Plymouth Palmerston Forts Stage C: Strategic Summary and Individual Site Statements Woodland Fort, Knowles Battery, Bowden Battery and Fort Austin Prepared for: Plymouth City Council and English Heritage Revision Schedule Plymouth Palmerston Forts Strategy for the Northern Fortifications May 2011 Scott Wilson Rev Date Details Prepared by Reviewed by Approved by 15th Floor McLaren Building 01 April 2011 First Draft Andrew Harris Barry Woodfin Annette Roe Associate Principal Consultant Director 46 The Priory Queensway Birmingham B4 7LR 02 May 2011 Final Draft Andrew Harris Barry Woodfin Annette Roe United Kingdom Associate Principal Consultant Director Tel 0121 2123035 www.urs-scottwilson.com www.scottwilson.com This document has been prepared in accordance with the scope of Scott Wilson's appointment with its client and is subject to the terms of that appointment. It is addressed to and for the sole and confidential use and reliance of Scott Wilson's client. Scott Wilson accepts no liability for any use of this document other than by its client and only for the purposes for which it was prepared and provided. No person other than the client may copy (in whole or in part) use or rely on the contents of this document, without the prior written permission of the Company Secretary of Scott Wilson Ltd. Any advice, opinions, or recommendations within this document should be read and relied upon only in the context of the document as a whole. The contents of this document do not provide legal or tax advice or opinion. © Scott Wilson Ltd 2011 Plymouth City Council Plymouth Palmerston Forts: Stage C - Strategic Summary and Individual Site Statements Contents Vulnerability 49 Issues 51 1. Introduction 2 6. Individual Site Statement: Knowles Battery 58 Scope of Project 2 History and Role 58 Scope of Stage A and B Studies 2 Description 58 Stage C Report Format 3 Use and Ownership 58 2. Plymouth’s Northern Palmerston Fortifications - A Strategic Vision 4 Condition 58 Significance 58 Historical Development Context 4 Issues 60 A Fortified Plymouth 5 Public Access Opportunity 60 Summary 15 7. Individual Site Statement: Bowden Battery 65 3. Conservation Management Recommendations 17 History and Role 65 Summary of Issues 17 Description 65 Towards a Conservation Strategy Planning Policy 18 Use and ownership 65 Conservation Policy Recommendations 20 Condition 65 4. Use and Development Recommendations 22 Significance 67 Development Options Summary 22 Development/Public Access Opportunity 67 Northern Fortification Public Access Strategy 23 Issues and Considerations 69 Other Considerations 28 8. Individual Site Statement: Fort Austin 73 Future Use and Management Strategy 32 History and Position 73 Funding Strategy 34 Description 73 Development and Public Access Recommendations 38 Ownership and use 75 5. Individual Site Statement: Woodland Fort 41 Condition 75 History and Role 41 Significance 75 Description 41 Development Opportunity 75 Significance 45 Other Issues and Considerations 77 Condition 46 Development Opportunity 47 Management and Operation 47 Final Draft Report May 2011 1 of 80 Plymouth City Council Plymouth Palmerston Forts: Stage C - Strategic Summary and Individual Site Statements 1. Introduction 1.5 It is the purpose of this document, therefore, to present the scope of development options that will assist in realising the community (in 1.1 Plymouth City Council commissioned URS/Scott Wilson to its widest sense) and conservation value for Plymouth’s Palmerston undertake a strategic review of Plymouth’s Palmerston Fortifications, forts. Moreover, views need to be formed based on the strategic especially the Northern Fortifications, and to prepare action plans position of the forts as an interrelated group of historic monuments to address any conservation and management issues identified. that present an integral part of the city’s history. 1.2 The terms of reference and scope of the study are outlined in 1.6 The investigation process has been concerned with providing the the Brief for Consultants, with the aim to develop a clear strategy background and baseline position upon which informed proposals for securing the future for Plymouth’s Northern Palmerston can be made. The evidence included presents the historical Fortifications, in the context of the wider ring of contemporary background to the Palmerston Forts and assesses the nature fortifications which surround the city. In addition, it is intended that and extent of their significance. It explores issues that might be the study inform planning and conservation policy and proposals common to the group that could affect opportunities for use and for the areas in which the forts sit. In particular, it is to be used to examines these in the context of other contemporary fortifications. inform emerging Local Development Framework documents. The conservation needs of the assets and management issues are also assessed, as are the potential opportunities for inclusion of 1.3 The study has been undertaken in three principal stages starting the assets as part of the Derriford and Seaton Area Action Plan first at the strategic scoping level (Stage A) developing an and within the Sustainable Neighbourhoods Development Plan evidence base, and then subsequently concentrating in more detail Documents. to prepare a strategy for consideration of the northern defences (Stage B); and finally a series of individual action plans for specific 1.7 In accordance with the brief, specific attention is given to the locations (Stage C) Northern Fortifications, their condition, planning context and future use options. The recommendations are required to take account Scope of Project of the opportunities both in economic and amenity terms that these assets represent, whilst at the same time ensuring a proper 1.4 Plymouth’s Palmerston Forts are assets of historic significance, approach to the conservation and management of the monuments potentially able to contribute to community welfare, regeneration, themselves. and the broader townscape of the settlements in which they reside. Many of these heritage assets are classified as being at risk either Scope of Stage A and B Studies through under use or inappropriate management. Potential new uses as part of neighbourhood regeneration proposals, alongside 1.8 The recommendations presented in this document have been appropriate conservation of the monuments, present an opportunity devised through a detailed assessment of the conservation needs, for the assets to become focal points in the neighbourhoods, management issues, threats and vulnerabilities of each of the contributing to a sense of place and providing public amenity value. forts. Likewise, the direction for development for the forts is based on a rationalisation of the condition, location, management and market issues. These are identified in more detail in the Stage A Final Draft Report May 2011 2 of 80 Plymouth City Council Plymouth Palmerston Forts: Stage C - Strategic Summary and Individual Site Statements and Stage B reports: report will present the following: • Stage A study - The Stage A Strategic Scoping Study represents • A Strategic Vision - an overview of Plymouth’s fortifications, their an over-arching scoping study that sets the scene for all of design, and heritage value. Over-arching recommendations and Plymouth’s defences. Specific attention is given to the current actions are made in relation to the Northern Fortifications to status and condition of the Northern Fortifications as a group better conserve and strategically integrate the forts as a ‘theme which in turned presented the basis from which additional of interest’ for residents and visitors to the city. studies associated with Stages B and C were conducted. • Individual Fort Statements - more detailed statements on the • Stage B study - Recommendations made within the Stage A conservation needs and management requirements for Knowles study in relation to the Northern Fortifications were considered Battery, Woodland Fort, Bowden Battery, and Fort Austin. These in greater detail within the Stage B study. The Stage B strategy sites have been identified through the investigation process report focuses more specifically on each of the individual sites, as having greatest need and scope for specific conservation, identifying and assessing their significance, condition and development and/or management needs. These statements future uses as well as other matters such as setting, natural include specific actions for enhancement, restoration, and greater environment and future management. The Stage B report use of these sites to improve sustainability. includes specific recommendations in respect of policies to safeguard the role of the forts and explores matters such as the drafting of opportunities for future use and development to be considered within LDF documentation, funding arrangement and partnerships. 1.9 Although this report has been prepared to act as a stand-alone report covering the salient points of the Stage A and Stage B studies, it is recommended that the reports associated with these stages are referred to in order to gain a more detailed understanding of the issues covered. Stage C Report Format 1.10 The Stage C report is the culmination of the Stage A and B process. The report presents the recommendations, actions and management needs of Plymouth’s Northern Forts. In order to capture both the strategic value of Plymouth’s Northern Forts as a collective within Plymouth and the sites as individual entities with activity,