Blackheath Halls Design and Access Statement Heritage Statement design stage: 3 date: January 2021 rev 0 Walkerbushe Architects 6 Highbury Corner London N5 1RD 020 7697 0707 [email protected] Blackheath halls Contents Introduction Context: Site location Site History Statutory & planning context Existing site Design: Proposed works new signage : place making + interactive new entrance point Proposed design reference & material Access: Traffic management Heritage: Relevant Policy Impact on the significance of the listed building Impact on the significance of the Conservation Area Policy compliances Conclusions 2 Blackheath halls Introducti on This Design and Access statement has been prepared by Walkerbushe Architects on behalf of Blackheath Halls, at 23 Lee Road London SE3 9RQ. This document forms part of a planning applicati on and listed building consent for proposed alterati ons to the front outdoor entrance area. Blackheath Halls is a Grade II listed building originally built and used as a venue for concerts and public meeti ngs. Together with the adjacent Conservatoire of Music and the School of Art, it forms part of the oldest surviving purpose built cultural complex in London. Blackheath Halls is a wholly owned subsidiary of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance. The building is primarily used as a performance and rehearsal venue for the students of Trinity College of Music (part of the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance). Blackheath Halls present a diverse programme of concerts and events throughout the year including classical, folk, comedy nights, talks, literary events, exhibiti ons and children’s theatre. The Halls run a varied community engagement programme from choirs and orchestra through to community opera and children’s opera. The Halls also provide a regular base for large scale student rehearsals and performances including the annual Trinity Laban opera. Our client, who has already extensively refurbished the hall, is looking to further improve this community facility and heritage asset by making minor amendments to the front external entrance area and minor repairs to the front facade. Front of Blackheath Halls 2019 Front steps of Blackheath Halls, Late 1970’s 3 Blackheath halls Context Site locati on Blackheath Halls is located at the top of Lee Road in Blackheath, within the London Borough Blackheath Preservati on Trust (BPT) bought the leasehold in 1978 to prevent its demoliti on. The of Greenwich. It has a prominent presence at the juncti on of Lee Road and Blackheath Park. BPT leased the building to the Nati onal Centre for Orchestral Studies (NCOS) in 1980. Restorati on Blackheath stati on is situated to the north of the site, and is about two minutes walk away. works were undertaken and the building was reopened, mainly for small concerts in the Recital Room, in 1985. In 1989 the BPT carried out repairs to the Great Hall and hired it for recordings. In 1990 the fi rst public concert was held since 1939 in the Great Hall. The building was Grade II listed in 1992 and designated as part of the Blackheath Park Conservati on Area in 2002. It is part of the oldest surviving purpose-built cultural complex in London. Site History The Blackheath Halls company become a wholly owned subsidiary of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (Trinity Laban) in 2003 and retained the leasehold of the Halls from the Blackheath Halls is unique in that it was built by the local community in 1895. A small group of local Blackheath Preservati on Trust. In 2010 Trinity Laban acquired the freehold of the Halls from residents, mostly amateur arti sts and musicians led by William Webster founded the Blackheath the Blackheath Preservati on Trust. Today, the building is primarily used as a performance and Conservatoire of Music in 1881. They obtained a corner site on Lee Road/ Blackheath Park where rehearsal venue for its students, and for public performances and other events. there was a row of cott ages. The leases were due to expire and the site provided enough space for a Conservatoire and an Art school. The group fl oated a new company in 1893 called the Blackheath Concert Hall Company Limited to raise funds for the building from subscripti ons and shares. The company then hired the architectural practi ce Edmeston and Gabriel. The site was cleared in 1894 and constructi on Blackheath commenced in 1895. The original structure had a tented cast iron entrance canopy and a queue canopy which were added just before the building opened in 1895. These canopies are not present Station today. The building was offi cially opened on 26th October 1895. Bennett Park From the 1890s to the 1920s, there were many large scale concerts and numerous disti nguished Blackheath nati onal and internati onal recitalists performed at the hall. During the First World War, the building StationIndependents Rd was commandeered by the Royal Army Pay Corps and used as administrati ve offi ces. The building Lawn Terrace reopened in January 1921 with newly installed electric lights. BennettCresswell Park Park From the 1920’s, the Golden Days of the large scale performances were over and the hall was Independents Rd mainly used by amateur groups. The Blackheath Dramati c Club staged two producti ons a year Lawn Terrace and the main hall was used for dinner dances and indoor tennis and badminton on Saturday aft ernoons. Cresswell Park In 1939, War regulati ons closed all concert halls, and the building was again used by the Ministry of Works for war related offi ce use. In 1975, the Ministry decided to leave the building and by Lee Road 1976 the building lay empty. The Blackheath Concert Hall Company Limited ceased trading in December 1978. The building was surrendered to the Cator Trust and a Planning Applicati on for the demoliti on of the Halls and its redevelopment was submitt ed to Greenwich Council. Lee Terrace Lee Road Blackheath Park Lee Terrace Lee Park Blackheath Park Lee Park 4 Blackheath halls Context 4 The Existing Site 4 The Existing Site Site History Blackheath HallsSite is unique inHistory that it was built In 1939, War regulations closed all concert halls, Statutory and Planning Context CZUIFMPDBMDPNNVOJUZJO"TNBMMHSPVQListing and the building was again used by the Ministry Bennett Park of local residents, mostly amateur artists and PG8PSLTGPSXBSSFMBUFEPGÏDFVTF*O UIF musicians led by William Webster founded the Ministry decided to leave the building and by The Grade II listed Blackheath Halls sits within the Blackheath Park Conservation Area. It is a BlackheathBlackheath Halls Halls was is unique Grade inII listedthat it in was 1992. built When designatingIn 1939, War the regulationsbuilding, English closed Heritage all concert were halls, prominent presence on the junction of Lee Road, Lee Park and Lee Terrace. #MBDLIFBUI$POTFSWBUPJSFPG.VTJDJOconsciousCZUIFMPDBMDPNNVOJUZJO"TNBMMHSPVQ at the time that only a few concert1976 thehalls building wereand the erected lay building empty. in thewas The 19th again Blackheath Century used by and the still Ministry in Bennett Park They obtained ause.of corner local Amongst residents, site onthe Lee others mostly Road/ by amateur subscription artistsConcert were and the Hall Octagon,PG8PSLTGPSXBSSFMBUFEPGÏDFVTF*O UIF Company Buxton, Limited Derbyshire ceased (1875), trading and inRoyal In developing the brief and proposals, Blackheath Halls Board and the design team have Blackheathreferred ParkAlbertmusicians where Hall, there led South bywas WilliamKensington a row Webster of (1871). founded Others%FDFNCFS5IFCVJMEJOHXBTTVSSFOEFSFE the were purposeMinistry decidedbuilt for toprivate leave companiesthe building such and byas to the policies and recommendations within the National Planning Policy Framework (Sectioncottages. The leasespiano#MBDLIFBUI$POTFSWBUPJSFPG.VTJDJO manufacturerswere due to expire Bechstein’s and the in Londonto the which Cator became1976 Trust the andthe building Wigmorea Planning lay Hallempty. Application in 1915.The Blackheath The for other 12: Conserving and Enhancing the Historic Environment) noting: site provided enoughfewThey concert obtained space halls for a builtcornera Conservatoire at sitethe onturn Lee of Road/thethe century demolition wereConcert more of the lavish Hall Halls Company and and associated its Limited redevelopment with ceased the winter trading in and an Art school.gardensBlackheath of resort Park townswhere suchthere as was Morecambe a rowwas of submittedand Blackpool.%FDFNCFS5IFCVJMEJOHXBTTVSSFOEFSFE to Greenwich Council. cottages. The leases were due to expire and the to the Cator Trust and a Planning Application for • The desirability of sustaining and enhancing the significance of heritage assets and putting site provided enough space for a Conservatoire the demolition of the Halls and its redevelopment them to viable uses consistent with their conservation; 5IFHSPVQÐPBUFEBOFXDPNQBOZJOAdjacent Blackheath Conservatoire of MusicBlackheath and Blackheath Preservation School Trust of Art (BPT) are also bought Grade II listed. and an Art school. was submitted to Greenwich Council. • The positive contribution that conservation of heritage assets can make to sustainablecalled the Blackheath Concert Hall Company UIFMFBTFIPMEJOUPQSFWFOUJUTEFNPMJUJPO communities including their economic vitality; and Limited to raise funds for the building from The BPT leased the building to the National 5IFHSPVQÐPBUFEBOFXDPNQBOZJO Blackheath Preservation Trust (BPT) bought • The desirability of new development making a positive contribution