APPENDIX 4 – PROOF OF EVIDENCE BY MEL MORRIS FOR PLANNING INQUIRY APP/M1005/W/15/3006136 Mel Morris Conservation Inns Lane, South Wingfield PINS appeal reference APP/M1005/W/18/3198334 TOWN & COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 (AS AMENDED) THE TOWN & COUNTRY PLANNING APPEALS (DETERMINATION BY INSPECTORS) (INQUIRIES PROCEDURE) (ENGLAND) RULES 2000 PROOF of EVIDENCE of MELANIE LLOYD MORRIS BA (Hons), Dip. Arch Cons, IHBC, MRTPI of Mel Morris Conservation on behalf of AMBER VALLEY BOROUGH COUNCIL December 2015 APPEAL BY GLADMAN DEVELOPMENTS LTD. OUTLINE PLANNING APPLICATION FOR THE ERECTION OF UP TO 70 DWELLINGS (DEPARTURE FROM THE ADOPTED PLAN), Land To The North Of Inns Lane, South Wingfield, Alfreton, Derbyshire. PLANNING APPLICATION NO. AVA/2014/0980 PINS NO. APP/M1005/W/15/3006136 Mel Morris Conservation 67 Brookfields Road Ipstones Staffordshire ST10 2LY Tel: 01538 266516 www.melmorrisconservation.co.uk Proof of Evidence of Melanie Lloyd Morris on behalf of Amber Valley Borough Council (13.12.15) ___________________________ PROOF OF EVIDENCE Contents 1. Qualifications and Experience 2 2. Scope of Evidence 3 3. Conservation Area Analysis 4 • South Wingfield Conservation Area Character Statement 5 • Topography & Geology 6 • Early History, Manor and People 7 • The Development of the Settlement 10 • Inns Lane 19 • The application site 21 • Summary of the Key Characteristics of the Conservation Area 22 • The Setting of the Conservation Area at Inns Lane 23 4. The creation of the Parks – the historic parkland landscape 27 • The significance of the parks as part of the South Wingfield 39 Conservation Area and setting of the Grade I Wingfield Manor 5. Wingfield Manor – its Significance 42 • Historic Significance 43 • Wingfield Manor – Significance by Association with Famous People 45 • Wingfield Manor – Aesthetic Significance 45 • Wingfield Manor - Artistic Significance 48 6. The significance of the landscape as part of the setting of 50 Wingfield Manor and its place in the conservation area 7. Impact Assessment 55 • Methodology • Assessment of Viewpoints in accordance with Historic England guidance – “Seeing the History in The View” 8. Grounds of Appeal, Heritage Statement (CGMS) and Statement 61 of Case submitted by Gladman Developments Ltd. 9. Summary of Impacts and Conclusions 68 Appendix 1 – Conservation Area Designation – Committee Report Appendix 2 – South Wingfield Conservation Area Character Statement 1996 Appendix 3 – Conservation Area boundary map Appendix 4 – Historic England Guidance – Introductions to Heritage Assets - Animal Management, Field Systems & Medieval Settlements, (English Heritage, May 2011) Appendix 5 – Historic Images – Maps, Photographs and illustrations Appendix 6 – Photographs 1-10 - MMC Appendix 7 – Photographs 11-19 Wingfield Manor Appendix 8 – Analysis of Barnes Walker Viewpoints (VP3, VP14, VP26) 1 Proof of Evidence of Melanie Lloyd Morris on behalf of Amber Valley Borough Council (13.12.15) ___________________________ 1. Qualifications and Experience 1.1 I am Melanie Lloyd Morris, and my consultancy has been trading as Mel Morris Conservation since 2001. I hold a degree in The History of Art and Architecture (BA Hons) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Architectural Conservation (Heriot Watt University). I became a chartered town planner in 2000, by the professional route (MRTPI) and I am a full member of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (since 1998) and accredited by them as a professional adviser on the historic environment. 1.2 I was employed as a Conservation Officer for three separate authorities between 1987 and 2001 and since 2001 I have been working as a conservation consultant on the historic environment. Between 1988 and 1999 I was a Historic Buildings Officer for Derbyshire County Council, advising on all aspects of the historic environment, but particularly on listed buildings. My worked covered the whole of the County and included advising Amber Valley Borough Council on certain areas, producing a Conservation Area Character Statement in 1995 for Belper (within the subsequently designated World Heritage Site). During my employment with Nottingham City Council I was seconded to assist with producing or coordinating Conservation Management Plans for their three prestige grade I sites: Wollaton Hall, Nottingham Castle and Newstead Abbey. 1.3 Since 2001 I have been directly involved in writing and producing conservation area appraisals and character statements for 45 conservation areas. This has followed the emerging English Heritage guidance. All of these appraisals involved reviewing boundaries. Of these, 15 contained either a registered park and garden or a parkland landscape, which was included within the conservation area. These include: • South Derbyshire District Council – all 22 existing conservation areas • Derbyshire Dales District Council - 7 existing conservation areas • High Peak Borough Council – 11 existing conservation areas • Nottingham City Council - Wollaton Park and new conservation area designations, including a detailed justification of the boundary, for: • Clay Cross (North East Derbyshire District Council) • Derby Green Lane & St Peters (Derby City Council) 2 Proof of Evidence of Melanie Lloyd Morris on behalf of Amber Valley Borough Council (13.12.15) ___________________________ • Rudyard and Oakamoor (Staffordshire Moorlands) 1.4 I have 28 years professional experience of assessing and analysing historic buildings and the historic environment throughout England and Wales. I have assessed the significance of a number of sites with Grade I listed houses, including Caverswall Castle and Wollaton Hall, for which I also produced detailed management plans. 1.5 The evidence that I have prepared in this proof of evidence is true and is given in accordance with the guidance of my professional institution (the Institute of Historic Building Conservation) and I confirm that the opinions expressed are my true and professional opinions. 2. Scope of Evidence 2.1 This Proof of Evidence fulfills the requirement within the National Planning Policy Guidance (Paragraph: 010 Reference ID: 18a-010-20140306), regarding the provision of expertise to assess the significance of heritage assets. It also fulfills paragraph 129 of the National Planning Policy Framework which requires local planning authorities to take account of any necessary expertise in assessing the particular significance of any heritage asset that may be affected by a proposal (including by development affecting the setting of a heritage asset). 2.2 In my proof I will describe the character and appearance of South Wingfield Conservation Area and what is significant about the conservation area (section 3). I will set out clearly how it has evolved to reach its current appearance. I will present documentary evidence to support this assessment, including map and archival evidence. I will go on to describe the historic landscape and the setting of the conservation area, what is significant about the setting and how the appeal site contributes to the setting and thereby significance of the Conservation Area. There are a number of listed buildings contained within the South Wingfield Conservation Area. The character of the Conservation Area is the sum of these listed buildings, the unlisted historic buildings and the spaces surrounding them. I have not assessed the specific attributes of listed buildings, with the exception of Wingfield Manor, and have focused on the character of the Conservation Area as an area of special architectural and historic interest. 3 Proof of Evidence of Melanie Lloyd Morris on behalf of Amber Valley Borough Council (13.12.15) ___________________________ 2.3 I will then assess documentary and physical evidence for the historic parkland landscape both within the conservation area and beyond (section 4) and put this into the context of the whole settlement and the appeal site, and then describe how this contributes to the character of the conservation area and the setting of Wingfield Manor. 2.4 In section 5, I will describe Wingfield Manor, its special architectural and historic interest and its wide significance. I then go on to assess the setting of Wingfield Manor and how the setting contributes to the significance of the Grade I listed building. 2.4 Section 7 of my proof of evidence is an Impact Assessment and it will assess how the application affects the significance of the heritage assets. It will involve an analysis of the ‘history in the view’ in a number of the existing viewpoints prepared by the appellant, and will involve additional photography, prepared by myself, and historic photographs, for the purpose of illustrating key points. It will clearly set out how the setting of the heritage assets is adversely affected and the nature of the impact of the planning application on the heritage assets and their significance. 2.5 Evidence will be provided to explain why the appellants Statement of Case does not address the planning policy guidance and is flawed in its understanding of significance and setting. Evidence will also be provided to demonstrate how the planning application conflicts with national and local planning policy regarding designated heritage assets and the wider historic environment. 2.6 The site was visited and photographed on three separate occasions; 2nd October 2015, 12th and 13th November 2015. 3. Conservation Area Analysis 3.1 South Wingfield Conservation Area was designated by Amber Valley Borough Council on 30th January 1991, although it was not until 1996