HERITAGE STATEMENT Retrofitting of tensile cable balustrade detail to existing external masonry balustrades LILLESHALL HALL, Lilleshall Hall Drive, Newport, TF10 9AS Prepared by: Studio OL3 Ltd Studio OL3 Ltd, Unit 23, Broadway Business Park, Chadderton, Oldham, Lancashire OL9 9XA email: [email protected] Site Location Lilleshall Hall is located appr. 2miles South West of the village Lilleshall Latitude/Longitude: 52.7272, -2.3737 Location: Sheriffhales, Shropshire TF10 9AS District: Bridgnorth Access is through Lilleshall via Lilleshall Road from the North or Sheriffhales Drive from the South bypassing the adjacent Lilleshall Golf Club. Site, Surrounding Area & Building History Lilleshall Hall stands around 8km north east of Telford and 5km South of Newport on elevated ground around 150m AOD. The land falls away gradually to the north west and south west. The National Sports Centre occupies around 134 hectares in the centre of the 200-hectare Registered Parkland. The land is owned by the Sports Council Trust Company and operated by Serco Leisure on behalf of Sport England. Lilleshall Hall forms part of the same named estate which origins reach back to the 12th century. Originally founded as an Augustinian Abbey, the ruins of Lilleshall Abbey are now protected by English Heritage. The ‘Tudor Gothic’ style house was built in 1831 designed by Sir Jeffrey Wyatville in 1829 as a Hunting Lodge for the Duke of Sutherland. The formal gardens were designed by Capability Brown. Being a tourist attraction in Victorian times the hall was in very poor condition after World War II. It was then bought by the Sports Council which transformed Lilleshall Hall into a National Sports Centre. In 1951 the centre was opened by HM Queen Elisabeth II (then HRH Princess Elisabeth). From 1984 to 1999 Lilleshall was the Football Association’s School of Excellence. Lilleshall is now one of the four National Sport Centres run by Serco, a fitness and leisure provider managing the facilities on behalf of Sport England. Apart from providing seminar, banqueting and accommodation facilities, Lilleshall is the headquarter of a large number of leading British sporting associations such as Archery GB & British Gymnastics. It is also the Football Association’s Medical Education Centre. Lilleshall is furthermore an accredited science laboratory for sport scientists. The main house was listed as a Grade II* building on 29 August 1984 (IoE Number: 255176) and it is owned by Sport England. Design Brief It has been reported that the existing external masonry balustrades that flank the existing rear raised patio and access paths to the rear of Lilleshall Hall are non-compliant with current building regulations and pose a potential fall risk. The vertical spacing of the existing balustrade is in excess of 300mm, thus there is a risk that a person could fall through the said gap and there may be injury sustained. It is proposed to install non visually intrusive intermediate Stainless-Steel tensile cabled (2no. per each existing balustrade spacing) in order to split the maximum clear opening to 100mm, thus complying with current building regulations. The brief is to provide a solution which would improve the current situation, offer compliance with current building regulations, whilst maintaining the integrity of the existing balustrade structure and maintain the visual appeal. Methodology The heritage impact assessment follows the guidance outlined in: Conservation Principles: policies and guidance for the sustainable management of the historic environment (English Heritage 2008), The Setting of Heritage Assets (Historic England 2015), Seeing History in the View (English Heritage 2011), Managing Change in the Historic Environment: Setting (Historic Scotland 2010), and with reference to Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment 3rd Edition (Landscape Institute 2013). Heritage Impact Assessment The purpose of heritage impact assessment is twofold: Firstly, to understand – insofar as is reasonable practicable and in proportion to the importance of the asset – the significance of a historic building, complex, area or archaeological monument (the ‘heritage asset’). Secondly, to assess the likely effect of a proposed development on the heritage asset (direct impact) and its setting (indirect impact). The methodology employed in this assessment is based on the staged approach advocated in The Setting of Heritage Assets (GPA3 Historic England 2015), used in conjunction with the ICOMOS (2011) and DoT (DMRB vol.11; WEBTAG) guidance. National Policy General policy and guidance for the conservation of the historic environment are now contained within the National Planning Policy Framework (Department for Communities and Local Government 2012). The relevant guidance is reproduced below: Paragraph 128 In determining applications, local planning authorities should require the applicant to describe the significance of any heritage assets affected, including the contribution made by their setting. The level of detail should be proportionate to the assets’ importance and no more than is sufficient to understand the potential impact of the proposal on their significance. As a minimum the relevant historic environment record should be consulted, and the heritage assets assessed using appropriate expertise where necessary. Where a site on which a development is proposed includes or has the potential to include heritage assets with archaeological interest, local planning authorities should require developers to submit an appropriate desk-based assessment and, where necessary, a field evaluation. Paragraph 129 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 assessment into account when considering the impact of a proposal on a heritage asset, to avoid or minimise conflict between the heritage asset’s conservation and any aspect of the proposal. A further key document is the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, in particular section 66(1), which provides statutory protection to the setting of Listed buildings: In considering whether to grant planning permission for development which affects a listed building or its setting, the local planning authority or, as the case may be, the Secretary of State shall have special regard to the desirability of preserving the building or its setting or any features of special architectural or historic interest which it possesses. Relevant Policies Planning Policy Guidance PPG 15 Listed Buildings Annex C Guidance on Alterations to Listed Buildings 3.5 The issues that are generally relevant to the consideration of all listed building consent applications are: i. the importance of the building, its intrinsic architectural and historic interest and rarity, in both national and local terms (‘historic interest’ is further explained in paragraph 6.11); ii. the particular physical features of the building (which may include its design, plan, materials or location) which justify its inclusion in the list: list descriptions may draw attention to features of particular interest or value, but they are not exhaustive and other features of importance (eg. interiors) may come to light after the building’s inclusion in the list; iii. the building’s setting and its contribution to the local scene, which may be very important, eg. where it forms an element in a group, park, garden or other townscape or landscape, or where it shares particular architectural forms or details with other buildings nearby; iv. the extent to which the proposed works would bring substantial benefits for the community, in particular by contributing to the economic regeneration of the area or the enhancement of its environment (including other listed buildings). 3.8 Generally the best way of securing the upkeep of historic buildings and areas is to keep them in active use. For the great majority this must mean economically viable uses if they are to survive, and new, and even continuing, uses will often necessitate some degree of adaptation. The range and acceptability of possible uses must therefore usually be a major consideration when the future of listed buildings or buildings in conservation areas is in question. Conclusion The proposed retrofit alterations which are proposed to the existing external masonry balustrades provides a much-needed health and safety improvement. The brief is to provide a solution which would improve the current situation, offer compliance with current building regulations, whilst maintaining the integrity of the existing balustrade structure and maintain the visual appeal. We believe that the proposed Stainless-Steel tensile wire infills will provide the best and least intrusive solution, these would provide the required health and safety improvement whilst not visually detracting away from the existing masonry balustrade detailing. Site Photographs indicating existing external masonry balustrades Image illustrating mock-up of proposed Stainless-Steel tensile cable balustrade infill within existing external masonry balustrade .