Martholme Viaduct : Facilitating Public Access Design & Access Statement incorporating Heritage Statement May 2017 About Sustrans Sustrans is the charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle. We connect people and places, create liveable neighbourhoods, transform the school run and deliver a happier, healthier commute. Join us on our journey. www.sustrans.org.uk Head Office Sustrans 2 Cathedral Square College Green Bristol BS1 5DD © Sustrans May 2017 Registered Charity No. 326550 (England and Wales) SC039263 (Scotland) VAT Registration No. 416740656 Report number: NW20-B30-RE-01 Revision number: - Purpose of issue Planning & Listed Building Consent Date issued: 30 May 2017 Author: Jenny MacDonald Checked: Will Haynes Martholme Viaduct : Facilitating Public Access Design & Access Statement incorporating Heritage Statement May 2017 Table of contents 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 1 2 Rationale ...................................................................................................................................... 1 3 Description of development ......................................................................................................... 3 4 Heritage Statement ...................................................................................................................... 4 5 Ecology ........................................................................................................................................ 7 6 Policy Context .............................................................................................................................. 7 7 Access ......................................................................................................................................... 8 8 Further information ....................................................................................................................... 8 Appendix A – Schedule of Planning Application Documents Appendix B – Martholme Viaduct Listing Entry Martholme Viaduct : Facilitating Public Access Design & Access Statement incorporating Heritage Statement May 2017 1 Introduction 1.1 This Design and Access Statement incorporating Heritage Statement has been produced in support of a Planning submission and Listed Building Consent application for the removal and re-erection of fencing on Martholme Viaduct in order to facilitate public access to the deck of this Grade 2 listed structure to enjoy the commanding views of the local area available from this high vantage point. 1.2 This development includes works to remove existing 2.0 metre high palisade fencing from the southern end of the viaduct, currently preventing public access to the structure from the Mill Lane Greenway on adjoining land. It is proposed to re-erect the same fence at the northern end of the structure in order to prevent access being taken to or from adjoining land but to enable open access to the deck of the viaduct by the public. 1.3 The principle of this development has been discussed with Ribble Valley Borough Council and Hyndburn Borough Council with a pre-application site meeting on 30 June 2016. The boundary between the boroughs follows the course of the River Calder that flows beneath the viaduct. Ribble Valley Borough Council have confirmed they are the planning authority for this application. 1.4 This Planning Application is for engineering works comprising the re-erection of fencing as described. 1.5 The application fee associated would be £195.00, being calculated based on the engineering works comprising an area less than 0.1 ha (32 m²) and being in one local planning authority area (Ribble Valley Borough Council). 1.6 A Listed Building Consent application is being submitted to Ribble Valley Borough Council 1.7 This Planning and Listed Building Consent application is being submitted by Sustrans, a leading UK charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle. 1.8 Martholme Viaduct is owned by Railway Paths Limited (RPL) a sister charity to Sustrans. 2 Rationale 2.1 Lancashire County Council has previously developed a permissive bridleway for horses, cycles and pedestrians on a part of the former Great Harwood Loop Line railway formation between Mill Lane and Martholme Lane. At present there is no access to Martholme Viaduct and access from the level of the former railway formation to Martholme Lane is achieved through the use of a lengthy flight of steps. Views across the Calder valley are available from the existing path, but are restricted by the woodland that has developed on the former railway formation around the existing path. 2.2 At present a palisade fence is erected across the southern end of the viaduct. It is not known exactly when the fence was erected though it has been suggested it was erected to prevent access at the time of the outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease in 2001. 2.3 At present there is no boundary fencing at the northern end of the viaduct. Although the adjoining landowner has excavated a part of the depth of the former railway embankment making access difficult we are concerned that having no boundary structure on the viaduct itself would potentially lead to access being taken to or from the adjoining land which the landowner does not currently wish to permit. 1 Martholme Viaduct : Facilitating Public Access Design & Access Statement incorporating Heritage Statement May 2017 2.4 In order to enable public access to the Viaduct and thus enjoy the wide and varied views available from this high and clear vantage point we propose to remove entirely the current south end fence and to re-erect it at the northern end of the viaduct structure to provide a secure boundary to the adjoining property. Typical views from the viaduct are shown in figures 2.1 and 2.2 below. Figure 2.1 – view to the west from viaduct Figure 2.2 – view to the east from viaduct 2.5 Figure 2.1 below show the existing permissive bridleway from Mill Lane to Martholme Lane. The Viaduct is shown in red. Currently there is no public access onto the viaduct. Contains OS data © Crown co pyright and database right 2017 Martholme Martholme Lane Viaduct Existing permissive bridleway Mill Lane Great Harwood Figure 2.3 – Location of Martholme Viaduct and existing permissive bridleway between Mill Lane and Martholme Lane, Great Harwood (inset shows sign board for the path) 2 Martholme Viaduct : Facilitating Public Access Design & Access Statement incorporating Heritage Statement May 2017 2.6 Informal consultation has been undertaken with the owner of the property adjacent to the northern end of the viaduct. This has highlighted concerns about their properties being accessed by people traversing the viaduct confirming the need for security style fencing in order to give adequate comfort to the landowner that access will not be available to or from the viaduct off his land. 3 Description of development 3.1 Sustrans is seeking Planning Permission for the following works: Re-erection of the existing 2.0m high steel palisade fence from the southern end of the viaduct (OS Grid Reference SD 75109 33788) to the northern end of the viaduct (OS Grid Reference SD 75206 33951). The fence will be located 2.0m from the northern end of the viaduct deck. The fence will be supported on posts set in concrete foundations within the grassed surface of the viaduct deck. The fence will not be affixed to the parapet walls. The fence will be finished with a brush applied gloss black paint. 3.2 Figures 3.1 to 3.3 show details of the existing fence. It will be re-erected in a like-for-like manner with the pedestrian gate located centrally within the fence. The pedestrian gate will be locked. The gate is being retained in order to provide a safe means of access to the remaining section of viaduct north of the fence for maintenance purposes. Figure 3.1 – View of existing 2.0 metre high steel palisade fence at southern end of viaduct. 3 Martholme Viaduct : Facilitating Public Access Design & Access Statement incorporating Heritage Statement May 2017 Figure 3.2 – Detail of end of fence extending over the parapet wall and closed pedestrian access gate. Figure 3.3 – View showing setting of existing fence looking south from centre of viaduct deck. Relocated fence would be painted gloss black. 4 Heritage Statement The Site and Brief History 4.1 Martholme Viaduct, which forms part of the development, is a Grade II listed building. The viaduct was listed in 1984 (list number 183874). The listing is included in Appendix B. 4.2 This railway viaduct was completed in 1877 as part of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Great Harwood Loop between Blackburn and Burnley, via Great Harwood, Simonstone and Padiham. The railway line was closed in December 1957. 4.3 Martholme Viaduct is now owned by Railway Paths Limited, a sister charity to Sustrans (http://www.railwaypaths.org.uk/ ) 4 Martholme Viaduct : Facilitating Public Access Design & Access Statement incorporating Heritage Statement May 2017 4.4 Public access has previously been permitted but the viaduct was fenced off at the southern end in 2001 with a steel palisade fence. Since then no public access has been allowed. Proposed Works to the Viaduct 4.5 As described in paragraph 3.1 it is proposed to take down the existing palisade fence at the southern end of the viaduct and re-erect it at the northern end of the viaduct. 4.6 After consultation with the local planning authority it is understood that small