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Loughborough Design and Access Statment

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Loughborough Station " Design & Access Statement Refurbishment of Ladies and Gentlemen’s Toilet Facilities Page: !1 Heritage Design & Access Statement LOUGHBOROUGH STATION : Male & Female Toilet Refurbishment 2019 CONTENTS: 1.0 INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT……………………………………………………………03 2.0 BACKGROUND AND HISTORY……………………………………………………………...04 3.0 EXISTING PHOTOGRAPHS………………………………………………………………….05 4.0 HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE…………………………………………………………………..07 5.0 CURRENT CONDITION……………………………………………………………………….08 6.0 DESIGN STATEMENT……………………………………………………………………...…09 Page: !2 1.0 INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT 1.1 This Heritage Impact Statement has been produced to support the Listed Building Application for the following works at the station being made on behalf of East Midlands Trains • DDA compliant Toilet Cubicles to Ladies and Gentleman’s • DDA Compliant Level access • DDA Compliant Glazing manifestation • Renewed floor covering to both areas • Renewed Suspended Ceiling to Gentleman’s facilities • Renewed Ceramic Toilet Systems • Re-Decoration to all areas • Opening up of the spatial area • Efficient spatial re-configuration • Energy efficient Lighting • 1.2 The intention of this document is outline the design proposals and to demonstrate that due consideration has been given to the heritage value of the features within the station environment. • 1.3 It is the client’s aspiration that the scheme will improve the accessibility of the station facilities and provide an enhanced environment for station use Page: !3 2.0 BACKGROUND AND HISTORY 2.1 The original station (opened in 1840 by the Midland Counties Railway, which was shortly to join the North Midland Railway and the Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway to form the Midland Railway) was sited a little further south. The present station was built in 1872. The ironwork was constructed by Mr. Richards of Leicester, and the stone portion by Mr. Cox of Leicester. The track was quadrupled and has retained much of its characteristically Midland Railway architecture, apart from the fact that its canopies have been cut back. It became known as "Loughborough Midland" when Loughborough had three stations; Loughborough Derby Road (opened 1883 on the Charnwood Forest Railway, owned by London and North Western Railway from 1923 and closed to passengers in 1931) and Loughborough Central (Great Central Railway now used by the Great Central Railway (preserved) In future, there is to be a Loughborough Midland High-Level in which passengers could interchange with both network rail and the heritage GCR as the line is currently undergoing a heritage regeneration project. 2.2 The station is staffed and has a side platform layout. A third, short platform was created on the down slow line for the commencement of Ivanhoe Line passenger services in 1993. In 2000 passenger information systems were updated and now use dot matrix display screens. In 2006 automatic ticket gates were installed on all approaches to the station in order to cut down on fare evasion, these were complemented with ticket vending machines and additional FastTicket machines. The manual Tannoy system was replaced by an automated voice on 13 July 2011 Other facilities include bicycle racks, paid car parking, a shop and snack bar, public telephones and toilets. Taxis and buses are available outside; however, the bus to East Midlands Airport was withdrawn in 2010. Although the local Skylink service still operates from the town centre. 2.3 The station was first Listed at Grade II status on 5th May 1981. A copy of the full listing text is provided in Section 4.1 Page: !4 Page: !5 Page: !6 4.0 HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE 4.1 Below is an extract of the full Listing Description of the Grade II Loughborough Station:- This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest. Name: LOUGHBOROUGH RAILWAY STATION NOTTINGHAM ROAD List Entry Number: NGR: SK5432620464 District: District Type: Charnwood District Authority Grade: II Date first listed: 05- May -1981 National Grid Reference: SK 54326 20464 SK 52 SW NOTTINGHAM ROAD 2/69 (west side) 5.5.81 Loughborough Railway Station II Railway Station, incorporating main passenger building and attached platform canopy, and screen wall and canopy on subsidiary platform. c.1870, of white brick with red brick dressings and hipped slate roofs. Central booking hall with lower wings either side. Arched windows with keyed heads. Decorative cornices and chimneys. Only the canopy is missing. Platform elevation equally unaltered. Eight bays of ridge and furrow cast-iron and glass canopy, the hipped ends have been removed. Similar canopy to subsidiary platform. Booking hall has original fittings. Listing NGR: SK5432620464 Page: !7 5.0 CURRENT CONDITION 5.1 Up until 2012 access to all but platform 1 was awkward for many passengers. The station had a footbridge and a barrow crossing to access platforms 2 and 3, in addition since the early 1990s the usable length of the two main platforms was four coaches due to the A60 road bridge Loughborough Eastern Gateway a locally led project proved to be the catalyst after many years of proposals to improve the station. The scheme got underway in March 2010 A £7 million package of improvements was started at the station in June 2010. Platforms were extended to accommodate the longest trains which serve the station, lifts provided to access all platforms, and refurbishment of the existing ticket office, waiting rooms and glass platform canopies. The extended platforms 1 & 2 are capable of handling 10-car trains; and the extended platform 3 can handle up to 7-car trains The new facilities were opened in good time for the 2012 British and Japanese Olympic squads basing themselves in the town. Services : 5.2 Rail routes run north-south through Loughborough along the route known as the Midland Main Line, going south to London; and north to Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield. East Midlands Trains (EMT) operate the station as well as all services. The usual Monday - Saturday service pattern is as follows: • Platform one - ◦ Hourly East Midlands Trains service to Sheffield via Derby and Chesterfield ◦ Hourly East Midlands Trains service to Nottingham via Beeston • Platform two - ◦ Hourly fast East Midlands Trains service to London St Pancras International via Leicester ◦ Hourly semi-fast East Midlands Trains service to London St Pancras International via Kettering, Bedford and Luton Airport Parkway • Platform three - ◦ Hourly local East Midlands Trains service to Lincoln via East Midlands Parkway, Nottingham and Newark with peak hour trains to Sleaford ◦ Hourly local East Midlands Trains service to Leicester via Syston Page: !8 6.0 DESIGN STATEMENT 6.1 The refurbishment of the existing facilities looks to maximise the spatial envelope of both Ladies and gentlemen’s toilets, whilst utilising and incorporating as a feature within the facilities the heritage feature windows. 6.2 Energy efficiency will be enhanced in respect of Lighting and water systems 6.3 Flooring to the booking hall has been chosen as neutral but easy to clean surface that offers good slip resistance when wet. Barrier matting has also been chosen for the main entrance to assist in keeping the flooring dry and clean. 6.4 DDA enhancements will incorporate , Standard , Accessible and enlarged cubicles as well as a Baby change unit will be added to ensure that all facilities are multi user compliant. Conclusion : The application presents a scheme that is aesthetically appropriate to the setting of the site and will provide better facilities for access of public , staff and maintenance regime. This is a proposal for renewal and spatial re-arrangement considering sympathetic scale form and massing, with the use of carefully chosen and appropriate materials. The refurbishment will enhance the thermal and environmental performance whilst lightening the carbon Footprint and providing further and better utility and flexibility The proposal encourages the sustainability and access for all uses of the local transport system with the upgrade to the public facilities. Page: !9.
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