Agenda Item No:
Wolverhampton City Council
OPEN DECISION ITEM
Committee / Panel
PLANNING
Originating Service Group(s)
REGENERATION AND TRANSPORTATION
Contact Officer(s)/
IAN HOLLIDAY
5632
Telephone Number(s)
Title/Subject Matter
10
Date
23 JULY 2002
ST PETER’S GARDENS, WOLVERHAMPTON
CONSTRUCTION OF RETAINING WALLS ETC.
PLANNING APPLICATIONS 02/0591/DW AND 02/0592/LB.
Recommendations
1.
In respect of 02/0591/DW (the “deemed consent” application), delegated authority to
grant, following the expiry of the period of consultation.
2.
In respect of 02/0592/LB (the listed building application) delegated authority to refer to
the Secretary of State, with a recommendation that listed building consent is granted,
following the expiry of the period of consultation.
7ih-St Peter’s Gardens.jcw
PLANNING COMMITTEE (23 JULY 2002)
REPORT OF THE CHIEF PLANNING OFFICER
AGENDA ITEM NO
Erection of replica railings on existing listed wall, construction of new retaining wall and steps and creation of semicircular paved area with circular flower bed
Construction of new retaining walls and steps abutting listed buildings. Reinstatement of period details including
railings, and installation of site interpretation scheme.
St Peter’s Gardens, Wolverhampton
APPLICATIONS NO. 02/0591/DW & 02.0592/LB
WARD: St Peter’s
DATE REC'D:
05-JUN-2002
TARGET DATE: 30-JUL-2002
APP TYPE:
Deemed Planning Permission & Listed Building Consent
APPLICANT
Regeneration & Transportation
AGENT
S Boyes
Co-ordinating Director
Regeneration & Transportation (FAO S Whitehouse)
1
Purpose of Report
1.1
To advise on the applications and make recommendations.
2.0
Background
2.1
St Peter’s Gardens are within the Wolverhampton Town Centre Conservation Area.
There are a number of listed buildings in the area:
St Peter’s Church – Grade I.
Walls, gatepiers, railings and gates to St Peter’s Church.
Terrace walls and steps, St Peter’s Gardens – Grade II.
War Memorial, St Peter’s Gardens (Exchange Street) – Grade II.
War Memorial, St Peter’s Gardens (Lichfield Street) – Grade II.
Harris Memorial, St Peter’s Gardens – Grade II.
Fountain, St Peter’s Gardens – Grade II.
St Peter’s House, 4 & 5 Exchange Street – Grade II.
Barclays Bank, 1-3 Lichfield Street – Grade II.
Wolverhampton Art Gallery – Grade II*.
2.2
The works which are the subject of these applications are part of a repairs and
enhancement scheme being funded through the Heritage Lottery Fund. The majority of
the works will involve necessary structural repairs to listed walls and stone and relaying
of paving in the gardens to the west of St Peter’s Church that form the setting for the
main City War Memorial. Such works will not require listed building consent or planning
permission.
2.3
Some of the proposed works will entail new construction that will physically abut listed
structures and the reinstatement of details and features that were removed or altered
prior to the structures being statutorily listed. All restoration proposals are based on
photographic and site evidence of original details. New work aims to restore period
character and enhance the setting of listed structures by the use of sympathetic
matching materials and detailing. No historic fabric will be demolished to enable these
7ih-St Peter’s Gardens.jcw
works. These works will require listed building consent and some will require planning
permission.
2.4
The proposals also include an interpretation scheme, to be installed throughout the
gardens, including the areas to the north and south of St Peter’s Church that were
enhanced in 1999. The scheme has been designed using high quality materials. Some
interpretation panels are to be attached to listed structures to reduce visual clutter in the
gardens. These will require listed building consent. Panels of the same specification
have been fixed to listed and scheduled structures elsewhere in the UK. Free standing
interpretation panels will not require listed building consent or planning permission.
2.5
The scheme as a whole has been approved by the Lifelong Learning Cabinet Team.
3
Details of Application
3.1
Works requiring listed building consent are outlined below:
(a) Construction of a new flight of steps and retaining walls that will physically abut
Grade 2 listed structures to the west of St Peter’s Church. The construction of these
steps will enable the opening and use of a set of listed decorative gates that have
been redundant since the building of the Civic Centre.
(b) Installation of a replica lamp standard, to be cast from an original, on a pier to the
corner of Wulfruna Street and Lich Gates. This will replace an original formerly in this
position.
(c) Installation of replacement globe lanterns, to a design based on photographic
evidence of the originals, to existing lamp standards throughout the gardens.
(d) The erection of replica period railings to a section of Grade 2 listed wall forming the
boundary to gardens surrounding the War Memorial, off Exchange Street. Railings to
be based on photographic evidence of the originals.
(e) Reinstatement of two heavy duty, locking, oak panelled doors, to the former Mess
Room beneath the steps to the west of St Peter’s Church. It is believed that a
damaged original door remains inside the Mess room to be used as a model for the
new doors.
(f) Closing of two window openings with a sandstone slab (to match adjacent
stonework) fitted into the recess. Reinstatement of a window grille would not be
practical owing to the vulnerability of the site to litter and vandalism.
(g) Letter cutting to the risers of steps located to the west of St Peter’s Church as part of
an interpretation scheme for the gardens.
(h) Installation of zinc cast interpretation panels to six Grade 2 listed piers off Wulfruna
Street and St Peter’s Square.
3.2
Planning permission is required for:
(a) The erection of replica period railings to a section of Grade II listed wall defining the
boundary of the War Memorial Gardens and Exchange Street/Cheapside. Design of
the railings is to be based on photographic evidence of the originals.
(b) The construction of the new flight of steps.
(c) The removal of the modern brick retaining wall on the boundary between St Peter’s
Gardens and the curtilage of the Civic Centre and its replacement with a new stone
wall on a slightly different alignment.
(d) The excavation into a grass bank (including the removal of one tree) in the north
western corner of the gardens (adjacent to Wulfruna Street) to create a semi-circular
paved area with central circular flower bed. The realigned stone retaining wall
mentioned above would continue around the semi-circular area.
7ih-St Peter’s Gardens.jcw
3.3
The aim of proposals (b) and (c) above is, as far as possible, to remediate the damage
caused to the garden by the construction of the Civic Centre in the 1970’s and thereby
enhance the pedestrian route between the Civic Centre plaza and Wulfruna Street/
St Peter’s Square and create a pleasant, usable open space. The circular flower bed and
surrounding path echo the 1907 garden arrangement which was removed in the 1970’s.
Seating would be provided in this area.
4
Policy Context
4.1
ENV2
ENV16
ENV17
ENV18
4.2
Government advice in PPG15 – “Planning and the Historic Environment” is relevant.
5
Publicity
5.1
The applications have been advertised by press and site notices. The period for
response expires on 10 August 2002.
5.2
At the time of writing no responses had been received.
6
Consultations
6.1
The comments of English Heritage and the Civic Society are awaited.
7
Appraisal
7.1
The key issues are considered to be the effect of the proposals on listed buildings, the
setting of listed buildings and the character and appearance of the Conservation Area.
7.2
The proposed development would enhance the setting of listed buildings, and the
character and appearance of the Conservation Area by correcting harm to the gardens,
mostly done in association with the construction of the Civic Centre, by recreating or
echoing original features of the garden using appropriate materials.
7.3
Where listed buildings are directly affected, such as by fixing interpretation panels to wall
piers, this will be done to a high standard. The introduction of interpretation material into
the gardens is considered important, to help local people and visitors to better
understand the history of the City.
8
Financial Implications
8.1
This is a Council scheme.
9
Environmental Implications
9.1
The proposed scheme would enhance St Peter’s Gardens and the immediate environs.
- Design Standards
- Alterations
- Setting of Listed Buildings
- Preserving and Enhancing Conservation Areas.
7ih-St Peter’s Gardens.jcw
10
Equal Opportunities
10.1
There are no equal opportunities implications.
Costas Georghiou, Chief Planning Officer
Chris May, Head of Development Control
Case Officer Ian Holliday
Tel. No.
5632
Files
02/0591/DW & 02/0592/LB
7ih-St Peter’s Gardens.jcw