Heritage Statement 22 Royal Crescent London W11 4SL

Transcription

1 15 th June 2015 Tel: Fax: Symal House, 423 Edgware Road, London, NW9 0HU Heritage Statement London W11 4SL 1.0 INTRODUCTION 2.0 STATUTORY PROTECTION 3.0 BUILDING DESCRIPTION 5.0 BACKGROUND OF WORKS UNDERTAKEN 5.0 FLUE IMPACT Regulated by RICS Building Surveys, Dilapidations Party Walls, Licences Defect Analysis & Repair Project Management, Expert Witness Design & Specification Dispute Resolution London W1 Tel: Northwood Carter Ltd Registered in Cardiff No Registered office: 253 Gray s Inn Road, London WC1X 8QT Terry Northwood BSc. (Hons) FRICS James Carter BSc. (Hons) MRICS

2 1.0 - Introduction A full Heritage Impact Assessment was undertaken and submitted under application LB14/ We have provided brief background of the building here and an explanation of the works which have been undertaken. Extract from British History Online Statutory protection was Listed on 15 th April 1969 and is Grade II* which English Heritage describe as being particularly important buildings of more than special interest, 5.5% of Listed buildings are Grade II*. It is fair to comment that some elements of are of greater significance than others and therefore, any assessment of the impact of proposed works needs to take this into account. The property also sits within the Norland Conservation Area where there is currently an Article 4 Direction in place. This came into affect on the 22 nd July 1975 and gives RBKC authority to repeal certain Permitted Development Rights where it feels that even minor development would seriously harm the appearance of an area. The Article 4 Direction covers the entirety of Royal Crescent which restricts the painting of the exterior elements requiring an application for Planning Permission to be submitted. The English Heritage list description registered with this property is a follows; List Entry Number: Location: 7-44, Royal Crescent, W11 The building may lie within the boundary of more than one authority. County: Greater London Authority District: Kensington and Chelsea District Type: London Borough Grade: II* Date first listed: 15-Apr-1969 Date of most recent amendment: Not applicable to this List entry. List Entry Description Details TQ 2480 SW & TQ 2380 SE & TQ 2379 NE ROYAL CRESCENT W11 23/17 22/14 27/ Nos 7 to 44 (consec) Page 2

3 Houses Part of a very wide crescent of houses. Stucco.- Three storeys, attic and basement. Each 2 windows wide. Rusticated ground floor. One 3-light sash and fluted Doric columned porch on ground floor. Steps up. Triglyph frieze and mutules. Iron railings above porch continued along stone based balcony. First and second floor windows with architraves and cornices. Dentilled cornice over. Stucco attic windows in band surrounds. Cornice and blocking course. Cornices missing to some houses. Ends of crescent with round towers and inset round towers above attic. Forms a group with Listing National Grid Reference: TQ Extract from RBKC Conservation Area Proposals Statement Noland Conservation Area Description Royal Crescent, London was originally known as Norland Crescent, designed by architect Robert Cantwell who began to develop the Norland Estate in the 1840 s. The Building, London contains six floors and has been converted into four self-contained flats with a central stairwell common part. The interior has little original fabric and has been significantly altered from its original form to facilitate the conversion in the late 1970s. is of conventional loadbearing construction comprising solid loadbearing brick exterior walls with a combination of masonry and timber stud internal partitions supporting timber framed roofs and suspended timber intermediate floors. Page 3

4 Design for Royal Crescent (Circa 1840) Engraving in Kensington Central Library The remainder of the elevations (north and east) have been altered from their original form. The walls to the rear elevation and the rear additions are a combination of unpainted cement render stuck with lines and facing brickwork. All windows to the north and east elevations are modern and are a combination of softwood and UPVC. There is a conservatory extension at lower ground floor abutting the rear wall of the property and a further detached extension (known as the Orangery) in the rear garden. These structures are not impacted by the proposed works and in any case are modern additions to the main building. 4.0 Background of Works Undertaken Scaffold was raised during autumn 2014 to carry out emergency works, including the repair and redecoration of some parts of the principle elevations which were in poor condition. During this time, we understand the boiler serving Flat 4 became faulty and works were required. At some point between 15 th and 19 th September 2014, the boiler, including the flue which penetrates the principle elevation, was both replaced by the Flat owner. At a site meeting to discharge the condition of the original LBC application (LBC14/07776) on 23 rd September 2014, Ms Joe Parker and Mr Damian Manhurtz (Planning and Conservation Officers from the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea) categorically stated that the new flue requires Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent. The boiler flue was later found to have been installed poorly and against manufacturer s recommendations and good practise. Consequently, the flue began to leak acidic fluid from the boiler onto the parts of the building beneath. This was damaging the new lead which is covering the cornice below and was installed last year. If left, the damage would worsen and so action was taken to safeguard the building and limit the consequential damage. A further scaffold was raised at the building to undertake the external repair, roofing and redecoration works outlined in the above application. To limit further damage to the building, the Freeholder issued instructions to have the external flue taken out and a new flue installed to manufacturer s recommendations. This work was completed on the 3 rd and 4 th June See the attached X Photo Sheet for original, initially installed and currently photos. The final flue is as below. Page 4

5 5.0 Flue Impact The boiler flue is located above the 3 rd floor cornice, approx 11.5m above ground level and is obscured somewhat by the projecting cornice below. The existing metal boiler flue is understood to have been installed in the 1970 s. This was defective and required replacement to ensure proper modern amenity within the top floor flat. As outlined in the previous application, the building was in poor condition externally and sensitive repair and conservation works have been required to being the building into a condition where it would be maintained and preserved into the future. The new boiler flue has assisted in this by ensuring the flat can remain a modern residential space as well as a historic asset in the Crescent and wider area. Page 5