open to all at Halifax College, which was considered the heart of the historic city of York. As villagers was held for final comment. part of the University. agreed with the and the , the area of coverage h) There was a concluding meeting of the Although the group acted independently, of this VDS is the Parish of Heslington, full steering committee to endorse the consultation also took place with the excluding; wording of the final text. Parish Council. The group worked closely with City of York Council’s Planning 1. The existing University where it is (i) Drafts have been given to CYC and the Department to ensure that the finished VDS outside the conservation area and... Countryside Agency for review. would be a valid tool for planning guidance when determining future planning 2. The proposed site of the future Campus 3 Throughout the process, villagers were kept applications for development affecting should this proceed (although section 6 of informed of VDS events by means of door- Heslington. the VDS, as stated previously, applies to to-door leafleting. All households were this area). leafleted on at least four occasions. Other This VDS points out the features valued local publicity was achieved through by residents. It is intended that its The future plans of the University are posters in local shops, the school and the recommendations should guide statutory therefore outside the terms of reference of Church and through the parish magazine bodies, public authorities, planners, the VDS, although some comment is made which was delivered to every household. developers, builders, architects, designers, within this document where the University Any students living in the community were engineers, community groups, householders has a direct impact on the Village. The included in the leafleting, with the and businesses to respect the character of University also owns some properties exception of those in the residential block this uniquely preserved community close to within the Village itself.

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Siward’s How The VDS covers the whole of the Parish except the University as described in the introduction. The boundary Proposed site for Campus 3 has been chosen to follow the northern line of the existing conservation area (shown more clearly on the next Low Lane map), starting at Field Lane in the east and continuing until it meets Heslington Lane. It continues west along Heslington Lane and then along the Parish Boundary Outgang south.

Langwith (Common) Lane

Tilmire

Elvington Airfield

Public Right of Way Crown Copyright reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. Licence number LA100020818

Heslington Parish and extent of the VDS showing key areas and rights of way P AGE 3 HESLINGTON VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT

2History the hill to the north-west of Heslington (a By the late 18thC the now familiar fields, scheduled monument), where a watertower farms and hedgerows of Heslington were Heslington, which seems to have derived its and telecommunications station now stand, established - 11 of perhaps 25 farms survive name from “a place by the hazels”, is disguised in a surreal concrete castle today. Also in the eighteenth century further thought to have originated as an Anglian surrounded by mature trees. historically important buildings were added settlement that predates the Domesday to Heslington. These include Little Hall survey of 1086. The first named person to In medieval times Heslington’s historic (1734), Manor House, the hospital, (now be associated with Heslington was Siward village layout became established, with known as the Almshouses), Village Farm, (c.1020-1055), the huge half-legendary long and narrow plots of land extending to the School (1795) and the Vicarage (now Danish Earl of Northumbria who is the back lanes. Where they survive they known as More House). The most notable immortalised in the name Siward’s How - have particular value for that reason. It is resident of the latter was the wit Sydney important that they are Smith who arrived in 1809. protected from subdivision as far as possible. The Village The Wesleyan Chapel (now the Village became further settled in the Meeting Room) was built in 1844 and the form that we still recognise new school in 1856, with handsome new when Heslington Hall was Stables for Heslington Hall at about the completed for Sir Thomas same time. By 1858 the medieval Church Eynns in 1568. Henrietta of St Paul’s was replaced on the same site (aged 26), the daughter of by one in the Victorian gothic style by James Yarburgh, who owned Atkinson at the cost of £3,000, although the Heslington Hall from 1708, bells of 1388 and some of the wall plaques made a notable match when survive. There are 21 buildings listed as in 1719 she married Sir John having outstanding architectural quality or Vanburgh (aged 54), historic interest in Heslington. They are playwright and architect of particularly valued by the community. Castle Howard, who was These are listed in Appendix 1. reported as confessing “it was so bloody cold up here In 1881 the population of Heslington was that he had a mind to marry 477 and by 1901 it had risen to 506. Even to keep himself warm.” in the first half of the 20thC the additions to Little Hall

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Heslington were comparatively minor, substantial award-winning residential 3 The Countryside and the Village notably The Crescent in 1948. This slow- development was added from 1968 paced evolution was to change with the onwards, originally for University use 3.1 The Village Setting building of Hall Park in 1960, the sale of though now privately owned. The part of the Heslington estate to the University site has itself been continuously Heslington Village “retains a strong sense of its University of York in 1962 and the creation developed and extended, with the addition own identity”1 despite its closeness to the City of of Holmefield. All these developments of the Science Park within the original York and the adjoining University complex, have had a radical effect on the Village with development curtilage twelve years ago. which is within the ward boundary. a great deal of land being lost from the Recently completed projects include a retail original farms. In social terms too the area (Market Square) and Halifax College - 1 From the City of York Local Plan (deposit draft 1998), Village has changed. For example, the a residential and amenity block for students. see appendix 2. electoral roll for 2002 listed 757 local residents but with the addition of 2,867 There is currently a deposit resident students at the University. draft of the local plan which identifies 65 ha of current No commercial development was allowed Green Belt land for the on campus when the University site was development of a new first built. This lead to the lamentable campus for the University at demolition of a number of 18thC cottages the eastern edge of the in Main Street [South], to be replaced by a Village (see map). large number of commercial banks (now four) to service University needs. The new University Road adequately linked Heslington directly to the Hull Road for the first time, though the later A64 by-pass alleviated some of the traffic flow through Heslington. The grounds of the University have provided a much-commended an excellent description parkland around an extensive lake and of the Village of many of the University facilities, such as Heslington, as it looks the Concert Hall, are clearly assets to today, is presented as Appendix 2 Heslington and its residents. Holmefield, a Main Street [South]

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Heslington Village is now unique amongst countryside if its character and the sense of DoE Inspector K. Barton, who emphatically York’s immediately peripheral settlements. its historic role as an agricultural village refused to pass it for development. The serving the City is to be preserved. mixed hedgerows of Boss Lane, including The integration of the Village within the several fine mature trees, together with the original Village settlement is of great The green and open spaces both in and wide diversity of vegetation, are of great historical importance. Heslington has around Heslington serve to retain and importance to wildlife. The fact that it is retained its “village” identity and rural charm enhance the rural aspect of the Village and retained as an earth-surfaced pathway adds because it has largely maintained its visual maintain the vestiges of its medieval plan. to its charm. and physical setting and has avoided being They continue the relationship between the submerged by suburban high-volume house outlying farms and the one farm that building. This is also partly because of the remains in the Village itself. continuation of farming on the high quality land in and around the Village. This land has The very pleasing wide verges and mature been largely protected from development trees of Main Street [South] are typical of since it was allocated by the East Riding in many villages and are, with the 1967 to make provision for University houses, an integral part of the attractive expansion. The Village has handsomely nature of this street. Similarly, the green repaid its neighbour by providing an verges throughout the remainder of the attractive environment for the University and Village (particularly those seen on entering this has helped to bring to it good staff, good from the Fulford direction) add to the rural students and profitable conferences. feel of the area. Boss Lane, an ancient public right of way 3.2 Open Spaces in and around and historic route out to village pasture, the Village follows the winding hedgerows of the old field system leading to the Sportsfield and The 1998 draft Local Plan (chapter 5) then via the Outgang to the Tilmire. The acknowledges that York needs to sit within Lane passes the remains of one of the oldest open countryside, a green belt, to retain the orchards in the Village and the paddock sense of its role as an historic market City. behind Little Hall (possibly the only vestige of ridge and furrow of the medieval fields). As a corollary to the Local Plan statements, This paddock was particularly valued in the Heslington must also sit within the Public Enquiry of 24 January 1990 by St Paul’s Church

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This whole area, with paddocks on both Tally Alley, another right of way following as vital to the village ambiance. The large sides, allotments and other fields, forms a medieval boundaries and with well- field between the Church and Heslington vitally important green lung, ensuring a developed hedgerows, leads from Main Hall is frequently used by the community for natural break between the Holmefield Street [South] to the Lord Deramore’s a variety of recreational pursuits, including Estate, Halifax College and the houses on School which is surrounded by its playing informal ball games and picnics. The field is the west side of the Village Main Street fields. These, together with the area a water meadow and during winter months [South]. formerly used as allotments and the open becomes flooded. It is home to a traditional fields beyond, link up with those behind Bonfire Night celebration and the annual The Outgang forms a natural corridor for The Crescent and continue the green open Church fête. It is highly prized as a large the movement of wild life to and from the area to the Outgang and the fields to the uninterrupted open green space. fields to the south of the Village. These south. areas and the gardens alongside Boss Lane, The Church is framed by many fine and support a very wide variety of bird life. To the north of the school is St Paul’s mature trees which make a major This natural corridor is continued across Church, which is set back from the road, contribution to the environment. The views Main Street, west into Spring Lane and then with fields to three sides. The Village’s of the Church through the trees are highly to Spring Wood. rural character, keeping it separated from valued. These line the field to the west and, the City of York, is emphasised by two together with the those to the north, form a The large gardens of many of the houses in green wedges - to the west by Walmgate defined space and appropriate setting. Many the Village add to its open nature as well as Stray, Fulford Golf Course and the of the mature trees in the Village are already providing additional havens for wildlife. Sportsfields and to the north-east by the the subject of tree preservation orders, Those on the east side of the Main Street playing fields of York St. John College, the although those in the large field in front of [South] are of particular interest and value University fields and the fields around the St Paul’s Church and those lining Field Lane in that they follow the boundaries of the Church. The loss of a large section of the are not specifically designated. Conservation long medieval plots running back to School north-east wedge to the Science Park and area protection is afforded to some of these Lane - formerly Back Lane. These plots are the Next Generation Sports Complex, trees. an important remnant of the historic village emphasises the need to retain the rural layout and should be protected. The open space that remains around St Paul’s Church Substantial sporting facilities are available in nature of the Village is again illustrated in and the rest of the Village. and around the Village. These include the The Crescent where the houses are well University facilities (some of which are open spaced with large gardens. Panoramic The Church is of central importance to the to the public), Heslington Sportsfield, the views of the Yorkshire Wolds can be seen quality of the Village. Not only is its Next Generation Sports Centre, a fishing across the fields from School Lane and The architecture highly valued by the lake, Fulford Golf Course and a number of Crescent. community, but its rural setting is also seen bridleways.

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3.2.1 Planning Guidelines between the Church and Heslington recognised that the School may need Hall, the fields and paddocks to expand to meet its educational 1. Any new development should protect alongside Boss Lane are integral to the requirements. the visual and physical setting of the character of the Village. They should Village in order to preserve its unique be protected from any development. 3. The wide green verges in Heslington character. There is a strong local feeling that the should be preserved and this paddock between the Church and characteristic asset extended where 2. The spaces shown on the Map, Main Windmill Lane should be similarly appropriate in existing streets and in land use in Heslington showing open protected and any development new developments. Action should be aspects, on page 12 as 1, 2, and 3, proposals should be subject to full taken both to prevent vehicles parking together with the playing field local consultation. It is, however, on them and to prohibit any other activities that damage them.

4. The distinctive rural character of Boss Lane and the bridleway along the Outgang should be preserved.

5. The gardens and open spaces behind and between the houses are of great value to the rural charm of the Village, are important for birds and wildlife and should be retained. There should be a presumption against the sub-division of gardens and open spaces when future planning applications are considered.

6. Key views and local landmarks should be maintained to help orientation and provide local distinctiveness e.g. St Paul’s Church and views to the open Boss Lane

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countryside (See Appendix 2 contribute a great deal to the quality of the bombing decoy) and has been designated a paragraph 2.3 the Consultation draft conservation area. Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) by planning brief for Heslington East). the Nature Conservancy Council because of The same open spaces help preserve There are two areas of important common its marshy grassland and fen plant the habitat for lapwing populations land in the parish - the first is the Outgang, community. This is particularly valuable and flocks of golden plovers. which used to be grazed and has been for breeding birds such as lapwing, snipe, allowed to revert to its natural habitat (it is curlew, teal and pintail. 7. The open space (known as the village home to plants such as crab apple, gorse, green or Church Field) around the alder and blackthorn). The second is There is a network of Public Rights of Way Church should be preserved in its Tilmire Common, which contains a in the Parish; see the City of York entirety, uninterrupted by paths, and scheduled monument (a World War II Council’s Rights of Way map (and page 3). the mature trees specifically protected by active management. It should be allowed to continue as a place for informal recreation at the centre of the Village. “The farmland of the parish is of a particularly good quality, allowing a balanced rotation of winter and spring crops which encourages a wide diversity of wildlife 8. A policy for long-term planting of including traditional farmland birds such as lapwings, skylarks, corn buntings, trees should be encouraged to replace yellowhammers, owls (barn, tawny and little) even heron and kingfishers as well those which will eventually become too as foxes and roe deer. The farmsteads also provide valuable homes for bats, old and unsafe. swallows, wrens and many other animals.

3.3 Farming Many of the original hedgerows still exist and consist of a wide range of species such as hawthorn, hazel, holly, blackthorn, oak, ash and many others. They Heslington Parish still has a strong farming should be preserved for the benefit of the wildlife and future generations. community, with 11 farms and over 2,000 Too many have been lost already to unwanted developments, which have not acres of land under cultivation. This been sympathetic to the environment or the village itself, and it is important that farming activity is a very important element the remaining hedges are protected and saved.” of the Village and has helped to give it a much valued rural character. The presence - Heslington farmer’s wife of a working farm (Lime Tree Farm) still in Main Street is considered by residents to be very important. These working farms

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3.3.1 Planning Guidelines 3.4 The Conservation Area 3.4.1 Planning Guidelines

1. Any future planning permissions Heslington Conservation Area was first 1. The City of York Council should, wherever possible, respect designated in 1969 when the Village was recommendations in 1999 the working farms of Heslington - still in . Conservation Area (map on page 12) for the changes to for example, ensuring that farm status recognises the architectural quality the boundaries of the Conservation traffic can be accommodated and and historical interest of the Village, the Area are strongly supported by not siting new buildings so that surviving character, integrity and coherence residents and it is hoped that it they might compromise farming of the built and green environment and the will consider a further extension activities. contribution which they make to the setting to take in Holmefield and the of the City of York. Crescent. 2. The common land and SSSI is recognised as a valuable wildlife The map on page 11 shows the extent of 2. Wherever practical, overhead habitat; any potential development Heslington Conservation Area, drawn quite electricity and telephone cabling in the should not impact on it in any way. tightly around the two sections of Main Conservation Area should be installed Street and taking in the Church and its underground and every opportunity 3. Access for walkers, bird watchers, immediate surroundings. The map also taken to re-route existing overhead horse riders and those who appreciate shows proposals made by City of York services. the countryside should be maintained. Council in 1999 to extend the boundaries and a full Conservation Area review is 3. Where inappropriate modern 4. All public rights of way (namely taking place. This is due to be completed materials or other external features footpaths, bridleways, cyclepaths and in early 2004. have been introduced to listed byeways) should be clearly defined, buildings or elsewhere in the kept free from obstruction and their The character of the Conservation Area is a Conservation Area, reinstatement of distinctive character maintained. very important aspect of Heslington and is the original features should be easily marred, for example by the visual encouraged. 5. Any planning decision should actively intrusion of telephone and electricity encourage modern conservation cabling. Any street furniture should also principles towards plants and be appropriate to the conservation area wildlife. (see section 9.1).

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Detailed Conservation Area and Northern Boundary of the VDS

VDS boundary leaves Parish boundary here and follows current northern Conservation Area boundary

6

8 12 11 1 4 9 13 3 7 1. Little Hall 2. Manor House 5 2 3. Almshouses 4. Village Farm 5. Lime Tree Farm 3 10 6. Vicarage 7. More House 8. Tally Alley Post-Consultation draft Conservation Area 9. Spring Lane boundary VDS boundary 10. Holmefield

Current Consrvation leaves proposed Community Centre Area boundary Conservation Area 11. The Crescent boundary here and 12. Charles XII Pub Village Design Statement joins Parish 13. Deramore Arms Pub Northern boundary boundary via Heslington PAGE 11 Crown Copyright reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Licence number LA100020818 HESLINGTON VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT

University Road

UNIVERSITY COMPLEX 3

St Paul’s Church 2 Lord Deramore’s School

Heslington Hall Post Office

Main Street Brown’s Shop Farming Land HESLINGTON Main Street Low Lane Playing Fields Village Meeting Valued open spaces 1 Room (Para 3.2.1 - item 2) Key Buildings Boss Lane Heslington Lane Golf Course Walmgate Holmefield Lane Stray University Built up area Playing Fields Wooded area Halifax College Fulford Water Golf Heslington Conservation Area Course Sportsfield Current Main land use in Heslington showing open aspects Proposed

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4 The Built Environment

This Village Design Statement does not wish to be proscriptive about the design of new buildings or the alteration and extension to existing buildings. It aims to reflect what the local community admires and values in the existing fabric and pattern of the Village and to draw together themes and principles that potential developers should understand and relate directly to their proposals. Village Farm and cottages on Main Street [South] Heslington has a strong sense of place, New Building) at the north end of Main small pane traditional sliding Yorkshire deeply rooted in its historic pattern of Street [South], several of the banks and lights. Doors are of four, occasionally six, development. The broad Main Street the second phase of Halifax College - all panels of traditional design, all set in a [South] with its strong line of building of which introduced inappropriate and regular symmetrical elevation pattern. This frontages, and its medieval pattern of long ill-considered forms and materials. architectural consistency runs throughout narrow plots broken only by farmyard the Village, from small cottages, to farms to entrances, having survived By way of contrast, the Village the “polite” Georgian of Little Hall and the hundreds of years, provides a buildings in their consistency of Dower House. memory and link with the past, see photographs of materials and details, reflect strong much valued locally. The vernacular building local and vernacular traditions. There are also 20thC developments that Village as a whole has largely materials and styles Walls are of clamp-fired dark red/ have enhanced the Village. Local authority retained its age-old pattern of on the inside back brown brickwork, often housing, completed as The Crescent in roads, footpaths and farm page embellished with dentil work at 1948, is a scheme outstanding for its layout tracks, reinforcing this memory. eaves level supporting cast iron and design. For this reason, infill here gutters. Roofs are pitched with would be disastrous. Holmefield, to the Scale, density and material is remarkably clay pantiles, some plain tile and Welsh south-west of the Village, is a Housing consistent in the Village, with only a few slate. Joinery work is invariably painted Association development of the 1970s that unfortunate exceptions. Amongst those are softwood, with small pane double hung is unashamedly modern and is successful the flat-roofed University building (The sash windows. There are also examples of because it is sensitive to vernacular forms,

PAGE 13 HESLINGTON VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT scale and materials in a pattern that provide context in which his proposals are set and 5. Provide adequate parking within the a strong sense of place. They are compact to explain, in an accompanying design curtilage of the building. dwellings in a well-planned and attractive statement, how his proposals meet the layout. More recent additions by the objectives of this Village Design Statement 6. Use materials and building methods University, culminating in Halifax College as expressed both in the description and that are of the highest quality. They (considered by many of the residents of recommendation for each section. should respect and be sympathetic to Heslington to be un-neighbourly and brutal) the context and building traditions of serve to emphasise the need for vigilance the Village. and planning control. 4.1 Planning Guidelines 7. Maintain variety in size and scale as The objective is to encourage developments Any new development or conversions of seen in historic buildings while that show an appropriate regard for the existing buildings should: avoiding pastiche. historic context of Heslington and enrich its character. Simply to copy the architecture 1. Respect the setting and character of of existing buildings will usually lead to a Heslington, and the lie of the land and superficial echoing of historic features. in particular, preserve where Sensitivity to context and use of traditional established, the medieval pattern of materials are not incompatible with long, narrow burgage plots, e.g. Main contemporary architecture. Street.

For example, the development of redundant 2. Sit happily in the pattern of existing farms and farmyards should retain the development and routes through and history and memory of that farm and place, around it. reusing existing buildings if at all possible. New building should be sensitively 3. Respect, maintain, or provide views designed, respecting and reflecting the through to the open countryside. previous scale and pattern of development. They should retain or create views through 4. Respect and reflect the to the fields beyond. predominantly domestic scale of buildings in the Village. In particular, In any planning applications it should be extensions should neither be larger incumbent upon the developer to nor more dominant than the parent demonstrate his understanding of the building. Almshouses, Main Street [South]

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8. Contemporary design will be 2. Adequate prevention measures to 6.1 Planning Guidelines considered where it respects the inhibit burglary and thus be made context and the quality of the site secure by design. 1. Any development should seek to and conforms to the above minimise: recommendations. 3. The views of the local community (i) any impact on the Village built about safe neighbourhood form, its setting or its infrastructure proposals. 5 Crime Prevention (ii) vehicular and pedestrian traffic generated by the University through The built environment has a major impact 6 Campus 3 Development the Village on crime and community safety. (iii) any impact on views into and out There are substantial proposals going of the village. Full guidelines are available in CYC’s through the planning process for the Local Development Plan Guidance on University of York to expand to reach a 2. Any proposals should include Crime Prevention and in the Police target of 15,000 students with a new measures to overcome villagers’ “Secured by Design” Award Scheme. campus (Campus 3) on 65 ha of farmland concerns about disturbance from 250 metres to the East of the built edge of existing University developments the Village. A CYC Planning Brief has within the Village, particularly with 5.1 Planning Guidelines been approved for this site. If this regard to late night noise and location development takes place it will clearly have of commercial outlets. Using the guidelines above, all new a major effect on Heslington. The current development proposals need to be able to characteristics of the Village, which make it 3. Representatives from all communities demonstrate that due account has been attractive to both the villagers, the residents that will be affected by the taken of: of York and the University itself, should be development should be included in maintained. extensive consultation through, for 1. The best design advice, incorporating example, the “community forum” as community based action to inhibit In considering the development plans the stated in the CYC Campus 3 and remedy the causes and following need to be addressed: Development Brief. consequences of criminal, intimidatory and anti-social behaviour. [References: CYC Local Plan Third set of changes policy ED9 change number 512. Heslington East University of York Planning Brief, Sections 6.1 (a) (f) (g) (h)]

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7 Elvington Airfield The impact on local villages, including provide full supporting economic, Heslington, in terms of noise, traffic and transport and environmental impact Approximately half of Elvington airfield pollution, is likely to be profound. It is of assessments. lies within Heslington Parish. Recent major concern, particularly in the light of applications made by the owners of the Report; The Environmental Effects of 3. It should undergo a full series of Elvington Airfield indicate possibilities of Civil Aircraft in Flight, produced by The public consultations in accordance higher levels of activity on this site. Royal Commission on Environmental with Government policy guidance, Pollution, and the arguments it makes which would include formal against the proliferation of small airports, consultation with all impacted and short-haul flights. surrounding communities likely to be affected by the noise footprint and traffic growth, including Heslington. 7.1 Planning Guidelines

1. No further significant development of 8 Social Aspects of Heslington Elvington airfield should be consented Today - Implications for to by the City Council, or even Development considered, without there first being in place a Masterplan or design Heslington is a visibly mixed community. statement for the development of the At the Village Design Statement workshop airfield. This should set the airfield in people welcomed this: “it breeds tolerance its wider context and identify its long- and enhances the Village.” term objectives so that it can be subjected to a public consultation It is home to farmers and agricultural process. workers, retired people, families with young children, University students, people 2. This Masterplan should identify and who work locally, academics and other anticipate all future development of staff. People who have spent all their lives the infrastructure of the site, together in Heslington live alongside people from with anticipated growth of overseas. Lord Deramore’s School, with commercial, leisure and freight traffic 200 pupils, is the most multi-cultural school over, say, the next 15 to 20 years, and in York. The school has a breakfast club Lord Deramore's School and Tally Alley

PAGE 16 HESLINGTON VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT and an afternoon club. A pre-school Rising property values are pushing house to undergraduate students in short-term community nursery uses the school prices beyond the reach of many young multi-occupation tenancies. Private houses buildings and a community junior football people with families. New housing in the are also now being bought up for this club uses the school grounds on Sundays. Village on the sites of redundant farm purpose. When this occurs to excess, it buildings is aimed at the ‘executive’ distorts the social mix and often causes The ecumenical Parish Church, St Paul’s, market. The introduction of the right-to- local problems, such as noise and lack of fosters close links between the Village and buy removed much of the Village council property maintenance. University communities and there is and housing association stock from the considerable student involvement in Church rental market. Larger ex-council and The Village needs a strong core of affairs. The University owns and manages housing association houses are being permanent residents across the full age the green in front of the Church where the bought by property companies who let them range to maintain its sense of community. annual Church fête is held. Brownies meet in the Church rooms and Scouts have their This issue of imbalance has been tackled in own hut on University land next to the Leeds with a programme of Student Vicarage. Housing Restraint, which will be backed up by the new legislation on Houses in The Sportsfield, donated by a local Multiple Occupation in the Housing Bill landowner in the 1930s, has good facilities currently going though Parliament. for league cricket and football. Community fundraising has provided new children’s play equipment which gets a great deal of 8.1 Planning Guidelines use. There are two further community facilities: the Village Meeting Room, a 1. Planners should take into account the chapel converted to community use in the need for affordable housing for local 1970s and Holmefield Community Centre people which should be a priority for which provided accommodation for play new applications. groups and now provides a service for the community. There is a nursing home and 2. New planning applications for housing respite care home in the Village, as well as should provide a scale and variety of three groups of historic almshouses and a housing that reflects and encourages a more recent development by the Joseph diverse social mix. Rowntree Housing Trust for elderly people. one of the local pubs

PAGE 17 HESLINGTON VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT

3. The percentage of housing that is community but four is excessive. They street.” The same inspector also made the occupied by multi-let student housing attract large numbers of people visiting point that care should be taken with should be kept in balance so that the Heslington simply to use the bank. They proposed changes to listed buildings since profile of the present good social mix have little interaction with the community “minor works of indifferent quality which is not distorted and the Village does and make little contribution other than may seem individually to be of little not become predominantly a home for noise and pollution. The recent addition of importance, can cumulatively be very a transitory population. To tackle this an estate agent is also viewed with some destructive of a building’s special interest.” problem CYC should consider the concern. DoE Inspector Dannie Onn, 16 June 2003. solutions offered by the forthcoming legislation on HMOs and the Leeds’ The expansion of commercial activities on experience. Main Street [South] leads to increase in 9.1 Planning Guidelines pressure for development to the rear of properties and the concreting over of 1. The current residential nature of Main Street [South] should be preserved 9 Commercial gardens for commercial parking and deliveries - both of which contradict the and any commercial development, spirit of the Conservation Area. while being sensitive to the needs of Brown’s shop (a grocery, bakery and local farmers, should not reduce the sandwich shop, with hairdresser above) and Additional excellent shopping facilities are amenity value for residents. Main the Post Office (selling cards, newspapers, available nearby (York centre is only 2 Street should not be allowed to confectionary and cigarettes) in the Village miles away and there are major out-of-town become High Street. are much valued for providing daily centres within 10 minutes drive). There are shopping needs and as a social hub and several mini-markets, fast food outlets, a “….The appeal site is on a charming village meeting-place for the villagers. The two chemist, butchers and other shops within street with a quiet semi–rural character …. public houses, while heavily student 10 - 20 minutes walking distance. The character of the street is still dominated in term time, are further assets predominately residential but would be to the Village. A very recent appeal for an extension of threatened by any significant extensions of commercial use in Main Street was refused commercial development.” DoE Inspector It is, however, important to maintain a on the grounds, that, had it been granted, G. Arrowsmith’s report on a planning balance between commercial activities the “relatively peaceful character” of the appeal for a development in Heslington which meet the needs of the community and historic core would have been compromised Main Street in July 1987. reduce those which lead to additional traffic and that it “would conflict with policy S6 of generation. The four banks already disturb the emerging Local Plan” and be “at odds 2. Change of use for buildings in the this balance - one would be useful to the with the rural and residential nature of the Conservation Area should only be

PAGE 18 HESLINGTON VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT

granted where the domestic scale and with fine mature trees and a grassed central is also used by large farm and commercial character of the original is retained reservation and roundabout where all roads vehicles. There is concern that the and where alterations will not harm meet. The Main Street [South] is also proposals for further developments at historic features and fabric. characterised by wide grassy verges with Germany Beck, Osbaldwick and Campus 3 mature trees between the highway and the will result in even more intolerable traffic 3. Any future planning should consider footpaths. The two narrow roads (Langwith conditions. More than 10,000 cars a day encouraging the banks to occupy a Lane and Low Lane [East]) out of the use Heslington Lane/Main Street [North]. more suitable location (they are Village to the south lead immediately to heavily used by students and the open countryside and local farms with no The lack of a school off-street drop-off campus of the University might be a through traffic. point causes dangerous problems in term more suitable location). If the banks time in both Field Lane and School Lane. do vacate their premises then they Traffic is a major issue. Field Lane, It is a busy road with heavy traffic, should be redeveloped in a University Road and Heslington Lane have particularly at the key drop-off times. The sympathetic way, preferably back developed into “rat-runs” for York Church has no parking facilities of its own to private houses. commuters. Enlargement of the University and churchgoers park along Field Lane and Science Park has also led to adding to traffic hazard. 4. The concreting of gardens should be significantly increased traffic. This causes discouraged. severe queuing at the roundabout and Traffic calming measures in Heslington adjoining roads, particularly during school Lane and Main Street [North] currently term-times. Moreover the siting of the four consist of chicanes, pedestrian refuges and 10 Roads, Paths and Traffic major banks in the Main Street [South] has led to large volumes of short-term traffic The roads of Heslington add to its charm. and parking problems. Main Street [South] From the west, Heslington Lane runs between two University playing fields and the Village approach has mature roadside trees and grassy verges between the highway and footpaths. From the east, Field Lane runs past scenic open country to the south and the first views of the Village are of mature trees and the Church spire. From the north, University Road joins the Village

The Village Meeting Room (formerly Wesleyan Chapel)

PAGE 19 HESLINGTON VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT a zebra crossing. From survey figures2 this opinion of many residents, out of keeping in of York has increased the flow of traffic has lead to a welcome reduction from 11,769 a conservation area. into Heslington. It is therefore the case that to 10,701 cars per day and a reduction in the more controls there are on car use in maximum speeds from over 50mph to Lack of off-street parking causes York, and on the University campus, the 38mph while the average speed has reduced widespread problems throughout the more traffic will be deflected to Heslington. from 37mph to 30mph. However, it does Village. The current Main Street [South] This will be particularly exacerbated if cause blockages and pollution from queuing layout results in visual domination of the congestion charges are imposed in the vehicles at peak times and has provoked street scene by parked cars and careless historic heart of York. some dangerous driving. The current parking in this location. bollards are visually intrusive and, in the Cyclists have problems of insufficient safe 2 10.1 Planning Guidelines Faber Maunsell, HeslingtonTraffic Calming routes particularly on Heslington Lane, Study for City of York Council, (Draft Report Rev. 2, June 2002) Field Lane and University Road. 1. Less visually intrusive and safer alternatives to the current traffic It has been the policy of CYC and, indeed, calming chicanes should be considered central government, in the name of - for example those set out in the environmental sustainability (recognising Faber Maunsell, Heslington Traffic global warming, pollution, etc.) to Calming Study for City of York Council, encourage people out of their cars and on to (Draft Report Rev. 2, June 2002). public transport. It is widely acknowledged that there is no realistic alternative to this 2. Traffic calming should take into policy. In this, York has been a major account the needs of the disabled. innovator, with extensive pedestrianisation, traffic calming and Park and Ride schemes. 3. The pressure on the main Village The traffic calming in Heslington was roundabout by Heslington Hall should initiated a few years back and it has had be curtailed. Heavy vehicles some positive results. The scheme throughout the Village should be deliberately restricted parking levels and restricted to access only; for example, cut speeds and car-accessibility. These may farm vehicles and buses. have seemed, in the short term, to be inconvenient to residents, but are in fact 4. A safe school drop-off point should be part of a welcome effort to restrict Gazebo in the garden of created off Field Lane. dependency on car use. Pedestrianisation Heslington Hall

PAGE 20 HESLINGTON VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT

5. Improvements should be made 11 Visual Intrusion and Noise the conservation area (e.g. large canvas along the directions of Heslington banners). Lane, Field Lane and University The historic quiet rural setting of Road to provide safe cycleways. Heslington has been inevitably changed by There is concern that inappropriately the arrival of the University 40 years ago. designed bus shelters will be imposed in the 6. Any further traffic resulting from The landscaped campus is widely Conservation Area causing more visual University and other developments appreciated, as are many of its facilities clutter. should be routed to avoid impacting which are open to the public. on the Village itself or any residential streets close to the 11.1.1 Planning Guidelines boundary of the Village. 11.1 Signs and Street Furniture 1. All road signage should be of a type 7. Development which generates major Whilst it is recognised that highway signs that blends into the environment and traffic should not be allowed in the have to be intrusive for reasons of public sensitive to the conservation area, Conservation Area. safety, others should be of a type that blend consistent with statutory into the environment. An increase in traffic requirements. 8. Park and Ride should be extended has led to the proliferation of visually or re-routed to include frequent intrusive signs and bollards associated with 2. A consistent and high quality journeys from Grimston Bar traffic calming measures. These disrupt design theme for street lamps to the University and the views of the traditional wide verges and should be maintained throughout the Village. sweep of the roads. There has also been a Village. growth of signage and street furniture in the 9. Heslington should be considered as Village that is out of character. 3. Any advertising or signage should part of a citywide traffic scheme respect the context of the Village. It including safe cycle routes. Some street lamps on Main Street have should be low key (colour, size and been replaced with an “historical” design, lighting) and in keeping with a rural 10. Opportunities should be taken to but others are still of the concrete “hockey- Conservation Area. use existing areas for car parking stick” type. where possible. 4. Care should be taken in the siting and Some commercial activities in Main Street design of bus shelters to ensure that [South] attract custom by obtrusive they are appropriate to the historic advertising in a style not in keeping with setting.

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11.2 Lighting and Security 3. If possible, there should be a strong deliveries to shops in the early morning. presumption against new through An increase in privately-owned student Recent developments in Heslington have routes in the Village. If they are rented accommodation in the Village has led to the introduction of security lighting. unavoidable they should address the also resulted in a rise in complaints about This has changed the rural character of the issues of security and potential noise. noise. Village at night in some areas from soft darkness to glaring light. While there is a need to increase security in order to reduce 11.3 Noise and Disruption 11.3.1 Planning Guidelines burglary, theft and vandalism, this should be achieved without increasing obtrusive Two recent developments have adversely 1. New developments should not lighting. Local consensus from previous impacted on the Village. First; the Science adversely impact on the quality of life consultations indicates resistance to the Park has been located adjacent to the in the Village by increasing the noise introduction of any new public through- Village. Second; provision of undergraduate profile. routes in the Village. This was strongly student accommodation (Halifax College) expressed during the public consultation for has been considerably increased within the 2. Future plans should take every the VDS and when the application for the Village itself. Both of these developments opportunity to reduce noise development of the paddock alongside have led to a marked increase in traffic and problems. Boss Lane was refused. There are two noise. These negative effects need to be reasons for this; new routes would countered in order to maintain the character introduce a higher level of security risk and of the Village as a whole and the Heslington has survived as a distinct they could introduce new sources of late- Conservation Area in particular. community for the best part of a thousand night disturbance for residents. years and this Village Design Statement Within the last few years the development will perhaps give those who come after us of Halifax College, which locates large a snapshot of what it was like to live here numbers of undergraduates in in 2004 and what we wished for in the 11.2.1 Planning Guidelines future. We live in Heslington because we accommodation located within the Village, enjoy its ambience, its strong sense of 1. Lighting should respect the rural area has caused a considerable increase in late history and place, its architecture, its and particularly the Conservation night noise and has brought a high level of amenities, its wildlife, its green spaces Area. distress to many villagers. Noise at and a generously inclusive community. unsociable hours comes from a variety of It is our hope that this Village Design 2. Obtrusive and excessive security sources; people leaving the pubs, students Statement will help these continue for the lighting should be controlled. returning from clubs in the early hours and enjoyment of future generations.

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Appendix 1: Heslington Listed Buildings, 1/62 House No 18 Main Street – Grade II - Late C18 1/72 Old School House, No 7 School Lane – Grade from the DoE, List of Buildings of Special early C19. II – built by subscription in 1795 on land given by Architectural or Historical Interest, 1986. Henry Yarburgh. 1/63 Village Farm No 19 Main Street – Grade II – 1/54 The Church – Grade II – built in 1857/58 to Early to mid C18 with later additions and alterations. 1/73 Heslington Hall – Grade II* - built 1565-68 replace a medieval church on the same site. First floor has 12 pane sliding sashes. for the Secretary to the newly established Council Designed by J. B. and W. Atkinson and remodelled in the North. The Hall was remodelled in C19 and in 1971/73 by R. G. Sims. most of the interior is by Brierley (1903), though 1/64 Chapel House No 21 Main Street (formerly the splendid pendant plaster ceiling is an listed as Nos 20, 21 & 22) – Grade II – 16 pane Elizabethan original. Part of the historic garden 1/56 Nos 1-5 Hesketh Cottages - Grade II – sashes throughout. survives. Originally built as alms houses by Sir Thomas Hesketh in 1605, removed and rebuilt in the present 1/65 House, now a pair of houses, Nos 23 & 24. location by Henry Yarburgh in 1795. 1/76 The Gazebo at Heslington Hall – Grade II – Grade II. Early C19 with later additions and early C18 with later additions. Now used as a quiet alterations. 16 pane sashes throughout. space by the University. 1/57 The Lodge – Grade II – Early C19. French windows with decorative glazing bars. 1/66 The Manor House – Grade II – Mid to late C18 1/78 The Orangery at Heslington Hall – Grade II – with later additions and alterations. Mid C18, with C19 heightening and alterations. 1/58 More House – Grade II – Formerly the Vicarage, built in the late C18 and home to the 1/67 Little Hall – Grade II* - Ceiling inscribed and Rev Sydney Smith, “The Smith of Smiths” from dated ’JY 1734’, built for John Yarburgh. 1809 to 1814, whilst he was rebuilding the rectory at Foston. Its stables housed Charles XII, winner Scheduled Ancient Monuments of the St Leger at Doncaster for Major Yarburgh in 1/68 Little Hall coach house. 1839. Monument number 26623 1/69 Village meeting room – Grade II – Former 1/59 No 5 Main Street – Grade II – Early to mid C18 Wesleyan Chapel of 1844. Siward’s How, south east of the water tower, with later additions and alterations. Heslington Hill. 1/70 Lime Tree Farm, No 33 Main Street – Grade II 1/60 Tolley House, now a pair of houses Nos 9 & – Mid to late C18 with later additions and Monument number 34828 10 Main Street – Grade II - Mid to late C18. C18 alterations. 12 pane sashes throughout. World War ll bombing decoy 500m east of Bland’s lead rainwaterhead and fallpipe. Plantation. 1/71 Village School, School Lane – Grade II – built 1/61 House, now a pair of houses Nos 15 & 16 Main in 1856 to replace the old School House across the Street – Grade II - Late C18 with C19 extension. road.

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Appendix 2: Description of Heslington Walnut Farm and the Hesketh Almshouses (1795). running between them. The subtle variations in excerpted from the City of York Council Spring Lane reveals enticing glimpses of the frontage width and architectural detail of buildings is draft Local Plan (1998):- grounds of Heslington Hall. On the opposite side of typical of a rural village. The traditional multi- Spring Lane is a quiet enclave of houses tucked paned or four-paned sash windows are intact in most amongst trees. Here the University complex is close properties. The predominant building materials are The Conservation Area has a richly varied character, at hand, yet is not really apparent because of the pinkish brown brick with roofing of pantile and with Heslington Hall as its centrepiece. The landscaped and walled character of the area. some plain tile and Welsh slate. A red detail brick is University Complex is adjoining, yet the village often found. Manor House and Little Hall are set in retains a strong sense of its own identity. The rural Main Street also leads from the countryside to the spacious grounds, with their front garden walls parkland character of the land alongside Field Lane hub of the village, via Common Lane. The latter is maintaining the continuity of the street frontage. is not only important as the setting for Heslington lined by houses and cottages on just one side and Church, but also for the Hall. Visually, the gives views over the still traditional outer edge of The main elements of the character and appearance intrusion of the busy road junction is offset by the the village. Paddocks and meadows are the setting of the area are:- mature trees alongside the road and within the for an informal cluster of farm outbuildings and (1) The magnificence of Heslington Hall at the hub grassed central reservation. barns, with the larger houses of the Main Street seen of the village; in both a physical and social beyond. Main Street has many of the attributes of a sense the bond between the traditional village Heslington Lane enters the village from the open complete village street in itself. Each end of the and the new University complex. fields which maintain the separate identity of the street narrows as buildings are set forward. This west side of Heslington from York’s suburbs. The creates a pleasing entry to the more open character (2) The way in which Heslington retains its own lane has a distinct linear character: front boundary of the main section of the street, with its grass verges identity, with a rich heritage of streets, walls and buildings, in turn, forming its frontage. and several mature trees. Main Street retains a vernacular buildings, trees and open spaces. After curving gently, with grass verges, the lane distinctly period atmosphere, because nearly all the (3) The linear street qualities of Heslington Lane straightens and leads unerringly to the hub of the buildings are 18thC or early 19thC, a high and Main Street, each individual in its own way. village with the side wall of Heslington Hall’s proportion of them being listed. Many front directly grounds a strong feature. The view ahead is onto the street, forming its subtle curve and slight (4) The charm of the rural setting of the south-west enclosed by the trees at the road junction. Along the variations in width. Buildings are two-storey, outer edge of Main Street. The visual unity of lane is an attractive mixture of 18thC and 19thC usually detached or in short terraces, and closely the street itself, in having retained so much of its houses and cottages, including the farm buildings of spaced with narrow gated entrances or side lanes traditional form and building fabric.

Update: Architectural details Since this document was approved by City of York Council Key to inside back cover - left to right, top to bottom Planning Committee on 22 April 2004 the Heslington Cast iron downspout; Front door; 3 sash 30 pane horizontal sliding window; Round conservation area review has been completed and the post- window with roof line detail; 2 sash 12 pane horizontal sliding window; Roof detail; consultation draft conservation area boundary shown on page Ventilation pipe pattern; Slate roof; Chimney detail; Meeting Room window detail; 11 was approved at City of York Council Planning and Clamp bricks; Pantiles; 2 Sash 4 pane vertical sliding window; Transport (East Area) Sub-Committee on 13 May 2004. Chimney detail; 2 sash 12 pane vertical sliding window; Front door.

PAGE 24 Printed July 2004. By Tel:01904 692000