55, Design & Access Statement On behalf of: Kennedy Financial Services Limited Site: Lynchet Barn, Fyfield, Pewsey, Wiltshire, SN9 5JS Proposal: Erection of new dwelling (to replace that lost by fire), with associated parking, turning, and landscaping. Fowler Architecture & Planning Limited 19 High Street, Pewsey, Wiltshire SN9 5AF www.faap.co.ukContents [email protected] 01672 569444 Lynchet Barn, Fyfield Fowler Architecture and Planning Ltd Contents 1. Introduction 2. The Application: Site, History and Proposal 3. Design and Access Statement 4. Planning Issues and Material Considerations 5. Conclusions Site: Lynchet Barn, Fyfield, Wiltshire, SN9 5JE Report For: Kennedy Financial Services Limited Documents PC Details Checked By Date No. 140502 Submission MP 13/2/15 Copyright – The contents of this document must not be reproduced in whole or in part within the written consent of Fowler Architecture and Planning Ltd Lynchet Barn, Fyfield Fowler Architecture and Planning Ltd 1. Introduction 1.1 This Design & Access (Heritage) Statement has been prepared by Fowler Architecture and Planning Ltd (FAAP) on behalf of Kennedy Financial Services Limited, in support of the submission of a Full Planning Application for, ‘Erection of new dwelling (to replace that lost by fire), with associated parking, turning and landscaping,’ at Lynchet Barn, Fyfield, Wiltshire, SN9 5JS. 1.2 The purpose of this Statement is to explain the history and context of the application proposal, to set out the relevant Design and Access considerations and to then consider the planning issues and material considerations in respect of the proposal. 1.3 Section 2 of this Statement describes the application site, its planning and wider history and the Application Proposal. Section 3 then sets out the design and access considerations (a formal part of this planning application). Section 4 details the planning issues and material considerations and Section 5 provides the Conclusions. 2. The Application Site, History and Proposal 2.1 Lynchet Barn is located within the hamlet of Fyfield, which is itself located approximately 1 kilometre due east of Pewsey. The site is bordered to the north, south and west by agricultural land; to the immediate east the site is bordered by the curtilage of the Manor Coach Houses, beyond which is the unnamed road which runs south through the hamlet from Milton Street, with Fyfield Manor itself being located on the opposite side of the road at this point. 2.2 Fyfield is a tithing of the parish of Milton Lilbourne and is typical of the strip tithings on the northern edge of Salisbury Plain. The hamlet reflects this, being of loose-knit, linear built form, characterised by large detached dwellings. Historically the hamlet was dominated in design terms by Fyfield Manor which dates back to the 15th Century. 2.3 The application site lies within the Fyfield Conservation Area and also within the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 3 Lynchet Barn, Fyfield Fowler Architecture and Planning Ltd 2.4 A search of Wiltshire Council’s public access database reveals that there have been a total of five planning applications on the site previously. Summary details of each of these planning applications is as follows: App. No. 14/02632/LBC; ‘Demolition of the barn following destruction by fire.’ Approved, 24/3/2014 App. No. K/30354; ‘Change of use to a dwelling.’ Approved, 26/8/1994 App. No. K/17816; ‘Change of use to dwelling.’ Approved, 8/3/1993 App. No. K/17814/L; ‘Change of use to a dwelling.’ Approved, 5/12/1991 2.5 The most recent of these applications introduces the unique nature of this application proposal. Lynchet Barn is noted as being a, “beast stalling of the 16th Century” (Conservation Area Statement), after being derelict for much of the 20th Century it was carefully converted into a residential dwelling in 1998. Up until December 2013 it was a Grade II listed, timber framed, thatched barn conversion. However, in December 2013 that building was destroyed by fire to such an extent that its demolition was the only viable alternative. 2.6 Accordingly, in February 2014 a request for pre-application advice was submitted to Wiltshire Council in respect of the site; in particular seeking advice as to any design constraints that a new (replacement) dwelling would be likely to be subject to. The response to that request included the following points: the principle of erecting a replacement dwelling on the site was accepted (as it ‘has not been abandoned’); some reference to the ‘lost’ building and reference to the historic context would be appropriate; careful consideration of design, the site and its setting would be necessary; a farm style building would be ‘sympathetic and respectful’ of the site history and area; there is minimal scope for extending the ridge height, to avoid an ‘overtly domestic’ appearance; and Lynchet Barn, Fyfield Fowler Architecture and Planning Ltd the proposal would be assessed against the Conservation Area Statement and Wiltshire Council's Farm Building Guidance. 2.7 Concurrently with that request for pre-application advice, listed building consent was sought through application 14/02632/LBC for the: “Demolition of Lynchet Barn, Fyfield, and clearance of the site;” this being approved on 24 March 2014. The site was subsequently cleared in line with this approval. 2.8 In tandem with this, on the basis that it no longer existed, permission was sought from the Secretary of State (through English Heritage) for removal of the (former) building from the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest; this was formally agreed on 27 November 2014. 2.9 This full planning application follows these previous submissions and, where appropriate, reflects the advice given. Based on the response to the pre-application enquiry, an analysis of the history of built form on the site is appropriate. A review of on-line historic maps seems to suggest that the built form on the site at the end of the 19th Century (this plan was dated 1888) was ‘courtyard’ in style (see below). 2.10 More recently, the plan below from 1997 shows that at that date, there appear to be two buildings (assumed to be barns) on the site, situated perpendicular to each other. 5 Lynchet Barn, Fyfield Fowler Architecture and Planning Ltd 2.11 A further on-line map suggests that in between these two periods the footprint of the barn destroyed by the fire was much larger, extending further westwards. This is recognised in the Conservation Area Statement which states, “Once of several bays longer, there would have been a hipped roof at both ends.” 2.12 The Conservation Area Statement acknowledges that Fyfield itself was once a larger settlement, with farms having amalgamated, the number of farm buildings declining with some being demolished. What is clear, is that the scale and layout of buildings on the site has remained far from static over time. The Application Proposal 2.13 The application proposal is for a replacement dwelling on substantially the same footprint as the former dwelling. As with the previous dwelling, the proposed dwelling is a three-bed, one-and-a- half storey building. In addition, a garage block is proposed to the east of the replacement dwelling. Lynchet Barn, Fyfield Fowler Architecture and Planning Ltd 3. Design and Access Statement 3.1 This Section explains the design and access considerations which set the context for the proposal. Design Principles 3.2 Firstly, the constraints set by the response to the pre-application enquiry in terms of scale and layout have been important considerations. Coupled with this, reference has been given to the Fyfield Conservation Area Statement (dated June 2004) and Wiltshire Council’s Farm Building Guidance. Analysis of these shows that it is clear that any new development within the hamlet should be of a high quality of design and execution, and be well related to its historic context. 3.3 A set of design principles was arrived by an understanding of the following principles: an analysis of the site and surroundings; consideration of the character, form and style of the former dwelling on the site and the more historic built form; the design of other dwellings in the locality, drawing on local characteristics and policy advice; consideration of relevant planning policy and guidance; and pre-application advice and comments from Wiltshire Council. 3.4 A number of fundamental guidelines were formulated. The new dwelling should: have a comparable ridge height to the former dwelling; be similar in scale to the former dwelling and not adversely impact the openness of the site; be sited to reflect both the historical analysis and the layout of the former dwelling; be constructed in a style and with materials that follow local characteristics; Design Components 3.5 The design of the proposed development has aimed to follow the fundamental guidelines outlined in the Design Principles above. USE 3.6 Up until the building was destroyed by fire the site was in residential use. That former dwelling has since been completely removed, partly for health and safety reasons and the site is currently vacant, awaiting re-development. 7 Lynchet Barn, Fyfield Fowler Architecture and Planning Ltd SCALE, LAYOUT AND SITING 3.7 The scale of development has been defined to reflect the former dwelling. As part of the pre- application advice request, the Council responded that the scale of any replacement dwelling should reflect the scale of the lost dwelling. Furthermore, in respect of siting and design issues, the Wiltshire and Swindon Farmsteads Guidance advises that new buildings should be sited on the footprint of lost buildings; this was reflected during pre-application stage. Accordingly, this replacement dwelling is one-and-a-half storey form, with a footprint almost identical to that of the lost dwelling.