Heritage Statement – Extension to 40 Lower Glen Park, Pensilva, Liskeard, Cornwall, PL14 5PP Introduction This heritage statement has been prepared in compliance with NPPF section 16 ‘Conserving and enhancing the historic environment’. The detail included in this statement is ‘…proportionate to the assets’ importance and no more than is sufficient to understand the potential impact of the proposal on their significance’ as required. This approach is further supported by Historic England’s ‘Historic Environment Good Practice Advise in Planning Note 2 – Managing Significance in Decision-Taking in the Historic Environment (March 2015) which states that ‘information required in support of applications for planning permission… should be no more than is necessary to reach an informed decision.’ This statement forms part of the planning submission for an extension to a property constructed in 2009, details of the original property can be obtained under the planning application 08/00832. This assessment has been undertaken to ascertain the heritage value of the site and review any potential effects on heritage assets in the local area by the proposed development. Site Description and Schedule of Works The site is situated near the edge of the village, at the west, at the bottom of an estate. At present, the detached property occupies a sub-rectangular plot, consisting of a small rear garden, 3-bed dormer bungalow and large private gravel driveway for parking for 5-6 cars. To the west of the house is a dividing retaining wall topped with a wooden fence which transitions to a fence in the garden. To the east of the property is a stone hedge boundary which is against a lane leading to other properties. The house was constructed with a timber frame with external block work and the walls are rendered and painted. The windows are white uPVC and the ridge of the tiled roof is parallel to the road. The planning application is for consent to extend the property on the south to utilise some of the existing driveway and create a larger living space. The proposed extension is single storey and is approximately 6.5m by 3.6m and would still leave adequate parking for 2-3 cars. The required works would use the same materials as the existing property to retain the same external appearance. Site Location The site is located on a high south-facing slope at an elevation of c.221m AOD. The soils of this area are freely draining acid loamy soils over rock, draining to local groundwork and the river network (Cranfield University, 2021). These overlie the altered (hornfelsed) slates, siltstones, and sandstones of the Brendon Formation (BGS, 2021). History of Pensilva Cornwall and Scilly HLC characterises Pensilva as a C20 settlement surrounded by post-medieval enclosed land towards the North-West corner of the Parish of St Ive (approximately 3.3km NW of the parish church). On the 1805 Ordnance Survey map the site as shown being near an area of unenclosed land, ‘Caradon Downs’. The large settlement of Pensilva grew from and around a farm (Bodmind Lands), its fields, and the adjacent unenclosed moorland (Silva Moor). Pensilva came into existence came into existence following the rapid expansion and prosperity of the Caradon mines post-1840. Over 4,000 miners were employed by the latter half of 1840 in the district and much of Pensilva was built and established on unenclosed common ground. It is possible that the miners built some of the houses in Pensilva, however as shown by planning, the small fields surrounding the village were laid out by surveyors and the houses were built by mine owners and property speculators. Following a fall in copper prices in the 1860s, and more so in the 1880s, many mines were closed and the settlement ceased expansion. It was not until after 1900 that the settlement slowly began to expand again, probably due to the proximity to convenient places such as Liskeard. In the 1960s the village began to expanding more rapidly following the opening of the Tamar road bridge. As included in the CISI for Pensilva, ‘…more than most Cornish industrial settlements, Pensilva reveals all the settlement patterns and options open to 19th century landowners, industrialists and workers, and gives a unique insight into their possible chronologies’ (CAU/Cahill 2004, 3). That being the case, Pensilva was included within the Caradon Mining District of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site. History of Site As noted above, the site is situated within the enclosed fields formerly attached to the farm of Bodmin Lands. Bodmin Lands was a 74a farm owned by Sir William Lewis Salisbury Trelawney and leased to farmer William Jory. In 1881 the population totalled 1,360 and this required the development of services, such as a school, public house, 3 chapels, a Sunday School, parsonage and a post office (Angus Holland, 2021). Included on the 1907 6” map is reference to an Old Quarry nearby and it is likely that the stone to build some of these structures had been sourced from there. Mining had ceased by around 1895 around Caradon Hill and some granite quarries survived but were soon closed following the option of cheap imports, therefore these would have soon been filled. As the site in question is located at an infilled quarry the potential for this site is dependent on the character of the material used when infilling the former quarry. At present, it looks highly unlikely that the material would be of any interest and therefore this has a neutral impact. Google Streetview (image date May 2009) shows the site during the construction of 40 Lower Glen Park. A fence has been placed at the rear border of the property to divide from the neighbouring property’s garden, leaving a small rectangular grassed area. A retaining wall separates this from the ground which has been lowered, approximately 1.5m, and levelled which is where the house is now situated. A retaining wall to the west of the site also looks to have been freshly built, suggesting the ground level has been lowered. Relevant Heritage Assets There is only one listed structure within 1km of the site “Milestone at SX 280 695” which is on the B3254. There is also one Scheduled Monument in the area, ‘Roundabury Round’ which is approximately 0.8km north. There are no Conservation Areas in the settlement. Pensilva is included within the Caradon District part of the WHS. Looking at the Cornwall Industrial Settlements Initiative (CISI), Pensilva is noted as part of a ‘significant surviving historical component (plots and buildings), and includes it within its proposed Conservations Area. The CISI states that the historic character of Pensilva should be preserved, however it can be noted that many of the recommendations included in the report have not been observed. In addition, the area in which the property is situated is recognised as a mining settlement and social infrastructure and therefore developments should not conflict with the integrity and authenticity of the area in this regard. Assessed Impact of Proposed Works It is proposed that a single-storey extension to the home is constructed against the front (south) elevation of 40 Lower Glen Park. The house was constructed in 2009 at the end of a garden of a neighbouring property. On consultation in 2008, the relevant heritage consultees do not appear to have commented on the planning application (08/00832), suggesting that any potential for harm was not deemed significant and was outweighed by the public benefit. There are no designated heritage assets in the area which could be impacted by the proposed works. In the area, the mid-19th century properties at Higher and Lower Wesley Terrace, the Sunday school and chapel could all be considered undesignated heritage assets. Due to the location of 40 Lower Glen Park and the distance from these there is considered to be limited impact on these properties. The overall potential for harm is considered negligible given the proximity to the properties and the scale of the proposal, together with the design and materials which will be in keeping with the existing property and will only enhance the existing footprint. Conclusion As identified above, the proposed extension is deemed to have a minimal impact on the identified Heritage assets in the surrounding area and is considered to be in a sensitive location. References Angus Holland (2021) Pensilva, World Heritage Site [online] Available at: https://pensilva-history- group.netlify.app/places/pensilva-world-heritage-site [Accessed 26th April 2021] Cranfield University (2021) Soilscapes map [online] Available at: http://www.landis.org.uk/soilscapes/ [Accessed 1st May 2021] Geology of Britain (GBS) (2021) Geology of Britain 3D [online] Available at: http://mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyofbritain3d/ [Accessed 1st May 2021] Google Maps (2009) 53 Lower Glen Park [online] Available at: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.5020751,4.4155719,3a,75y,10.14h,89.09t/data=!3m6!1e 1!3m41swCzbm-Mi8VZxY9ic8PiorA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 [Accessed 26th April 2021] Historic England (2021) Search the List – Map Search [online] Available at: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/map- search?postcode=PL14%205PP&clearresults=True [Accessed 26th April 2021] National Library of Scotland (2021) Cornwall XXVIII.SE (includes: St Cleer; St Ive) [online] Available at: https://maps.nls.uk/view/101438387 [Accessed 1st May 2021] Appendices Appendix 1: The driveway at 40 Lower Glen Park, viewed from the South West and through the entrance to the property. The proposed extension would be constructed from the patio doors towards the fence, leaving a space of approximately 1m from the fence. Appendix 2: Plan showing location of 40 Lower Glen Park.