THE SEAFRONT, SOUTHSEA Conservation Area No 10 Guidelines for Conservation John Slater BA (Hons) DMS MRTPI Head of Planning Services You can get all Portsmouth City Council information in translation, large print, Braille or tape. Please ask at the desk for details. Bengali Chinese The Ordnance Survey mapping included within this publication is provided by the Portsmouth City Council under licence from the Ordnance Survey in order to fulfil its public function as a planning authority. Persons viewing this map- ping should contact Ordnance Survey copyright for advice where they wish to license Ordnance Survey map data for their own use THE SEAFRONT, SOUTHSEA Conservation Area No 10 Guidelines for Conservation John Slater BA (Hons) DMS MRTPI Head of Planning Services March 2003 updated October 2006 THE SEAFRONT, SOUTHSEA CONSERVATION AREA NO 10 GUIDELINES FOR CONSERVATION CONTENTS 1. Introduction page 1 2. History page 5 3. Character/Appraisal page 8 4. Guidelines page 20 5. Appendix 1 Further Information page 34 6. Appendix 2 Finance & Grant Aid page 35 7. Appendix 3.1 Listed Buildings page 36 8. Appendix 3.2 English Heritage Register of Parks & Gardens page 38 9. Appendix 3.3 Local List page 38 10. Appendix 3.4 Article 4(2) Directions page 38 11. Appendix 4 Local Plan 2001-11 page 39 12. Appendix 5 Public Consultation page 40 13. Appendix 6 Summary of Existing Powers page 42 © Crown copyright PCCLA-100019671 licence copyright No. © Crown INTRODUCTION Conservation areas are ’areas of special front: - Clarence Parade (formerly con- architectural or historic interest the char- servation area 14) and South Parade- acter or appearance of which it is desira- west of Burgoyne Road (formerly con- ble to preserve or enhance’. Local au- servation area 13. Conservation area 10 thorities have had the power to desig- includes Nos 2–10 Lennox Road South nate conservation areas since 1967 and and Queensgate, 1-5 Osborne Road. they have a duty to make an assess- ment of the special interest and appear- Other properties fronting the Seafront ance of all conservation areas within are in the following conservation areas: - their district. Southsea Terrace - No. 12, the Queen’s Hotel - Homeheights area - No. 2, South This publication is one of a series cover- Parade (Burgoyne Road - Clarendon ing conservation areas in Portsmouth Road), St Helen’s Parade (Clarendon and providing guidance on each area. It Road - Granada Road) - No. 19, St is intended to provide supplementary Helen’s Parade east of Granada Road planning guidance to the Portsmouth and Eastern Parade No. 29. City Local Plan 2001-11. The Seafront Management Plan that Conservation area designation results in was approved in 1999 covers the whole some control over demolition, control of Seafront area including the Beach over trees, and a requirement to adver- from Point to the Hayling Ferry, together tise applications. English Heritage stress with Governors Green, Eastney Bar- the need for the development plan to in- racks, Fort Cumberland and adjoining clude firm conservation area policies areas. The boundary of this area is con- and the need to assess the special inter- sequently markedly different from that of est, character and appearance of all the conservation area. conservation areas in their districts. English Heritage included Southsea The essence of planning in conservation Common in their National Register of areas in an emphasis on the character Parks and Gardens of Special Historic and appearance of the area as a whole Interest on 21 June 2002 and the key note is a skilful mixture of preservation, improvement of the sur- This guidance document was approved roundings and sympathetic new devel- by the Executive Member for Planning, opment. Regeneration & Economic Development on 21 March 2003. The Seafront Conservation Area is the largest in the city comprising 100ha in- cluding the Southsea Common and Sea- front area between Pier Road, and St George’s Road, Eastney. It was desig- nated on 4 November 1971 and initially included only the Seafront area, and not the buildings fronting the Seafront. The boundary was extended on 2 February 1977 to include Western Parade. Further changes on 21 September 1977 included buildings facing onto the Sea- 1 CONSERVATION AREA 10 LISTED BUILDINGS LISTED OBJECTS AREA INCLUDED IN REGISTER OF PARKS & GARDENS CONSERVATION AREA 10 ANCIENT MONUMENT THE SEAFRONT © Crown copyright PCC licence No.100019671 2 CONSERVATION AREA 10 LISTED BUILDINGS LISTED OBJECTS AREA INCLUDED IN REGISTER OF PARKS & GARDENS CONSERVATION AREA 10 ANCIENT MONUMENT THE SEAFRONT © Crown copyright PCC licence No.100019671 3 4 HISTORY Historically the Seafront area was open land and it remained open partly because of need for the need to protect the ‘field of fire’ from the Old Portsmouth fortifications. There were only a few buildings before the 19th century and roads or lanes ran down towards but not along the Seafront. In the early 19th century the seafront Seafront shelter, Clarence Esplanade remained open land with only a few scattered buildings such as the Castle, The streetlights and several shelters other fortifications, navigation marks, have now been listed as being of and the Cricketers pub. Some of the architectural or historic interest. Seafront was part of the Great Morass, Tree planting took place gradually with which was an extensive area of marshy ground, and there was also a smaller Little Morass next to the fortifications. The Common was levelled in 1831–43 and Clarence Esplanade was constructed in 1848. East of South Parade Pier the Canoe Lake was created in 1886 on part of the morass. The Seafront area included a number of defensive structures. The most notable being Southsea Castle, which is a stone structure, built by Henry VIII and extended by long flanking batteries in the nineteenth century. Large parts also survive of Lumps Fort which dates from the mid-19th century. Southsea has long been connected with sea bathing and bathing machines were Street lights, paving and railings first noted circa 1770 near Kings Rooms. near South Parade Pier Both of the Southsea piers are in this conservation area: Clarence Pier and South Parade Pier. South Parade was Holm Oaks being planted in the Western the first pier at Southsea but has been Parade area by 1870. Following the rebuilt subsequently, most recently lease of the Common by the Council in following a fire in the 1970’s. 1884 further improvements and changes took place including planting fronting Tall street-lighting columns were Southsea Terrace by 1898. Elms on provided along the length of the seafront footpaths in the central part of the in the early twentieth century and a Common were planted later with the number of ornamental seafront shelters avenue nearest Clarence Parade were also provided. planted by 1898/1910 and the southern 5 most avenue by 1910/33. In recent years Dutch Elm Disease has affected many trees and varying replacement strategies have been adopted. Many new facilities and amenities were developed by the Corporation between the wars. These include the area of tennis courts, bowling greens with a 1930s pavilion and shelters. Other facilities from the inter war period included a children’s paddling pool, a miniature railway, a bandstand and flowerbeds. The Rock Gardens were constructed in the late 1920s. Lumps Fort was bought by the Council in 1932 to prevent redevelopment as a funfair. Chesapeake Monument The seafront is the home for several monuments and memorials, some in situ by 1870. The most impressive is the The terraces and properties behind the Royal Naval War Memorial designed by Seafront date mainly from 1870–1900 Sir Robert Lorimer which was erected but there has been piecemeal after World War 1 in 1920-4 and redevelopment at various times. A extended in 1955. number of properties were redeveloped for flats in inter war years and there Southsea Castle area remained in were a number of major new military use until c1960, when it was developments in the 1960s and 1970s bought by the City Council. The Henry notably Rose Tower and St Martins VIII Castle was restored and converted House. to a museum. Later parts of the Castle complex facing Clarence Esplanade were demolished. 6 1933 County Series (revision of 1931) The Recreation Area, Ladies Mile, Rock Gardens & Southsea Castle 7 CHARACTER/APPRAISAL Introduction Views across and of the seafront also vary according to the seasons. Winter Conservation Area 10 was designated to gives more open views when many trees give statutory protection to the Seafront are not in leaf. It also gives more area. Originally it included only the windswept conditions and parts of the Seafront area and buildings on the seafront are closed to traffic during Seafront such as Southsea Castle. storms. Overall it is quieter with less Subsequently boundaries have been traffic and fewer visitors. changed to include some of the buildings - mainly terraces facing the At the opposite extreme are Bank Seafront. It is an area of particular Holidays, Southsea Show weekend and importance both to residents and visitors the various special events when the as it includes both piers and many Common is often crowded with tents, attractions for both visitors and cars and people. The Common takes on residents. a more colourful aspect in summer with planting beds, flowering shrubs and The most notable and distinctive feature trees. of this conservation area is that it is almost entirely open space. Much of this As many roads and some buildings are space is very open but there are several lit or floodlit it also features in night-time distinct areas within the seafront area views from seaward. and from Clarence including several sheltered areas with a Esplanade. The buildings mainly form more enclosed character.