THE CHAIRMAN old buildings, like many like-minded groups and organisations we feel that changes to the plan- In the last Newsletter our Chairman’s report ning system could have a detrimental influence offered a salutary message of hope and frustra- on the natural and historic environment. We tion. As your new Chairman I would like to revise fear the potential for bad architecture, a result those themes for changing times to read threat of rushed developments built in inappropriate and opportunity. areas. Saying that there can be little argument Regarding threat, throughout 2011 your Council that the complex and bureaucratic planning has become increasingly concerned at the threat laws would benefit from a shake-up, but to posed by the government’s National Planning put economic factors and the vested interests Policy Framework. Although our remit is essen- of developers before community welfare is tially to promote and encourage good new essentially wrong. A few examples of why the architecture and the protection and repair of proposed policy is flawed immediately spring to mind. The draft policy document offers a strong presumption towards sustainable development especially when ‘development plans . are not up-to-date’. This is only feasible if Cornwall’s Core Strategy document, currently being written and due to be presented to central government by March 2012, is sufficiently rigid and addresses all relevant issues. Without these assurances we fear a ‘free for all’ system where planning deci- sions reached by local communities will be easily challenged and overturned at appeal. At a recent public meeting David Edmondson, Cornwall Council’s Area Chief Planning Officer, said ‘[local community will] have more say on specific detail The Award Winning Kestle Barton, Manaccan, see page 3. An excellent example of natural materials and natural colours to skillfully renovate an old farm complex for new uses. because lesser detail will be included in the core Despite the threat many opportunities are open ANNUALANNUAL AWARDSAWARDS SCHEMESCHEME 20112011 strategy’. This places huge pressure on com- to our group. This year we have made every munity groups to formulate neighbourhood plans effort to engage more with our members. Our which by definition have to be specific, pragmatic, many and varied visits continue to be a great innovative and fully appreciative of local needs, success with many members enjoying the social landscape character and distinctiveness - all in and intellectual freedom it has to offer. It is very all a huge undertaking. One further concern is difficult to gauge where to go and when to go so if the adverse effect of local government reform you have any suggestions for trips or have access particularly the reduction of local authority historic to an interesting building please let us know. The environment specialists. If neighbourhood plans 2011 AGM was well attended, the River Tamar are to work effectively and in consideration that trip proved very popular and was oversubscribed the amount of planning applications are likely to while the October visit culminated with the dis- rise under the new systems then surely support covery of a decorated Celtic cross shaft which was staffing levels should rise not fall. We fear that being used as a garden step. Under the guidance this makes the built environment a soft target. of our awards secretary the award scheme goes After all skilled conservation and planning officers from strength-to-strength and this year attracted with local knowledge are vital to ensure a fair another large and varied entry. and transparent planning system. Mistakes like Looking ahead I have several aims as your new the recent overlooking of an objection from the Chairman. First, I would like to raise our profile Campaign for the Protection of Rural England amongst like-minded groups and through the regarding a wind turbine application may become media. This will ensure mutual respect from our more commonplace in the future. peers and the increased media focus will make These proposals will undoubtedly leave the us more effective in fields of influencing opinion. county open to unsuitable and unsustainable Furthermore, a higher profile can only have a developments such as the Truro Eastern District positive affect on boosting our membership. Sec- Development which is just one of the many cases ond, I really want to make the CBG Council work we have commented on during 2011. During our for our members. We want to hear about the Although we are supposedly in the middle of a left: the new glass roofed entrance, infilling a gap between Council meetings we discuss and form opinions issues that concern you in Cornwall. Neglected recession there were still over 30 entries for the blocks at Launceston Town Hall; a dark corner has been on planning applications and give sound com- buildings and planning may be your concern? transformed into the centre of extensive improvements. 2011 award scheme. right: the former Stoke Climsland Rectory - exemplary ment and feedback. Our objection to the Truro Please tell us what you see and hear. You may On looking through them again for this article, it restoration and excellent workmanship in the new granite development was twofold. First, we saw the like to nominate a building for our awards scheme struck me just how varied were those entries. portico. development as an intrusion on the landscape, or feed in ideas for the Council to consider. We Awards - The main Award was given to Kestle thereby destroying the sense of place. Secondly, have set up a new email address for you to make They included the renovations of a cathedral spire and a former tin mine, a new state-of-the- Barton at Manaccan. The ancient farmstead has we felt that the proposed new buildings were contact with us, it is cornishbuildingsgroup@gmail. itself been restored but the judges were looking ill-informed pastiche – a design strategy, it would com To be more accountable our website has art university building and, most unusually, the ‘art wall’ at Wadebridge. The latter comprises a at the barns which have been impressively con- seem, based on Poundbury in Dorset which has been improved and is constantly reviewed and verted into an art gallery and holiday lets. long, curved white painted wall on which aspiring become a combination of such random styles updated with new information. Please save it as Architect Alison Bunning and her team have man- as Romanesque, Greek, Georgian, Dorset cot- one of your ‘favourites’ so you can see what we Banksys can try out their artistic talents in prefer- ence to defacing the buildings of Wadebridge. aged this with as little change as possible to the tage, and Gothick. One critic recently described are doing and why we are doing it. It will tell you exterior appearance of the barns using traditional Poundbury as ‘winsome’ adding ‘with its paranoid about the awards scheme winners, offer learned This year’s entries were evenly divided between cob repair and lime renders and mortars. insistence on conjuring a bygone world that never papers on Cornish buildings old and new, give new build and restorations, though disappoint- Special Commendations went to Pendragon existed, which illusion is painfully punctured by access to back copies of newsletters, give you ingly only two were shortlisted. House, Stoke Climsland a former rectory which the appearance of modern steel frames in the news of current issues regarding buildings in the half-built buildings’. In our opinion Truro and county and, more importantly, offer you a chance this Area of Great Landscape Value deserves to get involved. I encourage all members to inter- continued from page 2 committees and groups throughout Cornwall. better consideration. We do not believe that act with the site, email us reports of CBG outings, There can be no doubt that there are interesting In the last newsletter our previous Chairman urban sprawl overflowing into a rural valley with review a book on Cornish buildings, ask the CBG times ahead – times that offer numerous threats Nick Cahill thanked the Council and members views of a supermarket and parking infrastructure Council questions, nominate buildings for awards and opportunities. The CBG Council offers a for their continued support. I echo those thanks 2 replacing scenic grandeur is acceptable to Truro’s or recognition – it’s so easy the website is at: huge amount of expertise in many specialist and would like to thank Nick for his leadership 3 great sense of arrival. http://sites.google.com/site/cornishbuildingsgroup/ areas, expertise that penetrates further into other during his term as Chairman. PAUL HOLDEN above: the interior of one the converted barns at Kestle King Edward Mine Museum, Troon, an impres- above: The exterior of King Edward Mine’s new Winder and Barton, the living area and kitchen in a holiday apartment. sive renovation of another grade II* building Compressor house, a replacement following the 1957 fire. 2011 AWARDS above right: the long neglected Grade II* listed Treneere Construction follows closely the original surviving buildings which is part of the World Heritage Site. AWARD Kestle Barton, Manaccan Manor, Penzance, built in 1758. Now part of the extended most of which are Listed Grade II*. Alison Bunning, Architect Penwith College campus, restored externally and carefully Truro Cathedral, restoration of the central tower right: The interior; a Holman’s horizontal winding engine built SPECIAL COMMENDATION converted internally to its new educational uses. and spire where the original Bath stone had been for the original house in 1908, returned here after 15 years at Castle-an-Dinas Wofram mine, a move to help the war effort. Pendragon House, Stoke Climsland had more recently been a residential home. It has much eroded over the years.