Heritage Statement 6 Orchard Drive Durham
This heritage statement is to be read in conjunction with a planning application for a two storey rear extension, a two storey extension to the front with a single storey flat roofed element. A single storey extension will be built between number 6 and number 8 to provide storage to 6 Orchard Drive.
The property lies just within the northern boundary of Durham’s conservation area between Aykley Heads to the west and Gilesgate to the East with the River Wear flowing around the north and south of the area.
Location of 4 Orchard Drive
Durham is situated 13 miles south -west of Sunderland and 18 miles to the south of Newcastle. The River Wear flows north through the city making an incised meander which encloses the centre on three sides to form Durham’s peninsula.
At the base of the peninsula is the market place and surrounding streets which make up the main commercial and shopping areas of the city. From the market place, the Bailey leads south past Palace Green. The Bailey is almost entirely owned and occupied by the university and cathedral.
Durham is a hilly city, and situated upon the most central and prominent position high above the Wear is Durham Cathedral or to give it the full name The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham.
3 Raby Gardens Tel: 01388 774876 Shildon Email: [email protected] DL4 1NF Web: www.dhdrawings.com
DH Drawings Design & Build Services Limited is registered at Companies House Cardiff. Company No. 06545829
Heritage Statement 6 Orchard Drive Durham
The present cathedral was begun in 1093, replacing the Saxon 'White Church', and is regarded as one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in Europe. In 1986 the cathedral and Durham Castle were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
There are three old roads out of the Market Place, Saddler Street heads south -east towards Elvet Bridge, the Bailey and Prebends Bridge. Elvet Bridge leads to the Elvet area of the city, Durham Prison and the South. Prebends Bridge is smaller and provides access from the Bailey to south Durham.
Heading west Silver Street leads out of the Market Place towards Framwellgate Bridge and North Road. From here the city spreads out into Framwellgate, Crossgate, Nevilles Cross and viaduct districts which are largely residential.
Heading north from the Market Place leads to Claypath before the road curves back around to the east towards Gilesgate, Gilsgate Moor and Dragonville.
Gilesgate is situated east of the city centre and just across the A690 from Orchard Drive. It is a ward of Durham with a total population taken at the 2011 census of 8,074.
Gilesgate was originally the main street in a settlement associated with the Hospital of St Giles which was sited by the existing St Giles Church. The street was divided in the 1960s by the construction of the A690 and the demolition of a number of houses, pubs and shops at the foot of Gilesgate Bank to construct a roundabout. East of Gilesgate itself was Gilesgate Moor. During the 19th century, housing extended along the Sherburn and Sunderland Roads and the colliery village of New Durham was built within the parish. Additional housing was constructed along the Sherburn Road in the 1930s, including the Sherburn Road Estate, built to house residents from the slums of Framwelgate. Following the Second World War, a further council housing estate was constructed north of the Sunderland Road with the streets taking the names of war leaders and local recipients of the Victoria Cross. In modern usage Gilesgate can refer to the street, the smaller area (partly following old council boundaries) consisting of the street above the roundabout and the Sunderland Road estate, Gilesgate Moor and High Grange Estate.
The areas closet to the city have proved popular with students at Durham University. This is helped by the location of the College of St Hild and St Bede and the education department on the edge of Gilesgate.
The historic parish church of St Giles is a grade I listed building, with the Roman Catholic church of St Joseph located on Mill Lane. Local primary schools include Gilesgate, Laurel Avenue, St Hilds (Church of England) and St Joseph's (Roman Catholic). It also has 2 retail parks which are known as Durham Retail Park and Dragonville Retail Park.
Gilesgate Moor is part of Gilesgate and the civil parish of Belmont. It formerly had a post office and cinema.
The following map is circa 1967 and shows the area of Orchard Drive as undeveloped land.
3 Raby Gardens Tel: 01388 774876 Shildon Email: [email protected] DL4 1NF Web: www.dhdrawings.com
DH Drawings Design & Build Services Limited is registered at Companies House Cardiff. Company No. 06545829
Heritage Statement 6 Orchard Drive Durham
‘Orchard Drive’ circa 1967
By around 1970 the Orchard Drive development had been built with over 50 new homes. Over the proceeding years Ferrens Park AFC and the surrounding area have been developed for housing with Ferens Close and Ferens Park named in recognition of the old football ground.
The original properties in Orchard Drive are not listed and are of little architectural merit. The architecture within the area is typical of its time, brown facing bricks with inset pebble dashed panels to the principle elevation and brown concrete profiled roof tiles. The properties at the time of building will have had a single storey, flat roof garages that wrapped around the front to form a small covered area over the principle entrance.
Over time a lot of the houses have had extensions built over the garages, pitched roofs installed to replace the flat felt roof and general modernisation. Some of the inset pebble dashed panels to the principle elevations have been replaced with vertical hanging tiles or stone cladding. More recently properties have added render, cladding and balconies.
3 Raby Gardens Tel: 01388 774876 Shildon Email: [email protected] DL4 1NF Web: www.dhdrawings.com
DH Drawings Design & Build Services Limited is registered at Companies House Cardiff. Company No. 06545829
Heritage Statement 6 Orchard Drive Durham
The modernisation of properties has created a mix of property sizes and styles, removing any distinct character or style in the area.
The proposal for 6 Orchard Drive is to create a rear and front extension over two floors and a single storey extension to the side. This will increase the living area, kitchen and bedrooms creating a well- proportioned family home. The design is intended to maximise the natural sun path. The Juliet balconies are intended to maximise the view to the river - currently available from existing windows.
The proposed extensions will be finished using a combination of render and timber cladding in a style similar to other modernised properties in close proximity. All new windows and doors to be anthracite UPVC. All details can be found on DH Drawings plans and elevations.
The property, as mentioned above, lies just within the conservation area. It is not a listed building and is not within the grounds of a listed building and as such the proposed development will not have any significant impact on the area. The proposed development will give new life to an old property and bring it in line with other recently modernised properties in close proximity. In doing so it will positively contribute to the area.
The River Wear is approximately 50mtrs to the north and is heavily tree lined which shields Orchard Drive from view from this location.
3 Raby Gardens Tel: 01388 774876 Shildon Email: [email protected] DL4 1NF Web: www.dhdrawings.com
DH Drawings Design & Build Services Limited is registered at Companies House Cardiff. Company No. 06545829