Judging Significance in the Historic Environment The importance of Conservation Statements

1. Judging Significance in the Historic Environment The importance of Conservation Statements and Heritage Impact Assessments Peter Rawlings Caroe Architecture Ltd

2. This talk • who I am • an introduction to CMPs and HIAs (the mechanics) • a case study using No 1 Smithery, Chatham Historic Dockyard (with illustrations) • lessons leant – what makes a good CMP? OUTLINE OF TALK

3. Who I am – an architect’s perspective • Architect and Director of Caroe Architecture Ltd • has commissioned, written CMPs and responded to other people’s CMPs over a period of 20 years • with Inskip & Jenkins Architects – Battersea Power Station • with vHH Architects – Corfield Court, Cambridge, Market Hall, Bolton, New Lodge, Windsor and No 1 Smithery – subject of the case study • with Caroe Architecture Ltd – Nymans (with CAR), St Mary’s, Oxford PETER RAWLINGS

4. What is significance? • Heritage has value and meaning – it enriches our lives • Often quite complex – need to be teased out • Dynamic and changing – a moment in time • Value can range from local to international importance • Statutory designations are helpful (listing, scheduled ancient monument etc) • but there are places of local interest and group interest that may not be designated INTRODUCTION

5. How is it judged? • Different types of significance can be identified (taken from EH Conservation Principles): • Evidential – physical evidence of past human activity • Historic – illustrative value and / or associative value • Aesthetic – architectural and artistic merit • Communal – social and/or symbolic meaning to the community INTRODUCTION

6. What is a conservation management plan? • A formal and well established way of describing and revealing the significance of a site, building or place • Briefer versions can be called Conservation Statements • Allows us to identify where the value lies in an informed way – gives us a common understanding of the “heritage asset” to be conserved • Forms a sound basis against which any proposals for change can be assessed • Looks forward to future management INTRODUCTION

7. What is a heritage impact assessment? • Usually forms part of a Design and Access Statement • The “counterpart”: a formal response to a conservation management plan or statement • Justifies each aspect of an architectural proposal against the guidance and policies set out in the CMP INTRODUCTION

8. What should a conservation management plan include? • understand the site – gathering of knowledge • assess significance – exploring the value of the parts and the whole • assess vulnerability – conflicts, pressures, opportunities, risk • set out policies that retain significance • use a gazetteer for relevant information • keep it simple, informative, clear and readable INTRODUCTION

9. What should a heritage impact assessment include? • appreciate the value of the site, building , place • explain the overall motivation for change • assess impact overall (context, views) • justify loss or adaptation to the fabric • explain mitigation of loss • demonstrate benefit of the design strategy INTRODUCTION

10. Where can I find our more? • Conservation Management Planning – Heritage Lottery Fund • Conservation Principles – policies and guidance – English Heritage • Planning Policy Statement 5 – Planning for the Historic Environment • The Conservation Management Plan – James Semple Kerr • Kate Clark – various publications for English Heritage • Ask your local authority conservation officer INTRODUCTION

11. A case study: No 1 Smithery Site: Chatham Historic Dockyard, Kent Client: CHD Trust with NMM & IWM CMP written by: CHDT Project period: 2003 -2010 Design Team : vHH, PMT, MFP, P&M, Land, Appleyards Funding: HLF, SEEDA, English Heritage Awards: RIBA award (2011) NO 1 SMITHERY

14. Understand the site • desktop archaeological studies • visual inspections and surveys • intrusive inspections (trial pits, paint sampling, asbestos) • historical primary and secondary sources • discussion with community • discussion with statutory authorities • put into context (site has 100 listed buildings, 47 are Scheduled Ancient Monuments) NO 1 SMITHERY

15. Assess the significance - designation Historic Dockyard Conservation Area Scheduled Ancient Monument Grade 2 * listed NO 1 SMITHERY

16. Assess the significance - summary Occupying a central position at the heart of the Historic Dockyard the Smithery is an important metal working building with considerable local, regional and national significance. The Smithery played an important part in the mechanisation of the Royal Dockyards during the Napoleonic Wars and in the subsequent transition from the timber-hulled sail powered warship to the iron hulled steam powered warship. It has important associations with people and ships, in particular Edward Holl, and HMSAchilles.Today the Smithery is one of only a small number of industrial scale metal working facilities to survive in Britain NO 1 SMITHERY

21. Policy – on change of use No 1 Smithery is in a state of considerable decay and at risk. Roof coverings failed during the last years of naval ownership and the fabric of the building has suffered accordingly. Securing an appropriate new use with funding for the building’s restoration together with a sustainable long-term future for the building is one of the Trust’s highest priorities for the period of this Conservation Plan. NO 1 SMITHERY

25. Policy – archaeology summary If any deep excavations are to be carried out, particularly in the area of the building founded on the chalk, it should be recognised that the potential for finding early remains exists. It is unlikely that any significant buried archaeology will have survived (from earlier phases of the dockyard) – although saw pits identified. Below ground structures related to the Smithery itself and its uses are definitely known to exist – identified from various trial pits and desktop studies. NO 1 SMITHERY

28. Other policies • approach to restoring fabric of walls and roof • approach to adaptation and alterations • an approach to fixtures and fittings NO 1 SMITHERY

29. Introducing the design brief • restore the building and give it a viable and sustainable future, make it accessible and appreciable to the public • provide a national museum standard touring exhibition space • provide a permanent exhibition space telling the story of the dockyard and associated collections • provide an accessible store for ship model collections from the National Maritime Museum NO 1 SMITHERY

32. A heritage impact assessment • looking at key policies • how the proposals address the policies • how the design strategy responds to conservation principles NO 1 SMITHERY

33. Policy – on adaptation & alteration Policy 33.1 accepts that adaptation of the structure for an appropriate re-use is accepted and indeed is essential to securing the long-term future of this important structure. Whilst all such interventions should respect the Smithery’s history and significance it is also accepted that some compromise may be necessary in this respect. NO 1 SMITHERY

36. General design principles • touching the existing building lightly (as possible) • reversibility • reuse of existing openings for circulation and services • removal of fabric on an informed basis • allowing the best of the building to speak NO 1 SMITHERY

48. The box within the box principle • new structure independent to existing • can meet stringent museum requirements with excess adaptation of existing building envelope • forms a horse shoe of space around central courtyard – recalls first stage of building history • volumetric character of large spaces not lost • simple new finishes act as a foil to rich industrial patina NO 1 SMITHERY