CHISWICK CURVE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT ADDENDUM - VOLUME A3: TOWNSCAPE, HERITAGE AND VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT: CLARIFICATIONS AND MINOR CORRECTIONS OCTOBER 2016 CHISWICK CURVE, LONDON BOROUGH OF HOUNSLOW THVIA ADDENDUM CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1 2.0 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew ........................................................................................... 2 3.0 Kew Green ................................................................................................................. 17 4.0 Strand on the Green .................................................................................................... 18 5.0 Gunnersbury Park ....................................................................................................... 25 6.0 Chiswick House and Gardens ........................................................................................ 27 7.0 Other Heritage Assets .................................................................................................. 29 8.0 Additional Accurate Visual Representations for Assessment (views 35 to 47) ....................... 34 9.0 Original AVRs updated in response to post-submission design changes ............................... 72 10.0 Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 93 11.0 References ................................................................................................................. 94 Appendix 1: Original AVRs shown in winter conditions ................................................................. 95 Appendix 2: Clarifications and minor corrections to the original THVIA ............................................ 98 Important Note: Images in this document have fine detail and high resolution photographs and are always printed by Richard Coleman Citydesigner to the highest standards. Original copies are identified by Citydesigner’s dichroic hologram. Original printed copies may be available to view at the relevant Local Planning Authority offices. Photocopies or electronic file printouts should not be relied upon. ELECTRONIC COPY OCTOBER 2016 CHISWICK CURVE, LONDON BOROUGH OF HOUNSLOW THVIA ADDENDUM 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 The Environmental Statement (ES) for the proposed development at Chiswick Roundabout was submitted to the London Borough of Hounslow (LBH) in December 2015. It included a Townscape, Heritage and Visual Impact Assessment (THVIA) at Volume 3. This addendum provides additional material in response to post-submission discussion with LBH and representations received from consultees. It should be read in parallel with the December 2015 THVIA as the original material submitted is not repeated. Readers should refer to the method of assessment set out in the December 2015 THVIA, in particular, the significance of the high quality of the design, its beneficial attributes and its resulting positive impacts. 1.2 The addendum is intended to provide a more explicit assessment of the effects of the proposed development on the significance of heritage assets, including any significance arising from their settings. Specifically, the addendum sets out whether any harm would arise from the proposed development appearing in the setting of heritage assets. In undertaking this assessment the addendum provides, in Section 2.0, additional information on the Outstanding Universal Value of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Heritage Site. It goes on, in the sections that follow, to provide additional information on Kew Green (Section 3.0), Strand on the Green (Section 4.0), Gunnersbury Park (Section 5.0), Chiswick House and Gardens (Section 6.0). In Section 7.0 it considers other heritage assets. 1.3 In Section 8.0, thirteen additional Accurate Visual Representations (AVRs) of the proposed development are presented and assessed in accordance with the methodology set out in Section 2.0 of the December 2015 THVIA. These AVRs were agreed in advance with LBH. Historic England (HE) have since confirmed at a post-application consultation meeting that, alongside the original AVRs provided in the December 2015 THVIA, the additional AVRs are sufficient to fully assess the effects of the proposed development. 1.4 In Section 9.0, the rendered AVRs from the December 2015 THVIA are updated following design alterations undertaken by Studio Egret West Architects (SEW). A commentary is included in each case to explain the effects of the alterations where they are visible in the view. 1.5 Section 10.0 sets out the conclusions arising, again with particular regard to the potential effects of the proposed development on the significance of heritage assets, owing to changes in their setting. 1.6 Appendix 1 of this addendum includes additional wireline AVRs showing the proposed development in winter photographs from those view positions originally included in the December 2015 THVIA where there was substantial summer tree cover. 1.7 Appendix 2 includes clarifications and minor corrections related to the original December 2015 THVIA. OCTOBER 2016 1 CHISWICK CURVE, LONDON BOROUGH OF HOUNSLOW THVIA ADDENDUM 2.0 ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW Consideration in original December 2015 THVIA 2.1 The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Heritage Site was assessed in sections 8A, 8B and 8D of the original December 2015 THVIA, as a conservation area, a place which includes a number of statutorily listed buildings and as a Grade I Registered Park & Garden. The attributes of OUV of the WHS were also considered in detail in section 8C of the December 2015 THVIA using the assessment framework set out in London’s World Heritage Sites - Guidance on Settings SPG. Ten Accurate Visual Representations (AVRs) of the proposed development were produced from within the boundary of the WHS and assessed in the December 2015 THVIA, namely View 14, View 15, View 16, View 16A, View 17, View 18, View 19, View 20, View 31 and View 32. In addition, a further five AVRs were produced from within the buffer zone of the WHS. These views were all agreed with LBH at the scoping stage, as described in the December 2015 THVIA. 2.2 Following submission of the planning application, Historic England suggested that additional information on, amongst other matters, the impact on Fig 2.1: 1760s circa illustration of the White House after William Woollett (Regency the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew World Heritage Site would be useful in Society). The White House was demolished in 1802. understanding the effect of the proposed development on the viewer’s ability to appreciate its outstanding universal values. 2.3 The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Heritage Site Management Plan (2014) notes that the OUV of the WHS arises from the architectural and historical interest of its iconic buildings set within a designed landscape, as well as its historical contributions to botanical and environmental science. This section of the addendum provides additional information on those attributes, with a particular emphasis on the potential effects of the proposed development on the historic landscape attributes. It is considered helpful to provide, as a starting point, a historical overview of the development of the gardens, their architecture and designed landscape features. Historical Overview 2.4 Kew Gardens was historically formed by three main areas: the north portion close to Kew Green made up of royal residences and the original Botanic Gardens; the south east portion designed as Pleasure Grounds; and the Fig 2.2: Circa1830s circa illustration of Kew Palace from Samuel Leigh’s Panorama of the western portion originally comprising the Richmond Lodge Estate. Thames (Regency Society) 2.5 In c1721 the Richmond Lodge Estate was acquired by the Prince of Wales. From c1730 it was laid out in a mix of formal and natural landscaping, aimed at creating irregularity and variety, by the gardener Charles Bridgeman and the architect William Kent who designed follies and grottoes. Later, Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, was appointed royal gardener and the estate was planted as woodland with open glades, and the ground was contoured to give the groupings of trees a sense of rhythm. 2.6 From c.1730 two properties, located in the north portion of today’s Kew Gardens, became royal residences. The first, Kew Palace (fig.2.2) was built in 1631 as a merchant’s riverside villa. Members of the royal family occupied it from c.1734 and George III bought its freehold in 1781. The second, directly to the south of Kew Palace, was the White House (fig.2.1) of possible Tudor origin, which was leased by Fredrick and Augusta, Prince and Princess of Wales, from c.1732 and demolished in 1802. Fig 2.3: Extract from 1754 John Rocque’s New Plan for Richmond Fig 2.4: 1754 John Rocque’s New Plan for Richmond Gardens. Gardens. (Key above) OCTOBER 2016 2 CHISWICK CURVE, LONDON BOROUGH OF HOUNSLOW THVIA ADDENDUM 2.0 ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW (CONTD.) Fig 2.8: 1763 view of the Pagoda looking south from the Lawn after William Woollett Fig 2.10: 1763 view of the White House from the Lake after William Woollett (folio of (Grosvenor Prints) litographs printed by Richmond Libraries Department, Curwen Press, 1982) Fig 2.9: 1774c view of Great Lawn seen from White House after W Woollett (Regency Fig 2.11: 1763 view of the White House from the Lake after William Woollett (folio of Society) litographs printed by Richmond Libraries Department, Curwen Press, 1982) 2.7 From c.1750