Henleaze Our Place Character Appraisal May 2016 City Design Group Prepared by: City Design Group Place Directorate Bristol City Council Authors: Shirley Phillips, The Henleaze Society Pete Insole, Archaeological Officer Hannah Porter, Conservation Officer With special thanks to: Veronica Bowerman for her permission to use historical information from her book entitled “The Henleaze Book” 2nd edition. Mike Brooks and Brian Tolchard for old pictures of houses in Henleaze. Julian Lea-Jones for a copy of the map “Bristol 1931 Town Planning Schedule 4 Sheet 2 PB102406” John Keenan and Geoffrey Gwatkin for a copy of the OS County Series 1913 map. Conrad Voke for copies of drawings of the architect, Ivor Voke. Permissions: © Crown Copyright and database rights 2016 Ordnance Survey 100023406 Aerial images © Blom Pictometry 2012 Except where stated all historic maps and images are used courtesy of Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives © City Design Group May 2016 No portion of this document can be reproduced without the permission of City Design Group, Neighbourhoods and City Development, Bristol City Council City Design Group Henleaze Our Place Character Appraisal May 2016 Contents 1 Introduction 3 2 Historic development 7 3 Local character and distinctiveness 11 4 Character Areas 15 Character Area 1: Eastfield 18 Character Area 2: Dorset Road 20 Character Area 3: Red Maids’ School 22 Character Area 4: Grange Court Road 24 Character Area 5: Brecon Road 26 Character Area 6: Henleaze Avenue 28 Character Area 7: The Groves 30 Character Area 8: Oakwood Road 32 Character Area 9: Broadleys Avenue 34 Character Area 10: Harbury Road 36 Character Area 11: The Crescent 38 Character Area 12: The Furlong 40 Character Area 13: Golden Hill 42 Character Area 14: Northumbria Drive 44 5 Challenges and opportunities 47 6 Statement of community involvement 50 Appendix - Additional character area images Henleaze Our Place Character Appraisal May 2016 1 Preface A distinctive historic city The City of Bristol is one of the most historic cities Within this broad context, Bristol’s character is in England. Founded in about 1000AD the city has defined by a variety of distinct neighbourhoods always been a place of change, economic growth and and designated Conservation Areas - areas with a innovation. distinctive character informed by their topography, landscape, views, layout, land use and social Until the First World War the fabric of the city was development, architectural style, materials, etc. essentially a medieval structure centred on the cross roads of High Street, Corn Street, Broad Street and A Character Appraisal is intended to help to explain Wine Street. Even the outer structure of the city, now how the character of a specific neighbourhood or the inner suburbs such as St Pauls and Kingsdown, was a designated Conservation Area has arrived at its based on medieval routes or field patterns. current state from its origins, and highlighting the key features that define the area as it exists today. Despite centuries of urban growth and densification this structure remained unchanged while building This understanding of place provides an evidence forms adapted to new uses and new architectural base which can inform future decisions and the styles. most appropriate changes to the area. The aim is to enable positive development, which builds upon and During the 20th century Bristol has seen its most enhances Bristol’s historic legacy and unique sense dramatic changes with the depopulation of the central of place. Ultimately it will help to deliver Local Plan core, bombing during the Second World War and the policies particularly around issues concerning local dominance of private motor car use. Although this character and distinctiveness. period has continued the process of urban renewal and the replacement of built form it is the Post War highway infrastructure projects that have eroded the physical fabric of the city on a scale unlike any other period. 2 Henleaze Our Place Character Appraisal May 2016 Introduction 1 Henleaze Our Place Character Appraisal May 2016 33 Introduction Planning policy context, purpose and scope 1.1 Planning Policy Context 1.2 Purpose and scope The findings within a character assessment provide an This character assessment is intended to define the evidence base for determining character and context local character of Henleaze. It identifies aspects of intended to guide and inform the Development positive local character and distinctiveness as well as Management process in support of national and local those which offer scope to improve the quality of the planning policies. area The over-arching planning policy is the National The overall format of a character assessment follows Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which sets out the English Heritage best practice guidance ‘Understanding Government’s planning policies for England and how Place: Conservation Area Designation, Appraisal and these are expected to be applied at a local level. The Management’ (2005; revised 2011). The features Core Strategy is the overall approach for planning identified also correspond to those outlined in DM26: in Bristol, guiding development and setting out key ͹ Landforms, green infrastructure assets and historic elements of the planning framework up to 2026 and assets and features; beyond. ͹ Local patterns and grain of development and the historical development of the area; Adopted character assessments will form planning ͹ The scale, character and function of streets and guidance with status as a material consideration public spaces; in planning decisions. They form part of a suite of ͹ Important views into, out of and through the area guidance documents referred to in Policy BCS21 ͹ Landmarks and focal features; of the Core Strategy and the Local Character and ͹ Height, scale massing, shape, form and proportion Distinctiveness Policy (DM26) in the Development of existing buildings, building lines and set backs Management Policy document. from the street, skylines and roofscapes; Policy BCS21 of the Core Strategy states that ͹ Locally characteristic architectural styles, rhythms, development should contribute positively to an patterns, features and themes; area’s character and identity, creating or reinforcing ͹ Predominant materials, colours, textures, local distinctiveness. Policy DM26 expands upon this landscape treatments and boundary treatments. requirement by setting out the criteria against which As well as providing an overall assessment of the a development’s response to local character and character of Henleaze. This document also identifies distinctiveness will be assessed. ‘non-designated heritage assets’. 4 Henleaze Our Place Character Appraisal May 2016 Introduction Language of the document Character/context Long view or vista Building Types The main visual characteristics of an area resulting A channelled view to one of a series of landmarks or Unlisted Buildings of Merit – buildings that make a from the influence of geology, topography, urban landscape. special contribution to the character or appearance layout, plot form, land use, and predominant building of the study area; usually of particular architectural or Landmark ages, types, form and materials. historic interest. Categorised as ‘undesignated heritage A conspicuous building or structure; one that stands assets’, they area of material consideration in planning Heritage Asset out from the background of buildings due to its scale, decisions. Their preservation and sensitive adaptation Heritage Assets are irreplaceable and are identified as function or material detailing; a point of reference in will be encouraged through the Development having degree of significance meriting consideration the urban scene. Management process. in planning decisions, because of its heritage interest. Local Landmark Built Form Grouped Buildings of Merit – buildings that form an Designated Heritage Assets include Conservation attractive group and are collectively of significance. Areas, Listed Buildings, Scheduled Monuments, A terminating feature in local views or a well known Buildings and structures described using the following It may be their method or date of construction, or Registered Parks and Gardens etc. An Undesignated or prominent building in the local context rather that terms. distinctive and unifying architectural treatment that is Heritage Asset are those identified by the Local across the wider townscape. Scale of interest. Also ‘undesignated heritage assets’; where Authority or local communities e.g locally listed Urban structure alteration or demolition would undermine the group buildings or Unlisted Buildings of Merit (see Building The size of a building described in terms of the number value, this will likely be resisted. Types) The framework of routes and spaces and the way they of floors. relate to one another. as defined in ‘The Dictionary of Character Buildings – buildings that make a positive Non-designated Heritage Asset Massing Urbanism’ Cowan, R. contribution to the overall character and sense of These are buildings, monuments, sites, places, areas or Relates to the building or group of buildings’ volume or place of the study area. Their value is in their overall landscapes identified by the local planning authority as perceived volume as a result of its structural form. consistency of scale, form, materials or date which having a degree of significance meriting consideration helps to form the built backcloth for the area. It is the Materials in planning decisions