crofton park and honor oak park heritage and …...(paragraph: 007 reference id: 26-007-20140306)....

CROF TON PARK AND HONOR OAK PARKHE RITAGE AND CHAR ACTE R AS SE S SME NT JUNE 2017

AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited (“AECOM”) has prepared this Report for the sole use of Crofton Park and Honor Oak Park Neighbourhood Forum (“Client”) in accordance with the Agreement under which our services were performed. No other warranty, expressed or implied, is made as to the professional advice included in this Report or any other services provided by AECOM.

Where the conclusions and recommendations contained in this Report are based upon information provided by others it is upon the assumption that all relevant information has been provided by those parties from whom it has been requested and that such information is accurate. Information obtained by AECOM has not been independently verified by AECOM, unless otherwise stated in the Report.

The methodology adopted and the sources of information used by AECOM in providing its services are outlined in this Report. The work described in this Report was undertaken in the period May 2017 to June 2017 and is based on the conditions encountered and the information available during the said period of time. The scope of this Report and the services are accordingly factually limited by these circumstances.

Where assessments of works or costs identified in this Report are made, such assessments are based upon the information available at the time and where appropriate are subject to further investigations or information which may become available.

AECOM disclaim any undertaking or obligation to advise any person of any change in any matter affecting the Report, which may come or be brought to AECOM’s attention after the date of the Report.

Certain statements made in the Report that are not historical facts may constitute estimates, projections or other forward-looking statements and even though they are based on reasonable assumptions as of the date of the Report, such forward-looking statements by their nature involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results predicted. AECOM specifically does not guarantee or warrant any estimate or projections contained in this Report.

Where field investigations are carried out, these have been restricted to a level of detail required to meet the stated objectives of the services. The results of any measurements taken may vary spatially or with time and further confirmatory measurements should be made after any significant delay in issuing this Report.

Copyright

© This Report is the copyright of AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited. Any unauthorised reproduction or usage by any person other than the addressee is strictly prohibited.

CONTENTS

Introduction and Approach ..................................................................................................................................................................... Context .........................................................................................................................................................................................................Historical Development ............................................................................................................................................................................ Character Assessment .............................................................................................................................................................................Managing Change ......................................................................................................................................................................................References ...................................................................................................................................................................................................Appendix A: Schedule of heritage assets ...........................................................................................................................................Appendix B: Historical maps ...................................................................................................................................................................

Project Role Name Position Actions Summary Date

Townscape Specialist Tom Roseblade Assistant, AECOM Prepare draft 01.06.2017

Heritage Specialist Katerina Koukouthaki Consultant, AECOM Prepare draft 01.06.2017

Project Manager / Technical Specialist

Eddie Hall Associate, AECOM Review draft 07.06.2017

Qualifying Body Review draft

Director/QA Finalise draft

Project Coordination Approve final report

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4

CROFTON PARK AND HONOR OAK PARK

IntroductionThis report presents a summary of the history and character of the Crofton Park and Honor Oak Park Neighbourhood Area, which lies within the London Borough of Lewisham. It has been prepared by consultants at AECOM on behalf of Locality, working with the Crofton Park and Honor Oak Park Neighbourhood Forum and is based on a detailed appraisal of the area carried out through desk study and fieldwork.

Landscape character assessment is a process used to describe and articulate what is special and distinctive about a particular place by identifying recognisable patterns of elements or characteristics that make one landscape different from another. Landscape is defined by the European Landscape Convention as “…an area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and / or human factors.” This definition is broad and encompasses natural, rural, urban and peri-urban areas.

The information generated through the process of characterisation can be used as evidence to support the planning and design process. This approach is supported by the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which states that neighbourhood plans should develop robust and comprehensive policies based on an understanding and evaluation of its defining characteristics (DCLG, 2012).In doing so, policies can ensure that development responds to local character and history, and reflects the identity of local surroundings and materials, while not preventing or discouraging appropriate innovation.

Crofton Park Library

5


ApproachThe approach of this study follows well-established landscape character assessment techniques. The detailed desk study and fieldwork carried out to inform this assessment underpins the classification and description of character areas and broadly follows the process set out in the “Approach to Landscape Character Assessment” (Natural England, 2014).This approach has been tailored to meet the specific needs of the neighbourhood planning process and draws on further best practice guidance including:

• Shaping Neighbourhoods: Character and Context (Greater London Assembly 2014);

• Using Historic Landscape Characterisation (Historic England 2004);

• Character and identity: Townscape and heritage appraisals in housing market renewal areas (Historic England and CABE 2008); and

• Understanding Place Historic Area Assessments: Principles and Practice (Historic England 2010).

Historic England, previously English Heritage has issued a number of guidance and best practice notes covering a range of issues in relation to the conservation and management of historic places and heritage assets all of which are available on the Historic England website (https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/planning/).

View towards Canary Wharf from a bridge over the railway


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CONTEXT

8

2 0 2 4 6 8 10 km

Lewisham

Greenwich

Bromley

Southwark

Lambeth

Croydon

Wandsworth

Tower HamletsCity ofLondonWestminster

Camden

Newham

HackneyIslington

Merton

Sutton

Bexley

Catford

Lewisham


ContextThis section of the report describes the location and context of the Crofton Park and Honor Oak Park Neighbourhood Area and summarises current planning policies which are relevant to the study.

LocationThe Crofton Park and Honor Oak Park Neighbourhood Area is located in the south-east of London within the London Borough of Lewisham, as shown on Figure 1. The area covers approximately 172 ha and is aligned to the Crofton Park Ward boundary with a population of 14,937 at the time of the 2011 census.

The neighbourhood area is located approximately 1.8km south-west of the borough’s main town centre at Lewisham, and just north-west of Catford. The western boundary of the area is formed by the London to Brighton Railway Line, and to the south by the A205 Stanstead Road (South Circular Road), as shown on Figure 2. The northern and eastern boundaries are not as linear, generally following residential streets.

Planning Policy Context

National Planning PolicyNational Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), 2012The NPPF requires local authorities to set out in their Local Plan a positive vision for the enhancement and enjoyment of heritage assets (DCLG, 2012). Part 12 Conserving and enhancing the historic environment clearly states that local authorities should recognise “the desirability of new development making a positive contribution to local character and distinctiveness” and should seek “opportunities to draw on the contribution made by the historic environment to the character of a place”.

Planning Practice GuidancePlanning Practice Guidance was reviewed, catalogued and published on the internet by the Government in 2014 and is regularly updated (DCLG, 2014). The section on design includes guidance on promoting landscape character (Paragraph: 007 Reference ID: 26-007-20140306). It states that “development should seek to promote character in townscape and landscape by responding to and reinforcing locally distinctive patterns of development” and that the “successful integration of new development with their surrounding context is an important design objective”.

Regional Planning PolicyFurther Alterations to the London Plan, 2015Further Alterations were made to the London Plan (FALP). The London Plan is the overall strategic plan for London, and it sets out a fully integrated economic, environmental, transport and social framework for development within the capital to 2036. Policy 7.4 of the FALP, which has a bearing on the assessment of planning applications by LBC, clearly states that “development should have regard to the form, function, and structure of an area, place or street and the scale, mass and orientation of surrounding buildings. It should improve an area’s visual or physical connection with natural features.”

Service Layer Credits: © Getmapping plc © 2017 GeoEye © 2017 Intermap Earthstar Geographics SIO © 2017 Microsoft CorporationFigure 1: Context

Study Area

9

Legend

Study area

100 0 100 200 300 400 500 Metres

±


Shaping Neighbourhoods: Character and Context Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG), 2014This SPG sets out an approach and process to help understand the character and context of a place (GLA, 2014). The results can inform the planning and design process and guide changes in ways which are responsive to place. The SPG states “buildings, streets and open spaces should provide a high quality design response that:

• has regard to the pattern and grain of the existing spaces and streets in orientation, scale, proportion and mass;

• contributes to a positive relationship between the urban structure and natural landscape features, including the underlying landform and topography of an area;

• is human in scale, ensuring buildings create a positive relationship with street level activity and people feel comfortable with their surroundings;

• allows existing buildings and structures that make a positive contribution to the character of a place to influence the future character of the area; and

• is informed by the surrounding historic environment.”

Local Planning PolicyLewisham Core Strategy, Adopted June 2001Lewisham Council adopted its Core Strategy in June 2011 (Lewisham Core Strategy, 2011). This document sets out the key policies and a vision for the borough and is a central part of its Local Development Framework.Core Strategy Policy 12 (CSP12) refers to open space and environmental assets and seeks:• to protect the character and historic interest of open spaces in the borough;

and• high quality design which is reflective of local character for new open space

and improvements to open space.Core Strategy Policy 15 (CSP15) refers to the promotion of high quality design in Lewisham. It seeks to protect or enhance the historic and natural environment and promote sustainable, accessible developments which are sensitive to local context and respond to local character. CSP15 also seeks to conserve and enhance the heritage assets in the borough and their settings.Core Strategy Policies 1, 4, 16 and 17 include further policy and guidance on high quality design, as well as the protection and enhancement of the area’s physical character, heritage assets and views in relation to new development.

Development Management Local Plan, 2014The Development Management Local Plan lists a number of policies of relevance to the Crofton and Honor Oak Park Neighbourhood Area which are specific to protecting and enhancing heritage and character. These relate to a number of different land uses including hotels, shops, residential buildings, public realm, and non-designated heritage assets.

Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2017.Figure 2: Street Plan

Study Area


HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT

© Steve Grindlay (Creative Commons Licence)

Honor Oak Park (believed to be pre WWI)

12

1886

1871

1898

1182


Historical DevelopmentThe Crofton Park and Honor Oak Park Neighbourhood Area was largely developed during the decades following the opening of the railway stations at Honor Oak Park in 1886 and Crofton Park in 1892. Previously the area was occupied by fields whilst Crofton Park was the original site of the agricultural hamlet of Brockley.

Historic maps of Crofton Park and Honor Oak Park for 1871, 1898, 1920, and 1955 are presented in Appendix A.

1871

The map of 1871 shows the neighbourhood plan area a few years before the opening of Honor Oak Park and Crofton Park stations. Brockley Hall and Brockley Farm were still in place of the original hamlet of Brockley while to the south some of the existing roads had been formed. These roads include Lowther Hill, Brockley Park Road and St Germain’s Road. Between Lowther Hill and Duncombe Hill sits the preserved open space of Brockley Hill Park that was laid out in 1853. To the south-west of Brockley Hill was the early working class area that was cleared in c.1970 for the Ewart Road Estate. The names of the roads have changed, however, the road pattern has remained the same. Today, Brockley Hall has been demolished and there is residential housing on the site bounded by Brockley Road, Brockley Hall Road and Sevenoaks Road.

1898

Honor Oak Park and Crofton Park Stations can be seen on the 1898 map. The opening of the Stations has affected the development in the area with the construction of new housing around Brythe Hill Fields and Honor Oak Park. The Guy’s Hospital Athletic Ground can be seen to the east of Brockley Rise. There is considerable development on the roads to the south of Hershell Road while the area to the east of Honor Oak Park Station seems undeveloped.

1920

The map of 1920 shows the area following World War I and before World War II. St Hilda’s Church can be seen on its present site as well as Stillness Infant School to the west of the Guy’s Hospital Athletic Ground. Brockley Hall still stands on its site while there is significant new development in the area leaving only some open areas around Honor Oak Park and Blythe Hill Fields that will be developed in the following years, retaining One Tree Hill and Blythe Hill Fields as open green spaces.

1955

During World War II, the area suffered a number of strikes. The map of 1955 shows that the area has retained its open spaces while there is considerable new development in the area that has almost taken its present form.

1908

The

first

refe

renc

e to

Bro

ckle

y wa

s m

ade

in 1

182,

refe

rring

to it

as

‘Bro

cele

’.

St S

avio

ur C

hurc

h op

ened

on

Broc

kley

Rise

.

A ra

ilway

sta

tion

open

ed a

t Hon

or O

ak P

ark

Stat

ion

in 1

886.

Broc

kley

railw

ay s

tatio

n op

ened

in 1

871

and

Broc

kley

Lane

st

atio

n in

187

2.

Crof

ton

Park

railw

ay s

tatio

n op

ened

in 1

892.

Bro

ckle

y ra

ilway

st

atio

n an

d Br

ockle

y La

ne w

ere

alre

ady

nam

ed a

fter B

rock

ley

so

a ne

w na

me

was

used

for C

rofto

n Pa

rk.

The

Broc

kley

Jack

was

rebu

ilt in

189

8. It

is

belie

ved

that

a p

ub h

as b

een

on th

e si

te s

ince

the

15th

cen

tury

. Pre

vious

nam

es o

f pub

s on

this

site

in

clud

ed ‘T

he C

rook

ed B

illet’

in th

e 17

00s

and

the

‘The

Cas

tle’ in

the

1800

s.

The

paris

h ch

urch

of S

t Hild

a wa

s co

mpl

eted

in 1

908

in a

va

riatio

n on

the

Arts

and

Cra

fts s

tyle

.

An E

dwar

dian

pub

lic lib

rary

was

bui

lt ne

xt to

the

railw

ay

stat

ion

in 1

905.

The

libra

ry w

as o

rigin

ally

know

n as

Br

ockle

y Br

anch

Lib

rary

whi

le to

day

is c

alle

d Cr

ofto

n Pa

rk L

ibra

ry.

Crof

ton

Park

Pic

ture

Pal

ace

open

ed in

191

3. T

he b

uild

ing

beca

me

the

Rivo

li Bal

lroom

in 1

959.

Br

ockle

y Ha

ll Roa

d is

bui

lt on

the

site

of t

he fo

rmer

hom

e of

the

Noak

es fa

mily

. Bro

ckle

y Ha

ll occ

upie

d th

e si

te fo

r a

cent

ury

and

a ha

lf bu

t was

dem

olis

hed

in 1

932

follo

wing

th

e de

ath

of it

s la

st o

wner

, Mau

de N

oake

s. Fo

llowi

ng th

e de

mol

ition

of t

he H

all, i

n ad

ditio

n to

Bro

ckle

y Ha

ll Roa

d,

Bear

sted

Rise

, Hor

smon

den

Road

, Sev

enoa

ks R

oad

and

the

1930

s ho

uses

in B

rock

ley

Grov

e we

re b

uilt

on th

e si

te.

1905

The

orig

inal

ham

let o

f Bro

ckle

y, be

fore

the

late

19t

h ce

ntur

y de

velo

pmen

t was

bui

lt ar

ound

Bro

ckle

y Fa

rm, B

rock

ley

Hall a

nd

Broc

kley

Jack

pub

lic h

ouse

.

c.17

49

1866

1892

1913

1932

In c

omm

on w

ith o

ther

par

ts o

f Lon

don,

Cro

fton

Park

was

da

mag

ed d

urin

g th

e Se

cond

Wor

ld W

ar, w

ith th

e ar

ea

north

of C

rofto

n Pa

rk S

tatio

n on

Bro

ckle

y Ro

ad s

uffer

ing

a nu

mbe

r of s

trike

s. Bu

ildin

gs in

the

area

that

wer

e pa

rtly

dam

aged

dur

ing

the

war i

nclu

de th

e Cr

ofto

n Pu

blic

Lib

rary

an

d St

Hild

a’s c

hurc

h wh

ich

suffe

red

only

min

or d

amag

e.

1944

-5

1836

Croy

don

Cana

l was

bui

lt in

180

9 an

d cl

osed

in

1836

whe

n m

uch

of th

e al

ignm

ent w

as u

sed

by

the

Lond

on a

nd C

royd

on R

ailw

ay C

ompa

ny to

bu

ild a

new

railw

ay th

at le

d to

the

deve

lopm

ent o

f th

e ne

ighb

ourh

ood

plan

and

sur

roun

ding

are

as.

1520

sTh

e en

d of

Bro

ckle

y cl

ose

to D

eptfo

rd w

as g

iven

to W

ickh

ams,

Drak

es a

nd T

yrwh

itt-D

rake

s of

Sh

aldo

es, B

ucks

.

12th

Cen

tury

In th

e 12

th c

entu

ry, H

enry

II ga

ve la

nd in

Bro

ckle

y to

Pre

mon

stra

tens

ian

cano

ns b

efor

e th

ey m

oved

to

Bay

ham

Abb

ey in

Sus

sex .

Lond

on C

ount

y Co

unci

l bou

ght t

he la

nd w

here

Bly

the

Hill F

ield

s is

lo

cate

d an

d op

ened

it a

s a

publ

ic p

ark

in 1

935.

1935


CHARACTER ASSESSMENT

14


Existing Character AssessmentsNational Character Area Profiles, Natural England 2013The study area falls within National Character Area (NCA) 112: Inner London, as defined by Natural England (Natural England, 2013). This NCA is broad but provides some context to the character of the area.

Lewisham Borough Wide Character Study, 2010The Lewisham Borough Wide Character Study was commissioned to form part of the evidence base of the Local Development Framework. The aim of this urban characterisation study was to describe the form, character and special attributes of Lewisham Borough. In the document, local neighbourhoods have been mapped by considering urban typologies, landmark features, barriers, edges etc., as well as heritage assets and key issues for each area. It therefore provides important context to this heritage and character assessment.

At a local level, the neighbourhood area falls within the Brockley, Crofton Park, Blythe Hill, Forest Hill and Honor Oak Park character areas.

Beecroft Road

15


Character Assessment

Key CharacteristicsNatural England defines key characteristics as “those combinations of elements which help to give an area its distinctive sense of place” that would result in significant consequences for the current character if they were changed or lost. As a result, they form important evidence to support the development of planning and management policies and a reference point against which to monitor change. The key characteristics of Crofton Park and Honor Oak Park are as follows:

• Well connected with Central London and nearby urban centres;

• Gently undulating land that includes the elevated ground of Blythe Hill in the south;

• Combination of trees, woodland and the surrounding landform create a green setting;

• Generally low-rise, two-storey Victorian terraced housing;

• Straight streets in somewhat of a grid pattern;

• Predominance of red brick as construction material, in well-detailed buildings that are representative of Victorian period architecture;

• Distinct, linear building lines of single typology terraces;

• Repeating architecture along terraces and consistent rooflines creates attractive views along streets;

• Buildings set back behind short front gardens, generally with low brick wall boundaries to the public realm;

• Wide streets with on-street parking and pavements along each side of the street;

• Large number of shopping parades along primary routes through the area;

• Mixed quality public realm around shopping parades;

• Street trees more prevalent across the north of the area;

• Greater development density, including more flats and three-or-more-storey buildings in the south of the area close to the A205;

• Intermittent views of local landmarks along the Norwood Ridge, including St Augustine’s Church in Honor Oak;

• Intermittent views towards Canary Wharf to the north from much of the area; and

• Panoramic views of iconic London skylines and landmarks from Blythe Hill Fields, including The Shard, the City of London and Canary Wharf.

As set out above, the character of the landscape is the result of the action and interaction of a range of natural and / or human factors. These are considered over the following pages in turn in relation to the neighbourhood plan area.

Crofton Park Road

16

100 0 100 200 300 400 500 Metres

60m

18m

32m

32m

50m

Rave

nsbo

urne

Rive

r


Natural Factors

Geology and soilsThe underlying geology of an area is often largely hidden from view but has a strong influence on its character, having been shaped by natural processes including erosion and sedimentation over millions of years. These processes help to define the landform, soils, vegetation, drainage and building materials which are common in an area.

The underlying geology in the Crofton Park and Honor Oak Park area is predominantly made up of the London Clay formation which was formed from sedimentary bedrock in the Palagene Period approximately 34-56 million years ago. The soils in the area are principally base-rich, slightly acidic loamy and clayey soils that are slowly permeable and seasonally wet.

Topography and hydrologyAs shown on Figure 3, the area covers gently undulating land which falls from west-to-east away from high ground along the Norwood Ridge (which is to the west of the neighbourhood plan area and forms part of the western boundary of Lewisham). Blythe Hill is prominent within this gently undulating landscape; located in the south of the neighbourhood area its highest point is approximately 60m above ordnance datum (AOD) and is the highest point within the neighbourhood area. The lowest point is between approximately 15m and 18m AOD in the north-east of the area as the land falls towards the Ravensbourne River. The Ravensbourne River is the principal hydrological feature near the area, flowing south to north towards the River Thames past the eastern edge of the area. There are no streams or other tributaries to the Ravensbourne River within the area. Beyond the northern boundary of the area there is a further hill at Hilly Fields Park, and beyond the southern boundary is a broad low-lying landscape between Blythe Hill and the North Downs Ridge. East of the area the land continues to fall towards the Ravensbourne River before rising again up to a small ridge at Hither Green approximately 1.8km to the east. The underlying topography around Blythe Hill has a strong influence on the character of Crofton Park and Honor Oak Park, with far-reaching panoramic views across London to the north, and Kent to the south.

Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2017.Figure 3: Topography and Hydrology

Elevation (mAOD)

Study Area

Waterbody

15-20m<15m 25-30m20-25m 35-40m30-35m 45-50m40-45m >50m

17

100 0 100 200 300 400 500 Metres

B238

B218

B218

A205 Stansted Road (South Circular Road)

Honor Oak Park Station

Crofton Park Station

Lowther Road

Gabriel St.

Broc

kley

Ris

e

Manwood Road

Manw

ood Road

Courtral Road

Griers

on R

oad

Brockley Grove

Catford Station

Catford Bridge Station


Cultural and Social Factors

Movement and connectivityThe primary routes through the Crofton Park and Honor Oak Park neighbourhood area are the B218 and the B238 Honor Oak Park, as shown on Figure 4. The A205 Stansted Road (South Circular Road) is a major route through south London and passes along the southern boundary of the area. A junction between the A205 and the B218 is one of the primary gateways into the area, the other primary gateways being the B238 at Honor Oak Park Station on the area’s western boundary, and the B218 around Crofton Park Station in the area’s north.

Honor Oak Park and Crofton Park Stations provide regular services towards Central London and the south coast. Catford Station and Catford Bridge Station are also nearby, approximately 500m east of the neighbourhood area. Honor Oak Park Station is on the area’s western boundary on a branch of the Brighton Main Line, and Crofton Park Station is on a branch of the Thameslink line in the north of the area. The two railway lines are largely either in cutting or behind tall screening fences to reduce their visual impact on the surrounding urban area. The railway lines are crossed in a number of places by road bridges/tunnels and pedestrian bridges/subways, which partly limits the effect the railways have as manmade barriers to movement between neighbouring areas. The area is connected by the bus network, with designated separate bus lanes in several locations along the B218 to maintain traffic flow at peak times.

The area supports pedestrian movement with pavement access along each side of almost all roads through the area, and numerous zebra crossings or pelican crossings along the primary traffic routes, with an increase in crossing opportunities at nodes of increased activity such as shopping parades and railway stations. Parking throughout the area is predominantly along residential streets. In places, cars straddle the pavement and this can form a barrier to movement of pedestrians and wheelchair users, but generally the roads and pavements are wide enough to allow cars to park down each side of the road without obstructing pedestrian movement. Whilst cycling access through the area is supported, with bicycle racks to temporarily store bicycles located in the public realm at railway stations and shopping parades, there are no clearly designated cycle lanes or routes through the area and therefore cyclists share roads with vehicles whilst moving around the area.

Primary RoadLocal Road

Railway Station

Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2017.Figure 4: Movement and Connectivity

Study Area

Railway LineA205 (South Circular Road)

18


Land useThe predominant land use within the area is residential, but there are also large educational land uses with associated sports and recreation facilities, areas of green space, and railway corridors. There is a commercial area in the south-west corner of the area comprising warehouses, offices and yards divided by security fencing. The commercial area is contained in terms of its boundaries and well-located adjacent to the A205 to reduce the wider impact of commercial and industrial traffic on urban residential areas, however the poor design quality and lack of maintenance of the area is detrimental to its character and appearance.

Shopping parades and convenience stores are predominantly located along the B218 and B238, as shown on Figure 5, with an increase in the number and variety of shops close to nodes of pedestrian activity such as the railway stations. Some smaller shopping parades are dispersed amongst the residential areas providing convenience to local residents that are further from the primary routes. There appears to have been pressure on the viability of shopping parades away from the primary routes, with the closure and conversion of shops to residential uses evident, particularly along Wastade Road. There are numerous schools and education facilities, the largest of which is Prendergast Ladywell School in the east of the area. The schools add diversity to the townscape as they are generally larger in scale than surrounding residential development, and enclosed behind boundary fences.

Building

100 0 100 200 300 400 500 Metres

B238

B218

B218


Lowther Road

Gabriel St.

Broc

kley

Ris

e

Manwood Road

Manw

ood Road

Courtral Road

Griers

on R

oad

Brockley Grove

Blythe Hill Fields

Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2017.Figure 5: Urban Structure and Green Space

Study Area

Shopping Parade

Public Open Space

Commercial estate in the south-west of the area

Shopping parade by Crofton Park Station

19


Urban structure and built formThe area chiefly developed in the Victorian period following the opening of the railway stations in the late 19th century, but also saw substantial inter-war development, subsequent post-war infill development and urban intensification, regeneration in the 1970s, and more recently, 21st century high-density block developments.

The area predominantly comprises two-storey low-rise terraced housing. Flats and three-or-more-storey buildings are more commonly found around areas of increased activity such as railway stations, shopping parades (where the ground floor is retail and upper floors are residential), the A205, and around Blythe Hill where the increased size of three-or-more-storey housing does not feel out of scale due to the sharply sloping topography, which increases a sense of openness in streets where the land falls away. The scale of development also increases close to the A205, with a greater proportion of flats and taller buildings. As a result, the south of the area, roughly between Lowther Road / Herschell Road and the A205, feels more densely developed than the rest of the area.

Streets have developed at different times but the general characteristics of buildings are consistent across most of the area, the exception being around Blythe Hill and close to the A205 where there is much greater variety in building design and layout. Buildings are generally well-detailed and have variations of the same detail along individual streets and along neighbouring streets, which contributes to a sense of cohesion in the townscape. With the exception of occasional infill development through the area, individual streets largely have consistent and straight building lines, roofs, and chimney placement which creates a distinctly uniform character. The front gardens of properties are also in uniform lines and have been largely preserved across the area, further enhancing the townscape. There has been very little roof conversion to create street-facing dormers, which has further maintained the uniform character of the terraces from the street. Where dormers have been created they are to the rear of properties, therefore protecting the design and consistency of street frontages.

The predominant building material is red brick, but other brick is also prevalent. The brickwork is often well detailed and utilises different types of bond to add character to a building. Stonework is also used in the majority of buildings in lintels, bay window columns, and around door recesses. Over time, a number of buildings have been altered to introduce pebbledash, paint or render over the brickwork which has a slightly disruptive effect on the characteristic uniformity of materials along terraces. Original features such as pointed bay roofs, timber sash windows, and doors have often been retained and all add to the quality and appearance of buildings.

Generally, more recent development including terraces and flats do not have the same quality of architectural detail as the Victorian and early 20th century housing in the area. The materials used for recent development therefore stand out in contrast to the street, not making use of materials and detail in the same way to add interest to building facades.

Straight building lines

Greater variety in building design around Blythe Hill Increased scale of buildings along the A205

Repeating architecture along terraces

Brick is the predominant building material, alterations to existing buildings can have a disruptive effect to the uniform character

Recent housing at Crofton Park Station

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Heritage assetsThe neighbourhood area contains four listed buildings, all of which are Grade II, as shown on Figure 4.

Listed Buildings

The Church of St Hilda (1) was built in 1905-08 to a design by FH Greenaway and JE Newberry in the Arts and Crafts style with some Gothic details. It is constructed of brown Crowborough brick with Chilmark stone dressings and has Welsh slate roofs. Of note is the east end and tower set on the corner of Brockley Road and Courtrai Road. The tower is square and has polygonal battered buttress turrets and an octagonal base. It is decorated with flush chequerwork brick and limestone panels and horizontal stone bands. The church has architectural value as it is a fine example of an Arts and Crafts Gothic Edwardian suburban parish church as well as associative value as it is “probably the most notable example” of a church by Greenaway and Newberry.

Toms Cottage (2) is a grade II listed pair of Italianate villas that dates from c. 1850 and occupies a corner site on Brockley Rise and Lowther Hill. The pair is stuccoed with rusticated ground floor and each is two storeys high with a three-storey wing to the east and west. The eastern part has a slate roof while the western part has a modern pantiled roof.

The Rivoli Ballroom (3) was originally built as the Crofton Park Picture Palace in 1913 and was renamed Rivoli Cinema in 1929. Initially, it was a simple structure comprising a barrel-vaulted auditorium, accessed through a foyer from the street. Its Art-Deco-style elevation to Brockley Road dates from 1931. This elevation consists of three bays with a recessed entrance in the middle accessed by a broad flight of steps. The central section is defined by pilasters topped with plasterwork urns and has a raised parapet and a heavily moulded cornice. There are two simple shopfronts on the bays’ bilateral the main section. There two signs affixed to the pilasters on the upper floor (reading ‘Dancing’ and ‘Tonight’) possibly dating from the 1950s while a horizontal sign above the first floor with the name of the building is from a later date. To the north of the main elevation there is a small door and a pair of gates. In terms of the interior, it is characterised by the eclectic deployment of neo-classical, Deco and oriental motifs in an exotic and luxuriant decorative scheme. It largely dates from the late 1950s, however the auditorium ceiling survives from the earlier cinema. It is listed for the special architectural interest of its unusual interior that dates from 1958, its special historic interest “as an eloquent and unusual witness to the era of American jive and swing bands, Lindy Hop, Jitterbug and Rock ‘n’ Roll, alongside the continued popularity of traditional strict tempo ballroom;” and because it is a rare surviving example of a once typical conversion of an early 20th century cinema to a ballroom.

The Church Hall of St Hilda’s (4) was built as a mission church to a design by JE Newberry, as the precursor to the Church of St Hilda in 1899-1900 and was extended after 1908 to provide Sunday schools. It is constructed of red brick with tile dressings and roofs. The building comprises a large single hall with a lower range to the south-east and a cross wing to the north (rear) elevation. There is a lower range to the east of the main hall that has a swept roof with deep eaves set lower than the main hall roofline. The main hall is two storeys high with a pitched roof. Its elevation facing onto Courtrai Road is symmetrical with a porched entrance flanked by two-light windows. The tile-hung gable has a five-light window with a moulded transom. There is a timber lantern with a pitched tile roof on the top of the main hall roof. The hall has associative value as it was designed by JE Newberry who also designed St Hilda’s Church. It has group value with the church to the east and architectural value as it is quite rare for buildings of that type.

100 0 100 200 300 400 500 Metres

B238

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Lowther Road

Gabriel St.

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Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2017.Figure 6: Heritage Assets

Grade II Listed Building - refer to Appendix B

Study Area

Locally Listed Building - refer to Appendix B

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Locally Listed Buildings

Local lists play an essential role in building and reinforcing a sense of local character and distinctiveness in the historic environment. Local lists can be used to identify significant local heritage assets to support the development of Local Plans. Lewisham Council adopted a Local List in February 2014. The following buildings within the neighbourhood plan area are included in Lewisham’s Local List. More information on these locally listed buildings can be found on the Lewisham Local List available to download on Lewisham Council’s website.

• Brockley Jack, 408 Brockley Road (A) – There has been a pub on this site for hundreds of years. The building that occupies the site today is an ornate Victorian public house built in 1898. It is constructed of yellow stock brick with rendered ground floor and a slate roof with decorative terracotta ridge tiles. The pub retains its original timber casement windows which have subdivided transom lights. This is a local landmark building and reflects the evolution of the borough.

• Crofton Park Library, Brockley Road (B) – Crofton Library was designed by the architect Alfred L Guy and opened in 1905. Historically, it was known as the Brockley Branch Library from the name of the area before the opening of Crofton Park station. It is of two storeys with Dutch gables at roof level and an octagonal tower with an ogee domed roof. It is constructed of red brick with stone dressings and a slate roof. The building has been altered several times particularly following damages during the Second World War and none of its original fixtures survive. It makes a positive contribution towards the streetscape and is a locally significant building.

• Lowther Hill 1 & 3 (C; also statutory listed as Toms Cottage).

There are some additional buildings within the neighbourhood plan area that can be considered of local interest and should be considered for inclusion in the Local List. Lewisham Council’s criteria for local listing require the building to have special local historic or architectural interest or be old or rare. Buildings of particular note are described below.

• Terraces on Honor Oak Park shopping parade – The terraces on Honor Oak Park form a group of interwar terraces that were constructed following the opening of Honor Oak Park Station. They are three-storey with gables and sloped roofs. The ground floors are occupied by retail units or food and drink establishments apart from a few which have been converted to residential. There are a variety of shopfronts, some of them modern and some of historic interest. The upper two floors have stock brick facades with red brick details. The terraces have both historic and architectural interest as they relate to the historic development of the area and are a prominent group of buildings that retain some of their architectural features such as the curved pediment at the north-west end of the parade. Although terraces are common within the area, this group of terraces is a very distinctive example that forms an integral part of the neighbourhood area and point of reference.

• St Saviour’s Church, Brockley Rise – St Saviour’s Church was constructed in 1866. The Bomb Site map indicates two bombs in close proximity to the church might have had an impact on it and it is possible that as a result the church was partially rebuilt in the second half of the 20th century. The church is built in Gothic revival style and both stone and yellow bricks can be seen on its exterior. The church was one of the earliest buildings in the area prior to the construction of the Honor Oak Park and Crofton Park Stations. Therefore the church has both historic and architectural interest.

• The Chandos – The Chandos public house is located on a prominent corner site within the neighbourhood area. It is three-storey with the two upper St Saviour’s ChurchTerraces on Honor Oak Park shopping parade

The Brockley Jack

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floors constructed of stock brick and the ground floor painted render. There are canted bay windows on the western elevation and decorative railings on the top of a ground floor projection. A building on the site appears on the 1871 map so it is possible for the public house to have been constructed around that time. The building, due to its scale and design, is considered as a key building within the neighbourhood plan area.

• Survey House, Brockley Rise – Just two roads to the south of Chandos public house, at the corner of Brockley Rise and Duncombe Hill lies a building called Survey House. The Arts and Crafts building is constructed of red brick and has a semi-hipped roof. The building has architectural interest and townscape value and further investigation might reveal historic interest as well.

• The General Napier, Bovill Road – The General Napier public house lies on the corner of Bovill Road and Herschell Road. It is a three-storey white painted/stuccoed building in an area dominated by groups of brick terraces. The ground floor has pilasters while the windows on the first floor have painted arches with keystones and there are string courses defining the end of each floor. The building has architectural interest and townscape value and is considered a key building within the neighbourhood plan area. The building is possibly also of some historic interest.

• Stillness Infant School, Brockley Rise – Stillness Infant School appears on the 1920s map. The school comprises a group of buildings, two of them facing onto Brockley Rise, five-bay wide with tower-like projections to the northern and southern corners. Between the towers and the main part of the buildings are doorways with stone surroundings, curved pediments and big keystones. The buildings are two-storey constructed of yellow and red brick. They are set behind railings and access is gained via four arched rusticated stone gates with pediments, keystones and triglyphs. The school has both architectural and historic interest.

• Zetland Villas, Brockley Rise – Zetland Villas are very distinctive three-storey semi-detached villas of stock brick that have been on the site at least since the late 19th century. The villas have both historic and architectural interest.

• Crofton Park Station – Crofton Park Station opened in 1892 and is constructed of red brick. It is one storey high with big arched windows and doors, hipped roof and brick chimneystacks. Crofton Park Station was one of the main reasons for the development of the area and has local historic interest and some architectural interest.

• Honor Oak Pub, Brockley Rise – Honor Oak public house occupies the corner of Brockley Rise and St German’s Road. It is a very imposing building with very ornate ground floor. There are four arched entrances on the ground floor with keystones, pilasters and decorative details. The upper floors are of stock brick with arched windows on the first floor. A public house appears on the site at least since 1894. The pub has historic and architectural interest.

• The Church of St William of York, Brockley Park – The Church of St William of York on Brockley Park appears on the 1920s map. Its main elevation has three bays with arched doorways and buttresses. There is a shell baroque-style pediment above the main entrance and coins on the projecting central bay. The church has historic and architectural interest.

• Villa to the west of the Church of St William of York – To the west of the Church of St William of York there is a villa that appears on the site at least since 1894. The villa is two-storey, constructed of stock brick with canted bay windows, arched doorway and windows with keystones and decorative

brackets. The villa has both architectural and historic interest.

• Balm of Gilead Church, Stanstead Road – Balm of Gilead Church is an imposing church in Gothic Revival style. It is constructed of red brick and stone details. It appears on the site at least since 1920 and is surrounded by modern development. It has historic and architectural interest and townscape value.

This list is not definitive but provides a record of some of the notable buildings within the area. Further information on local heritage listing is provided by Historic England at https:// historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/ and Lewisham Council.

Crofton Park StationVilla to the west of The Church of St William of York

The ChandosHonor Oak Pub

The General Napier

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Green space and public realmThe most prominent area of public open space within the area is Blythe Hill Fields, an open park on elevated ground in the east of the area. The park comprises open areas of amenity grass interspersed with tree planting, a playground, and allotments. A key feature of the park is far-reaching views across the neighbourhood area towards the north and south, with panoramic views of the City of London and Canary Wharf. Elsewhere in the area, public open space is limited to smaller incidental spaces within the public realm. Sports facilities at Honor Oak Park Sports Ground are owned by private landowners and are not generally open to the public. Similarly large areas of green space including Garthorne Road Nature Reserve in the railway corridors are not open to the public. Garthorne Road Nature Reserve extends along the railway cutting on the eastern side of the Brighton Main Line but the lack of public access restricts awareness, involvement, and adoption by the local community. Small scale incidental green spaces include Ewart Road Gardens in the south of the area which has an enclosed character and a strong connection and sense of ownership with the surrounding Ewart Road Estate rather than with the wider neighbourhood area.

The majority of houses have small generally uniform size rear gardens, and short front gardens facing onto the street. Blocks of flats do not have access to gardens, and are either set amongst parking or amenity grass. There is one area of shared private gardens in the neighbourhood area, located to the rear of houses between Dunscombe Hill and Lowther Hill. Boundary walls to front gardens facing the street are predominantly low brick walls, but these have occasionally been replaced with other treatments such as timber fencing which detracts from the unity and appearance of linear boundaries along streets, and is less suited to an urban area. In places, boundary walls have been removed entirely to allow parking, which substantially degrades the appearance of the street. Many of the front gardens in the area include trees and other planting, and where these are present and well maintained they strongly enhance the character and appearance of the street.

The public realm within the neighbourhood area comprises the public space along streets between property boundaries. The public realm generally comprises reasonably wide pavements along each side of the road, surfaced in either asphalt or with concrete flags. These materials are often found together, occasionally in an ad-hoc manner but more often as a means to demarcate the part of the pavement cars can straddle to park, and the part of the pavement for pedestrians. In places through the neighbourhood area, pavement repairs have been rushed or carried out with inappropriate materials and methods, which noticeably reduces the quality and appearance of the public realm. There is generally greater consistency in the use of concrete flags as a surface material at the shopping parades throughout the area, which creates a sense of cohesion to these areas. Where flags have been replaced ad-hoc with other materials it has a detrimental effect. Street trees are common through much of the area, but are more limited along the primary routes and in the south of the area, and are more prominent along the residential streets across the north of the area.

The shopping parades through the neighbourhood area are nodes of more intensive activity, and their location chiefly along the primary routes makes them more visible and consequently, strong contributors to sense of place. The appearance of shopping parades through the area is mixed, with the influence of inconsistent shop signage, street clutter and furniture, and security shutters reducing the quality of their appearance. Street furniture such as bicycle racks, bollards and guardrails are of poor design or notably different designs within the area, and in places are not well integrated with the shopping parades, resulting in a lack of cohesion.

Rushed pavement repairs using inappropriate methods reduces the quality of the public realmPublic realm at Honor Oak Park shopping parade

Concrete flags and asphalt used in an ad-hoc manner to demarcate parkingPoorly detailed and poorly maintained public realm

Blythe Hill Fields Street trees and front garden vegetation enhance the appearance of the street

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ViewsAs a result of the architecture and varied topography in the area, views are a particularly characteristic feature. Within the built up areas, the wide straight streets and consistent design and characteristics of the terraced buildings creates attractive views of repeating architectural form. Whilst the design of buildings is slightly different from street to street, the consistencies along individual streets mean this type of view is widely experienced within the area. Along streets where there is a change in level this effect is amplified as the architecture repeats and highlights the elevation change of the road.

From lower-lying ground north of Blythe Hill there is the sense of a wooded setting as a result of the wooded higher ground to the north and south at Hilly Fields Park and Blythe Hill Fields. This wooded setting is enhanced by views incorporating street trees and front garden vegetation which are widespread across the north of the area, but also present across the south.

Blythe Hill Fields provides the most notable viewpoint location within the area, commanding striking views from its elevated position across the lower-lying landscape to the north towards Canary Wharf, including the landmark One Canada Square, and north-west towards the City of London, with its landmark skyline including The Shard, ‘The Gherkin’, and ‘The Walkie Talkie’. Views south from Blythe Hill are far-reaching across the flat low-lying landscape to the south. Views west from the hill are more intermittent views along streets and between buildings towards the Norwood Ridge, along which landmarks include the Crystal Palace Transmitter, the Croydon Transmitter, a tower at the Horniman Museum, and St Augustine’s Church in Honor Oak. St Augustine’s Church also forms a focal point and landmark in views west from the north side of the shopping parade on the B238 Honor Oak Park Road.

View from Blythe Hill Fields across the roofscape of the broadly two-storey area Repeating architecture highlights elevation changes

Consistent building and roof lines are highlighted in views along streets

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Panoramic view from Blythe Hill Fields

St Augustine’s Church Crystal Palace Transmitter along the Norwood Ridge

The Shard

City of London

One Canada Square (Canary Wharf)

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MANAGING CHANGE

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Managing ChangeThe character of Crofton Park and Honor Oak Park described above is the result of a range of interactions between natural and human processes. This evolution is supported by the section on historical development, which describes how the structure and character of the area has changed over time. Together this provides a baseline against which change can be monitored and managed.

The evolution of the landscape will continue and therefore the management of change is essential to ensure that sustainable social, environmental and economic outcomes are achieved. This section therefore considers various factors which may influence change and inform the policies set out in the Crofton Park and Honor Oak Park Neighbourhood Plan.

Positive aspects of characterThere are a number of positive aspects of character which should be sustained, reinforced or enhanced. These relate to the quality of the surviving Victorian period housing, distinct local centres at shopping parades, and views of landmark buildings and skylines:

• The quality and general consistency in architectural form of surviving Victorian period housing;

• Repeating architectural details along individual streets, and subtle variations of the same detail in neighbouring streets creating a sense of unity and cohesion in the townscape;

• Attractive and original house facades;

• Good connectivity with surrounding areas and Central London;

• The number of shopping parades as local centres with local businesses, adding to a sense of place;

• Views along streets where building lines, roof lines, front gardens, street trees, and architectural detail enhance the appearance of the street;

• Views towards local landmarks and iconic London skylines and national landmarks.

Issues to be addressedThe following issues have been identified which could be addressed through new development or active management. These are principally related to the piecemeal change of building frontages and front boundaries, and the appearance of the public realm:

• Changes to the facades of individual buildings can have an adverse effect on the wider terrace or street, in particular the loss of characteristic architectural details and the introduction of incongruous finishes can disrupt townscape character and views;

• Piecemeal loss or alteration of front garden boundaries, using materials that are not characteristic of the property or the street;

• Lack of consistency in the design and materials of rear dormers, which are in places visible from the street;

• Poor quality repairs to the public realm;

• Low quality conversion of shops to residential use without good design to

integrate the frontage into the overall facade of the building;

• Design and appearance of security shutters along shopping parades, which detract from the appearance of the street when closed through the day;

• Loss of street trees that have not been replaced;

• Lack of consistency in design of street furniture such as bicycle racks, bollards, and guardrails which are often not well integrated into the public realm; and

• Lack of public access to green space alongside railway corridors which are being managed by the council and local wildlife trusts.

Sensitivity to changeThere are also some elements which are particularly sensitive to change. These relate to survival of original architectural features, views, and tree planting:

• The architectural detailing of building facades and the continuity of frontages, buildings, roof lines, and boundaries all contribute to the appearance of the street and provide a high degree of unity;

• Views along terraced streets of repeating architectural form;

• Views from within Blythe Hill Fields towards Central London across the low-rise residential areas to the north could be affected by insensitive or tall intervening developments; and

• Trees and planting within green spaces, streets and front gardens.

Character management principlesThe structure and general urban fabric remains true to the original layout of the area and many buildings have retained their valuable architectural details and original features. However, there has been an increased pace of change which has in places resulted in unsympathetic development or removal of historic features. The incremental changes, restorations and conversions of front garden boundaries and shops have had a cumulative impact on some of the key characteristics of the area. Without further protection through planning policy, further loss of the special qualities and characteristics of the area is likely to occur.

The rise in property prices and the demand for housing in London has increasingly resulted in the conversion of existing larger houses to flats, which is slowly increasing the population density in similar areas. The pressure of demand in London could in the future result in the demolition of buildings and the replacement with higher density development. Climate change is likely to result in more extreme weather patterns including more frequent floods, and as a result the conversion of front gardens to areas of hard standing for driveways could bring localised flooding. The species of plants currently within the study area may not be able to tolerate such extremes and over time may need to be replaced. Furthermore, over recent years a number of new plant pests and diseases have established in the UK which have the potential to wipe out certain species which could affect the green suburban characteristics of the area. Technological innovation is also likely to continue at a rapid pace. Innovation in personal transport in response to higher energy prices, for example, could change the way that roads are used or vehicles are stored.

In order to address the issues highlighted above, principles for managing change in this area should focus on sustaining, reinforcing or enhancing those aspects which protect the traditional historic character of the area and encourage positive change to shopping parades and the public realm, in addition to new developments that are in keeping with the distinct character of individual streets. The following principles should be considered when defining policies with respect to heritage and character:

• Proposals to alter existing buildings should demonstrate a detailed understanding of the history and design qualities of the buildings and provide a clear rationale for how this is taken account of in the design of the alterations proposed;

• Any new buildings should be of a strong contemporary architectural design and should respect the building and roof lines, heights, proportions and detailing of neighbouring buildings along the street where there is a clear precedent;

• The design and materials of rear dormer extensions should be in keeping with the character of the building, and should be in keeping with the design of other rear dormer extensions where present if located along a terrace;

• Proposals for new blocks of flats should be located close to railway stations to promote sustainable transport, or located to the south of Blythe Hill where there is existing development of a similar scale and nature, and good connectivity onto the A205 South Circular Road;

• High quality materials and a high standard of workmanship should be applied in the repair, or other works, to pavements and the public realm;

• Conserve and protect designated and non-designated heritage assets and their settings;

• Any new development should incorporate street trees or high quality planting and coordinated, quality street furniture that improves the quality of the public realm; areas of parking and amenity grass are less likely to be acceptable;

• A review of non-designated heritage assets in the area should be carried out and those worthy of protection should be listed within the neighbourhood plan;

• New or renovated shop fronts and associated public realm should be of a high quality design to improve the character and distinctiveness of shopping parades and enhance a sense of place; and

• The effect of new development on key views from Blythe Hill Fields towards Central London and landmarks along the Norwood Ridge should be considered.

The list of non-designated heritage assets, which have been identified within this report as positively contributing to the character of the neighbourhood plan area, should be considered in the production of any formally adopted list of non-designated heritage assets. Historic England has published ‘Local Heritage Listing’ (HE, 2016); this should be used as a guide. Any list of non-designated heritage assets should be created in conjunction with Lewisham Council.

In addition to policy protection, this assessment has identified projects or initiatives which could be financed through the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106 (S106) contributions, or if the project is not eligible

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for these mechanisms, through other means of funding or delivery. CIL is a tool for local authorities to levy contributions from developers to help deliver infrastructure projects which benefit the local community – for more information, see http://planningguidance.communities.gov.uk/blog/guidance/community-infrastructure-levy/.

Section 106 agreements are site-specific and put in place to make it possible to approve a planning application that might not otherwise be acceptable in planning terms – for example, the provision of new green space. It is recommended to seek advice from the Local Planning Authority on what types of project can be funded through CIL and S106.

Projects and initiatives identified as having potential to be brought forward by CIL, S106 or other means include:

• Replacing existing street furniture such as bicycle racks and bollards with new street furniture that is of a consistent design and appropriately integrated into the public realm;

• Improve the appearance of the public realm by supporting existing shop owners in making improvements to existing shop fronts to create more unified shopping parades;

• Explore opportunities to increase new cycling routes to promote sustainable modes of transport;

• Explore opportunities to open up green spaces along railway corridors as public parks to provide multi-functional benefits to the community; and

• Increase tree planting across the area, especially in currently empty existing tree pits.

Next steps and sources of further information and supportThis study is intended to provide evidence to support the development of policies with respect to heritage and character for the Crofton Park and Honor Oak Park Neighbourhood Plan. As such, it does not provide a comprehensive overview of the contribution of individual buildings, streets or spaces to the character of the area. It should be considered alongside other evidence gathered through the plan making process, such as detailed policy reviews, consultation responses and site options assessments and the evidence base of the Lewisham Core Strategy.

Other work which would strengthen the evidence base and provide a basis for monitoring and managing future change includes:

• Develop design codes to guide future development in the area;

• Prepare a plan to set out commitments to the introduction, management and future replacement of street trees, which considers improving the setting of less verdant streets and resilience to climate change and pests; and

• Carry out a detailed audit to identify further local heritage assets, such as Areas of Special Local Character, which may require protection through inclusion on a local list.

A wealth of further information and support is available to assist Charing Parish Council in applying the principles set out in this assessment. The Locality website is a useful starting point and is updated regularly. Current guidance which may be of interest includes:

• Community Rights and Heritage, July 2016: http://mycommunity.org.uk/resources/community-rights-and-heritage/

• Heritage in Neighbourhood Plans, July 2016: http://mycommunity.org.uk/news/heritage-in-neighbourhood-plans/

• Design in Neighbourhood Planning, February 2016: http://mycommunity.org.uk/resources/design-in-neighbourhood-planning/

Further technical support is also available to priority neighbourhood planning groups and forums through Locality, funded by DCLG. The other packages of support currently available are:

• Housing Advice and Assessment

• Site options and assessment

• Urban Design and Masterplanning, including Design Codes

• Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)

• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

• Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA)

• Viability of proposals

• Evidence Base and Policy Reviews

• Facilitation Support

• Technical Facilitation

• Healthcheck prior to examination

Further information is available in the Neighbourhood Planning Grant Guidance Notes produced by Locality: http://mycommunity.org.uk/resources/guidance-notes-neighbourhood-planning/

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References

Cranfield University. (2017). Soilscapes. Available: http://www.landis.org.uk/soilscapes/index.cfm#. Last accessed 08 May 2017.

Department of Communities and Local Government. (2012). National Planning Policy Framework. Available: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-planning-policy-framework--2. Last accessed 08 May 2017.

Hankinson Duckett Associates. (2015). Surrey Landscape Character Assessment. Available: https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/82265/Surrey-LCA-2015-RUNNYMEDE-Report.pdf. Last accessed 08 May 2017.

Historic England. (2016). Historic England Advice Note 7: Local Heritage Listing. Available: https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/local-heritage-listing-advice-note-7/. Last accessed 08 May 2017.

Natural England. (2014). An Approach to Landscape Character Assessment. Available: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/396192/landscape-character-assessment.pdf. Last accessed 08 May 2017.

Natural England. (2013). National Character Areas. Available: http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/category/587130. Last accessed 08 May 2017.

Office of National Statistics. (2011). Census 2011. Available: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide method/census/2011/index.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter. Last accessed 08 May 2017.

‘Parishes: Thorpe’, in A History of the County of Surrey: Volume 3, ed. H E Malden (London, 1911), pp. 437-440. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/surrey/vol3/pp437-440. Last accessed 08 May 2017.

Runnymede Borough Council. (2001). Runnymede Borough Local Plan Second Alteration 2001. Available: https://www.runnymede.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=4991&p=0. Last accessed 08 May 2017.

Runnymede Borough Council. (2007). Local Plan Saved Policies 2007. Available: https://www.runnymede.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=4993&p=0. Last accessed 08 May 2017.

Williams, J. N.D. The Thorpe Picture Book. Egham-by-Runnymede Historical Society: Surrey.


APPENDIX A: HISTORICAL MAPS


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County Series

1898

1:10,560

1:10,560

19 May 2017


34

N

EW

S

1914-A3PDF-10000,

39015

CMAPS-CM-624308-39015-160517

536417, 174116

County Series

1920

1:10,560

1:10,560

17 May 2017


35

N

EW

S

1955-A3PDF-10000,

39015

CMAPS-CM-624311-39015-160517

536417, 174116

Provisional

1955

1:10,560

1:10,560

17 May 2017


37

APPENDIX B: SCHEDULE OF HERITAGE ASSETS

Nationally Listed BuildingsID LIST ENTRY NAME GRADE X Y LIST DATE1 1079935 CHURCH OF ST HILDA, CROFTON PARK II 536311 174436 12/03/1973

2 1080776 TOMS COTTAGE II 536152 179682 19/04/1990

3 1392344 RIVOLI BALLROOM II 536454 174756 21/12/2007

4 1393621 CHURCH HALL OF ST HILDA’S, CROFTON PARK II 536275 174438 17/12/2009

Locally Listed BuildingsID NAMEA THE BROCKLEY JACKB CROFTON PARK LIBRARYC 1 & 3 LOWTHER HILL (same building as the Grade II listed Toms Cottage)


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