May 2013 Conservation Area Appraisal & Management Proposals
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Conservation Area Appraisal & Management Proposals May 2013 Historic Environment Service Education and Enterprise Wolverhampton City Council Civic Centre St Peter’s Square Wolverhampton WV1 1RP [email protected] 3 1 / 5 0 4 3 8 C C W Conservation Area Character Appraisal This document is the appraisal for the Wolverhampton Locks Conservation Area which the Council approved on 22nd May 2013 To find out more about appraisals for other conservation areas in the City see the Council’s web site at: www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/conservationareas Contents Conservation Areas 1. Introduction 4 in Wolverhampton 2. Location and setting 5 18 4 3. History of the Birmingham Mainline Canal 8 4. Character and Appearance of the Conservation Area 14 Summary of special interest 14 5 Present character: activities and uses 14 Development of street pattern 15 Architectural and historic character 15 1 25 Building materials 18 Listed buildings 18 Locally listed heritage assets 19 7 28 13 Buildings of townscape merit 20 9 14 19 30 8 Focal points, vistas and views 20 11 Open spaces, green areas and trees 21 Public realm 24 18 29 21 16 Local identity 26 22 15 3 23 Archaeological potential 26 Introduction to character areas 27 12 26 27 • Area 1 Top Lock 29 17 24 • Area 2 Fowlers Park to Oxley Viaduct 34 6 • Area 3 Oxley Viaduct to Aldersley Junction 39 20 10 5. Issues 44 2 Positives 44 Negatives 44 Threats 45 6. Management proposals 46 Key: Conservation Area review 2012 46 Guidelines for new development 46 1 Tettenhall Greens 14 Wightwick Bank 27 Fellows Street (Blakenhall) Cross Street Development Site 49 2 Vicarage Road, Penn 15 Bantock House 28 Springfield Brewery Management of other issues in the conservation area 52 3 St John’s Square 16 Chapel Ash 29 The Oaks (Merridale Road) 4 Bushbury Hill 17 St Philips (Penn Fields) 7. Implications of conservation area designation 53 5 Wolverhampton Locks 18 Staff and Worcs 30 Tettenhall Road 6 Bilston Town Centre and Shrop Canal Conservation Bibliography and maps 54 7 Tettenhall Wood 19 Ash Hill Area Boundary Sources of further information 55 8 Park 20 Penn Fields Motorway 9 Wolverhampton 21 Old Hall Street Major Roads City Centre 22 Worcester Street Railway 10 The Woodlands 23 Cleveland Road Metro Line 11 Union Mill 24 Penn Road (Graiseley) Council Boundary 12 Castlecroft Gardens 25 Cedar Way Waterways 13 Wednesfield 26 Copthorne Road 3 Wolverhampton Locks Conservation Area Appraisal Wolverhampton Locks Conservation Area Appraisal 1. Introduction 2. Location and Setting The Wolverhampton Locks Conservation Area In the south of the conservation area, the noisy forms the most northerly section of the environment of the Wolverhampton Ring Road Birmingham Canal Navigation’s (BCN) Main Line. and Wednesfield Road contribute to the feeling of It contains the entire flight of locks that descend the canal being part of the activity and bustle of the from the Wolverhampton Level on the north city centre. This changes very quickly as the canal eastern edge of Wolverhampton City Centre passes under Little’s Lane Bridge to an area where it running in an arc around to the north west, where is enclosed to the east by the West Coast Mainline it terminates in a junction with the Staffordshire Railway and to the west by the rear or side and Worcestershire canal just north of Dunstall boundaries of the former Herbert Street Good’s Park Racecourse and approximately 2.5 kilometres Station, now a large building supplies stock yard. north of the City Centre and including The sense of the canal’s role as an industrial approximately 3 kilometres of waterway and waterway is preserved, although industry has now towpath. turned its back on the canal. After passing under the Mainline Railway, the canal and towpath are Whilst the conservation area contains the bounded by the disused land of the former railway structures and features that contribute to its sidings of the Springfield Brewery (a large historic and architectural interest, the surrounding industrial complex largely of late 19th century landscape, or setting, makes an important origin), which provides an excellent impression of The Wolverhampton Locks Conservation Area contains a wealth of canal and railways heritage. contribution to the character and appearance of the the canal’s historic industrial setting, although now conservation area and contributes to creation of in a sad state of dereliction. areas of changing character. Of particular The Wolverhampton Locks Conservation Area was architectural or historic interest the character or importance both visually and historically is the North of Cannock Road, Fowlers Park provide an designated by Wolverhampton Metropolitan appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or relationship between the canal and the later railway attractive green setting to the east of the Borough Council on 25th September, 1975. This enhance”. network which criss-crosses the canal at various conservation area with views from the canal and was an extension to an earlier designation of 24th Section 71 of the same Act requires local planning locations within the conservation area. towpath across the green open space or into a thick July 1975, which covered the northern section of authorities to formulate and publish proposals for tree belt along its western edge. They also include the conservation area at Dunstall Locks. Further the preservation and enhancement of any parts of remains of the railway sidings, turntable and a minor amendments to the boundary of the their area which are Conservation Areas. platform with the potential for archaeological conservation area were made on 27th March 2007 remains of an associated coaling stage or water and 22nd May 2013. Section 72 specifies that, in making a decision on tower, engine shed and canal basins, all of which an application for development in a Conservation This document defines and records the special help to illustrate the historic interaction between Area, special attention shall be paid to the architectural and historic interest of the the canal and railways. A strip of land running desirability of preserving or enhancing the Wolverhampton Locks Conservation Area and through the park can be identified as the historic character or appearance of that area. identifies opportunities for enhancement. The course of the railway, whilst the causeway leading omission of a particular building, feature or space This appraisal satisfies the requirements of the up to two low level viaducts across the canal forms should not be taken to imply that it is of no legislation and provides a firm basis on which the northern edge of the park. Derelict industrial interest. applications for development within and in the land off Crown Street and Cross Street lies to the setting of the Wolverhampton Locks Conservation west of the conservation area. The canal banks Conservation Areas are designated under the Area can be assessed. Canal bridge at the entrance to the Shropshire Union include evidence of in-filled basins running into provisions of Section 69 of the Planning (Listed Wharf, just south of the Conservation Area. this area and covered loading bays on the canal Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. A edge. The Wolverhampton Waste Incinerator is a Conservation Area is defined as “an area of special 4 5 Wolverhampton Locks Conservation Area Appraisal Wolverhampton Locks Conservation Area Appraisal large industrial structure on the canal’s western is largely screened from view by the rising ground side, off Crown Street. Evidence of another in-filled of the cutting. Although both the sidings and basin in this area is preserved in the canal bank. racecourse have the potential to be sites of noisy The walls bounding the incinerator site were built activity, for the majority of the time they are quiet of red brick to reflect the materials of the canalside. areas helping to create tranquil atmosphere around North of Fox’s Lane, another industrial unit has the canal corridor. been built next to the canal using red brick with North and south of Aldersley Junction the brick arches to windows to reflect the traditional Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal continues design of industrial buildings in the canal’s setting. away from the conservation area within a wooded Just to the north of Fowlers Park the canal passes cutting within a separate conservation area. To the under two railway bridges (one disused) and the west the Aldersley Recreation Grounds provide Stour Valley Line Viaduct (now the West Coast Looking north from the canal into the Staffordshire further areas of green open space with boundaries Main Line Railway). Active industrial sites cover and Worcestershire Canal Conservation Area. of mature tree lines creating the horizon to views land west of the canal and north of the viaduct, from the canalside. including storage yards and low level buildings. North of Stafford Road, Jones Road provides the The conservation area passes through three City These are generally screened from view from the only residential frontage in the conservation area Council wards: St Peter’s, Bushbury South & Low Fowlers Park is green lung in the heart of the city. canal and towpath by the slope of the canal cutting looking onto the canal. This includes a terrace of Hill and Heath Town. and greenery growing on its bank. Views out to the early 20th century houses, divided from the canal east of the canal are also generally screened by and towpath by the road and a low hedge and dense foliage. The land beyond this screen is semi- railings and tree line. To the west the canal is naturalised grass and scrub, managed as a nature bounded by a number of small modern industrial reserve on the edge of the Wolverhampton Science units, including a small late 19th century wharf Park.