LOUGHBOROUGH BELLFOUNDRY HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT August 2020 Revision Date Issued to Comment - 11.08.2020 Client, IPA First Issue All rights in this work are reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means (including without limitation by photocopying or placing on a website) without the prior permission in writing of Caroe Architecture Ltd except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Applications for permission to reproduce any part of this work should be addressed to Oliver Caroe at [email protected]. Undertaking any unauthorised act in relation to this work may result in a civil claim for damages and/or criminal prosecution. Any materials used in this work which are subject to third party copyright have been reproduced under licence from the copyright owner except in the case of works of unknown authorship as defined by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. 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Loughborough Bellfoundry 3 Heritage Impact Assessment Contents Section 1: Introduction Page 4 Section 2: Planning Policy Context Page 5 Section 3: Statement of Significance Page 7 Section 4: Heritage Impact Assessment Page 9 Section 4.1: Basis of Assessment Page 9 Section 4.2: Works Building - Carillon Courtyard Page 11 Section 4.3: Works Building - Ground Floor Page 12 Section 4.4: Works Building - First Floor Page 14 Section 4.5: Works Building - Exterior Page 15 Section 4.6: Foundry Building - Ground Floor Page 16 Section 4.7: Foundry Building - First Floor Page 17 Section 4.8: Foundry Building - Exterior Page 18 Section 5: Conclusion Page 19 August 2020 Loughborough Bellfoundry 4 Heritage Impact Assessment 1 Introduction 1.1 Introduction and Purpose The Taylor’s Bell Foundry site in Loughborough dates from 1859 when it was commissioned by John Taylor as a purpose-built foundry to cast bells of varying type, size and use. Over the last 160 years, the buildings have been extended, altered and demolished, as required, to accommodate changes in business operations or to allow them to cast bigger bells. The buildings are Grade II* listed and are of exceptional industrial significance. After the closing of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in 2017, Taylor’s is now the last major bell foundry in the country. However, the buildings are presently in a rapidly declining state of deterioration and on the Heritage at Risk Register. In 2009, the operating company went into administration but was saved through the efforts of UK Bellfoundries Ltd, who acquired the buildings and bell founding company; The Loughborough Bellfoundry Trust was subsequently set up and the land, buildings and machinery transferred to them to be looked after in perpetuity. Their aim is to ensure their conservation and upkeep, while the bell foundry carries on with the business as usual. In 2018, the Trust applied successfully to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for a Heritage Enterprise Grant, which provided funds for the Round 1 Development Works that will encompass repairs, refurbishment and new work. The main objective of this type of grant is to ensure that the bell founding business is as successful as the refurbishment of the buildings so that each may keep on supporting the other in the future. In June 2019, a new team of specialist consultants was appointed by the Trust with Caroe Architecture Ltd (CAL) acting as the lead consultant for this project. It is in this capacity, as agents for the Trust, that we are applying for planning permission and listed building consent in relation to the proposed repairs and refurbishment of the bell foundry buildings. This Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) has been prepared Dr Karey Draper, Heritage Consultant at Caroe Architecture, in support of a planning application to Charnwood Borough Council. It aims to provide a thorough, objective assessment of the main aspects of the proposals and how they might affect the character and significance of this heritage asset. 1.2 Scope of Report Taylor’s Bell Foundry is divided into two separate buildings, the Works and Foundry, where different activities are carried out for the process of bell fabrication and tuning, from inception to completion, as well as a museum space. This project is being tackled from three different perspectives as mentioned above: repairs, refurbishment and new build, which will support each other and ensure the future longevity and upkeep of the buildings while their original use is retained. 1.3 Existing Information This report draws upon the Conservation Plan that was produced for the Loughborough Bellfoundry Trust in February 2020. This includes various documentary and archival sources, a site survey, phasing and significance plans. Together, these provide an understanding of the historical significance of the site by which the impact of the proposed plans can be assessed. August 2020 Loughborough Bellfoundry 5 Heritage Impact Assessment 2 Planning Policy Context This Heritage Impact Assessment is based upon statutory guidance provided at both national and local levels. 2.1 National Planning Policy Framework The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is a document that provides the government’s planning policies and guidance for England. It was first published in 2012 with the latest revision made in February 2019. It defines significance as the value of a heritage asset to this and future generations derived from its heritage interest. That interest may be archaeological, architectural, aesthetic or historic in nature. Significance derives not only from a heritage asset’s physical presence, but also from its setting. In Section 16: Conserving and Enhancing the Historic Environment, paragraphs 185, 189, 190 and 192 are applicable when considering the proposals affecting heritage assets such as Taylor’s. In particular, Paragraph 189 states that local planning authorities should require applicants to demonstrate an understanding of the significance of any ‘heritage asset’ which may be affected by a proposed development. The amount of detail provided should be ‘proportionate to the importance…and no more than is sufficient to understand the impact of the proposal on the significance of the heritage asset.’1 Paragraph 190 is of especial relevance to this assessment, stipulating: Local planning authorities should identify and assess the particular significance of any heritage asset that may be affected by a proposal (including by development affecting the setting of a heritage asset) taking account of the available evidence and any necessary expertise. They should take this into account when considering the impact of a proposal on a heritage asset, to avoid or minimise any conflict between the heritage asset’s conservation and any aspect of the proposal.2 2.2 Conservation Principles Conservation Principles: Policies and Guidance was published by English Heritage in 2008 and still stands as the foundation for guiding the sustainable management of the historic environment. It identifies core heritage values that should be considered when assessing the significance of a place. These include evidential, historical, aesthetic and communal values, which together help to advise heritage impact when managing change. The intention is to protect and conserve whilst still allowing for opportunities that will ‘sustain, reveal or reinforce its cultural and natural heritage values.’ This document applies these core principles for evaluating heritage impact. 2.3 Charnwood Borough Council Planning Policy The proposals for the Loughborough Bell Foundry site are also subject to policies set out in the Charnwood Local Plan 2011-2028, adopted in November 2015. Policy CS 14 is particularly relevant when reviewing the design scheme and assessing heritage impact at Taylor’s Bell Foundry. The policy requires development proposals to protect heritage assets and their setting, and supports development which prioritises the refurbishment and re-use of historic buildings. It also directly identifies Taylor’s Bell Foundry as being ‘at risk’ and seeks to secure improvements and support ‘the viable and sustainable use of heritage assets at risk of neglect or loss, providing such development is consistent with the significance of the heritage asset, especially where this supports tourism or business development.’3 1 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, National Planning Policy Framework (February 2019), p. 55. 2 Ibid. 3 Charnwood Local Plan 2011-2028 Core Strategy, (2015), p. 76. August 2020 Loughborough Bellfoundry 6 Heritage Impact Assessment Charnwood Local Plan 2011-2028 Core Strategy, Policy CS 14. It is in light of the above national and local guidance that the following heritage impact assessment has been prepared. It is envisaged as a tool to provide information on the proposals and their impact on the buildings. August 2020 Loughborough Bellfoundry 7 Heritage Impact Assessment 3 Statement of Significance As part of the National Lottery Heritage Fund project, a Conservation Plan was prepared and adopted by the Loughborough