Bilsthorpe Energy Centre Bilsthorpe Nottinghamshire Regulation 22 Response to Planning Application 3/13/01769/CMW: Setting of Heritage Assets for AXIS on behalf of Peel Environmental Management Ltd CA Project: 660338 CA Report: 14375 August 2014 Bilsthorpe Energy Centre Bilsthorpe Nottinghamshire Regulation 22 Response to Planning Application 3/13/01769/CMW: Setting of Heritage Assets CA Project: 660338 CA Report: 14375 prepared by Hannah Armstrong, Assistant Heritage Consultant date August 2014 checked by Chris Jordan, Heritage Consultant date August 2014 approved by Robert Sutton, Head of Heritage Consultancy signed For Data Protection date August 2014 issue 01 This report is confidential to the client. Cotswold Archaeology accepts no responsibility or liability to any third party to whom this report, or any part of it, is made known. Any such party relies upon this report entirely at their own risk. No part of this report may be reproduced by any means without permission. Cirencester Milton Keynes Andover Building 11 Unit 4 Office 49 Kemble Enterprise Park Cromwell Business Centre Basepoint Business Centre Kemble, Cirencester Howard Way, Newport Pagnell Caxton Close, Andover Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ MK16 9QS Hampshire, SP10 3FG t. 01285 771022 t. 01908 218320 t. 01264 326549 f. 01285 771033 e. [email protected] © Cotswold Archaeology © Cotswold Archaeology Bilsthorpe Energy Centre, Bilsthorpe, Nottinghamshire: Regulation 22 Response: Setting of Heritage Assets CONTENTS SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................ 4 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 6 Outline .................................................................................................................. 6 Scope ................................................................................................................... 6 2. METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................. 7 The Setting of Heritage Assets – the stepped approach ..................................... 7 Assessment of heritage asset significance .......................................................... 7 3. PLANNING POLICY CONTEXT .......................................................................... 10 Planning policy and guidance context ..................................................................10 Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act (1990) ......................... 10 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) ...................................................... 10 Local Planning Policy ...........................................................................................11 4. CHURCH OF ST MARGARET, BILSTHORPE ....................................................13 Description ........................................................................................................... 13 Statement of Significance .................................................................................... 14 Impact Assessment ..............................................................................................15 5. RUFFORD ABBEY .............................................................................................. 16 Description ........................................................................................................... 16 Statement of Significance .................................................................................... 20 Impact Assessment ..............................................................................................22 6. CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................... 23 7. REFERENCES .................................................................................................... 24 APPENDIX A: ZONE OF THEORETICAL VISIBILITY (WITH WOODLAND) OF THE PROPOSED BILSTHORPE ENERGY CENTRE ..............................................................25 2 © Cotswold Archaeology Bilsthorpe Energy Centre, Bilsthorpe, Nottinghamshire: Regulation 22 Response: Setting of Heritage Assets LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure 1 Site Location Plan Figure 2 Rufford Abbey Park Figure 3 Transcription of 1725 ‘Vistoes’ Figure 4 The Dukeries Photo Fig 1 Looking north along ‘Vistoe’ E-B Photo Fig 2 Looking north along ‘Vistoe’ E-B Photo Fig 3 Looking west along ‘Vistoe’ E-D Photo Fig 4 Looking north-west along ‘Vistoe’ E-C Photo Fig 5 Looking south along ‘Vistoe’ E-H Photo Fig 6 Looking south along ‘Vistoe’ E-G Photo Fig 7 Photomontage looking north from the Church of St Margaret All photographs were taken on the 14th August 2014 using a Canon 5D camera body and Canon EF1.4 50mm 1:1.8 II lens. 3 © Cotswold Archaeology Bilsthorpe Energy Centre, Bilsthorpe, Nottinghamshire: Regulation 22 Response: Setting of Heritage Assets SUMMARY Project Name: Bilsthorpe Energy Centre Location: Bilsthorpe, Nottinghamshire NGR: 465370 361500 In August 2014 Cotswold Archaeology was commissioned by AXIS Planning Consultants on behalf of Peel Environmental Management Ltd to respond to a Regulation 22 Request for Additional Environmental Information in relation to a planning application for the Bilsthorpe Energy Centre, in Bilsthorpe in Nottinghamshire. The Local Planning Authority requested further information on the potential effect of the development upon two heritage assets, Rufford Abbey and St Margaret’s Church. This document represents the response to the Regulation 22 request. The aesthetic and historic interest of the setting of the Church of St Margaret and the relationship of the Church with its associated churchyard contributes to its significance, as does the appreciation of the asset from within the churchyard and its immediate environs. Due to screening from residential development and the low level design of the church tower, it is not possible to appreciate the asset from within the wider landscape. The photomontage indicates that the modern residential development would screen views of the proposed energy centre with only the top of the exhaust stacks being visible above the rooflines. As such the proposed development will not result in an adverse impact on the character, appearance or elements of setting which contribute to the significance of the Church of St Margaret. The limits / boundaries of the Registered Park and Garden (the designated heritage asset) are the most efficient articulation of the extent of the significant surviving elements of the Rufford Estate. The Registered Park itself is reflective of the former heart of the monastic and manorial holdings of Rufford Abbey, as well as the wealth and status of the ‘Dukery’ estates during the 18th century. The surviving designed parkland features associated with the Abbey comprise a number of mid-18th-century features, including a large avenue (the Broad Ride), an area of Wilderness, several lodges and approaches. These features form the core elements of the park and make the principal contribution to the heritage significance of the designated asset. Landscape features lying outside the Registered Park such as those depicted on a plan / sketch of 1725 still survive; however, the presence of wind turbines within the landscape plus other more modern features further reinforces the character of a much changed, dynamic and ‘21st century landscape’ outside of the designated area. 4 © Cotswold Archaeology Bilsthorpe Energy Centre, Bilsthorpe, Nottinghamshire: Regulation 22 Response: Setting of Heritage Assets Although the proposed development site lies within an area that was part of the former estate of Rufford it only possesses a character (former colliery) of relevance to the 20th century history of the estate. Therefore, as a potentially ‘associated attribute’ the proposed development site does not contribute to the significance of the designated heritage asset that is the Registered Park and Garden (and the scheduled monument and listed buildings within its extent). The proposed development will be visible from certain locations within the setting of the Registered Park and Garden. However, the experience or appreciation of views within, out towards the wider landscape or towards the park will not be affected by the presence or visibility of the proposed development (specifically the exhaust stacks). Outside of the Registered Park, the proposed development will be visible as a further introduction of a 21st century element to a wider landscape already dominated by the presence of wind turbines and other modern landscape features. The introduction of the proposed development (specifically the exhaust stacks) will not materially change the character of the landscape. Although the addition of the exhaust stacks could be described as a cumulative change the lack of integrity and heritage significance of this element of the landscape precludes any harm. The proposed development would not be in conflict with the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act. Furthermore, the proposed development would not conflict national and local planning policy regarding the safeguarding of heritage assets. 5 © Cotswold Archaeology Bilsthorpe Energy Centre, Bilsthorpe, Nottinghamshire: Regulation 22 Response: Setting of Heritage Assets 1. INTRODUCTION Outline 1.1 In August 2014 Cotswold Archaeology were commissioned by AXIS Planning Consultants on behalf of Peel Environmental