MVB
Application on behalf of
Ifield Barn Theatre Society
to
Crawley Borough Council
Heritage Statement for
works to form
a wheelchair accessible toilet and
an additional storage facility
at
Ifield Barn Theatre
Ifield Street
Ifield Village
Prepared by
MVB Design Associates Limited
May 2016
1.
Introduction
This statement has been prepared by MVB Design Associates Limited, architects, in
support of an application for Planning Permission for works to form a wheelchair
accessible toilet and an additional storage facility at Ifield Barn Theatre, in the Ifield
Village Conservation Area.
The application is in detailed form and fully illustrates the proposals including the
relationship with the site; surrounding fields; existing trees and adjacent dwellings.
2.
The Existing Site
The Barn in its setting
Fig.1
The theatre is situated on the outskirts of Crawley and overlooks a pond and unspoilt
fields. It lies immediately, to the north of the XIIIth century church of St Margaret, in
the manor of Ifield which was originally recorded in the Domesday Book.
The Barn Theatre, a locally listed building, together with the church, a village pub and
some picturesque cottages now forms the village conservation area.
The Barn
Existing Entrance
Fig.2
The Barn
Proposed Entrance
Fig.3
The Barn
Existing Rear Door
Fig.4
The Barn
rear view from car park
Fig.5
The Barn rear view from
the fields to the north
Fig.6
3.
Heritage Statement
3.01
Assessment of Heritage Significance
Ifield Barn was built as a 4 bay barn in the 14th Century, with hay loft and cow sheds.
A two storey granary of brick and weatherboard was attached in the 18th century.
In the late 1960’s, the largely derelict barn was renovated and converted to its present
use as a theatre and art centre by the local theatrical group, the Ifield Association
Drama Society.
The Ifield Barn Theatre Society was founded in 1968 at The Barn.
Throughout its life The Barn has been maintained by voluntary donations and is managed
entirely by the unpaid efforts of its members.
The theatre buildings were created from a group of agricultural buildings and consist of
a 700 year old tithe bar which now forms the auditorium, with toilets off it’s rake;
dressing rooms in its outbuildings; a former Granary which serves as a kitchen and
stables which have been converted to an upper level exhibition room and workshops.
All three buildings have been linked by a modern addition integrated to form the foyer
and theatre bar.
In the 1970’s, the dressing rooms were extended north to form a working costume store.
As a result of the work of the society’s members, The Barn has been preserved and
makes a vibrant contribution to the village, the wider community and the conservation
area.
The Barn has had a major input into the historic development of the village and
currently to the social and artistic life of the community.
3.02
Building of Local, Visual or Historic Interest
As a result of the ongoing efforts of the members of the Ifield Barn Theatre Society, the
building continues to be of local, visual and historic interest.
The activities of the society maintain the fabric of the building as a centre for the use
of artistic groups from around the town and also attracts the public to visit and enjoy
the Conservation Area.
The Barn is the active hub of the annual village fair, the success of which attracts
thousands of members of the wider community to visit and enjoy the conservation area.
3.03
Assessment of Impact
It has become increasingly clear that the above activities require additional storage
facilities for equipment, coats etc.
The Society proposes, therefore, to create a small, additional storage facility to the
rear of the building, which would be largely screened from the adjoining fields by the
existing mature trees along the north boundary. See fig. 6.
Furthermore, the increasing involvement of the general public highlights the need for
greater inclusivity but the physical levels constraints of the existing building mean that
a wheelchair accessible toilet facility can not be provided within the existing fabric.
The Society therefore proposes to create a small addition, adjacent to the existing
toilets, so that wheelchair users can access the toilets from the auditorium gallery or
from the foyer.
This would be weatherboard clad, on a brick plinth, to match the existing materials and
would only involve the removal of part of the ’modern’ entrance lobby. See fig. 3.
3.04
Crawley Borough Council Conservation Area Statement
The aim of the Conservation Area is to preserve and enhance the historic character and
appearance of the village and surrounding countryside. This does not imply that all new
development and change is to be prohibited but that proposals for change should be
consistent with the intrinsic features of the Conservation Area.
The character and appearance of the Ifield Village Conservation Area are created by:
rural fields and setting
scattered village settlement pattern
low density, residential development
recreational land-use
road layout
The general objectives for policy and proposals for the Conservation Area are therefore:
1. To protect the village character and setting and prevent the Conservation
Area becoming a rural island in an urban area,
2. To retain the historic scale, character and appearance of the village
settlement,
3. To protect the surrounding fields and open space within and adjacent to the
Conservation Area from development which would be out of scale. Character
and appearance with the local rural environment,
4. To retain buildings and other features which contribute to the village
character of the Conservation Area,
5. To promote environmental enhancements within the Conservation Area
consistent with its village character.
3.05
Preserving the Conservation Area
The use of The Barn serves to integrate the Conservation Area with the surrounding
urban settlement. The proposed alterations would further enhance the use.
The proposals are designed to retain the historic scale, character and appearance of the
village settlement
The proposals are largely screened from the surrounding fields and the front extension
would use traditional, matching materials and details to remain in scale with the area.
The contribution of the buildings to the village character would be enhanced by the
proposals
The proposals would increase the contribution of The Barn to the village character.