John Henry Keene Memorial Homes.pmd

Borough Heritage
Conservation area
character appraisal
John Henry Keene
Memorial Homes,
Broomfield Rd, Chelmsford
Status:
Approved Guidance
Design and conservation
01245 606294
michael.hurst@chelmsford.gov.uk
M
helmsford
BOROUGH
COUNCIL
June 2008
Contents
Page
1.0
1.1
1.2
Introduction
Purpose of this appraisal
Conservation Areas
1
1
1
2.0
2.1
2.2
Planning Policy
Existing Planning Policy
Emerging Planning Policy
1
1
1
3.0
Location
2
4.0
History
2
5.0
Archaeology
4
6.0
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
Character Description
Townscape
Description
Materials and Detailing
Negative Features
5
5
6
7
8
7.0
Enhancement
8
8.0
Conclusion
9
9.0
References
Appendix A
Appendix B
9
10
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1.0 Introduction
1.1
Purpose of this appraisal
This character appraisal examines and defines the character of the John Keene Memorial Homes estate
and describes its history and appearance. The document justifies the designation of a conservation area
and raises awareness of its historic significance. It will inform Chelmsford borough councillors and
planners when determining planning applications and Essex County Council as highway authority when
proposing works adjacent to the site. It will influence future care and enhancement of the estate and
inform decisions on development in the surrounding area.
The proposed conservation area boundary includes the 1933 bungalows and gatehouse and the central
quadrangle.
1.2
Conservation Areas
Conservation areas are ‘areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or
appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance’. Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation
Areas) Act 1990 (the Act).
Designation of a conservation area places firmer planning controls over certain types of
development, including extensions, small scale outbuildings, boundary treatments, the demolition of
unlisted buildings and works to trees. It does not prevent any change to an area and it may be subject to
many pressures, some requiring planning permission, some not, that will affect its character and
appearance.
Chelmsford Council as local planning authority (LPA) has a duty to designate areas of special
character as conservation areas. Once designated the LPA has various duties imposed by the Act,
including considering whether development proposals and street scene works will preserve or enhance
the character of the area or its setting and to formulate proposals for enhancement.
2.0 Planning Policy
2.1
Statutory Planning Policy
Chelmsford Borough Council’s Core Strategy and Development Control Policies Development Plan
Documents (key parts of the Local Development Framework) were adopted in February 2008. Policy
DC17 seeks to protect the character and appearance of conservation areas. The site is beyond the
Town Centre Area Action Plan, but directly abuts the boundary (DC39 seeks to retain community
facilities, including social housing, unless adequate justification can show that the facility is no longer
required or viable, amongst other criteria.)
1
3.0 Location
The site is located approximately half a mile to the north of Chelmsford town centre fronting onto
Broomfield Road and roughly enclosed by the Chelmer Valley Road to the east, Elms Drive to the south
and Chelmsford County High School to the north. Figure 1 shows the site’s location.
Figure 1
Location Plan
To
Broomfield
Main Road
Cor
por
atio
nR
oad
To
Springfield
Swiss Aven
ue
Westfield Avenue
Rivermead
Campus
The
Site
Rectory Lane
ur
bo
La
Marconi
Ar
Rainsford Ro
ad
New Street
Grammar
School
ne
d
et
ee
Str
t
Central
Park
ew
N
4.0
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do
d
St
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n
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am
County
Cricket
Ground
M
River Can
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Hig
Victoria Rd
South
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Str
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fi e
ld
Du
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an
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L
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Par
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Victoria Road
Railway
Station
Pa
rkw
a
Chelmer
Waterside
y
Ri
ve
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he
lm
er
History
Almshouses have existed for over 1,000 years, set up as charitable trusts to provide housing for the
elderly enabling them to maintain their independence and live in their local community. Many examples
survive throughout the country and are generally of at least local importance due to their social history
and architectural significance.
Some almshouses are protected as listed buildings, for instance 119-124 (consecutive) Moulsham Street
(founded 1545, rebuilt 1758). Others are protected by existing conservation area designations, for
instance 1-6 (consecutive) Loves Walk, Writtle (1878). The majority of the borough’s conservation areas
are historic settlements which have evolved over time. However St Johns Hospital is largely of one
phase and was designated a conservation area in 2003. A comparable conservation area is in Hadleigh
(Castle Point District), where the Salvation Army constructed 25 bungalows of uniform design and
materials for its ex-officers (1922-1926). See appendix A for conservation area precedents in Essex.
The site was located to the north of The Elms a substantial house on the site of Elms Drive and the
adjacent public car park, which was demolished in the early twentieth century. It appears to have been
agricultural land until the construction of the bungalows in the early 1930s.
2
John Henry Keene was Chairman of Pearl Assurance. Following his death, Lavinia Keene established the
homes in memory of her late husband. The homes were officially opening on 13th October 1933. 26
single bedroom bungalows were constructed, with a gatehouse, warden accommodation and shared
gardens. In 1955 14 flats were constructed to the south in a similar style. The bungalows were designed
by local architect A.E. Wiseman, who was also on the first board of trustees. The homes are still managed
by the board of trustees who serve on a voluntary basis.
Figure 2
1897 OS Map
3
Figure 3
1940 OS map
5.0
Archaeology
Only limited archaeological investigation has been carried out in the vicinity of the site. There are
potential medieval and post-medieval finds relating to ribbon development along Broomfield Road and
the possibility of finds related to the Roman Road. Appendix B shows entries from the Essex Heritage
Environment Record (HER).
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6.0
Character Description
6.1
Townscape
The quality of the site is derived from the built forms, open spaces, landscape design, trees, setting and views.
Figure 4 shows a townscape analysis for the site and its immediate surroundings.
Figure 4
Notation
Notation
Proposed
Conservation Area
Conservation area boundary
Site
with
development
potential
Site with development potential
Tree
preservation
orders
Tree preservation orders
Other
trees
Other important
important trees
Important
Important views
Listed
Listed buildings
buildings
Corner building
building
Corner
Landmarks
Landmarks
Brick walls
walls
Brick
Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Chelmsford BC Licence number 100023562 2007.
5
6.2
Description
The character of the building group is derived from the strong
uniformity in terms of planning, design and materials.
On the approach to the site the gatehouse forms the main
feature with a central arch (Figure 5) giving views into the
formal gardens, and the bungalows to each side giving a
balanced composition. A low red brick wall bounds
Broomfield Road which curves in towards the gatehouse with
heavy brick piers and original iron gates inscribed ‘John Henry
Keene Memorial Homes.’
Figure 5
The two storey flats to the south are also planned around a shared courtyard garden, with five detached blocks
(Figure 6), the three to the rear linked by brick walls and the two to the front by a curved loggia. There is a
mixture of hipped and gabled roofs, with deep red brick chimney stacks projecting to the front of the ridge.
These buildings relate well to the adjacent group, due to their layout, form and materials, but lack the historic
and architectural interest of the bungalows. Although important to the setting of the bungalows they are
beyond the conservation area bondary.
Figure 6
Buildings which contribute
to the character of the area
Buildings which detract from
the character of the area
Buildings which make a neutral
contribution to character
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The bungalows grouped around the quadrangle are semidetached and of a uniform type. The roofs are hipped with
a narrow span gabled projection to the front at each side.
Chimney stacks project through the ridge at the centre of
each pair and at each end (Figure 7).
The courtyard is planned around a central axis relating to
the central pair of bungalows on each side and the
gatehouse to the west. Paths are flanked by low level
planting with eight Japanese maple trees forming the
centrepiece in the middle of the courtyard (Figure 8).
The areas surrounding the buildings and within the flats’
courtyard are mainly laid to lawn with planting and hedges.
The small trees to the edge of Broomfield Road frame
the main entrance to the site, provide some visual
enclosure and continue the tree planting which extends
along the road frontage (Figure 9).
The prominent frontage to the site and the strong
symmetry of the grouping offers views into and across the
site. The modest scale of the surrounding buildings means
that from within the main quadrangle the roofline is
uninterrupted, other than by mature trees which form an
attractive natural backdrop, the most impressive of which
are the cedar trees to the rear of the site (Figure 10).
Figure 7
Figure 8
6.3 Materials and detailing
Both phases use a similar red brick, which gives the site a
strong uniformity. The bungalows are more elaborately
detailed than the flats, with special thin ‘roman’ bricks used
to the quoins and as window surrounds (Figure 11).
The brickwork is generally laid in stretcher bond, but with
a mixture of Flemish bond, English Bond and Header bond
to the boundary walls.
Figure 9
The roofs are all covered in similar red plain tiles, with half
round ridge tiles, bonnet tiles to hips and verges with a plain
tile under cloak (Figure 12).
The windows are original with white painted metal frames
set within a black painted timber sub frame with leaded
glazing. The flats have large pane galvanised metal windows
(also see Figure 12).
Figure 10
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Figure 12
Figure 11
6.4
Negative features
There is little which detracts from the appearance of the site. Road noise from Broomfield Road and
Chelmer Valley Road detract from the tranquillity in the central courtyard at peak times, but this is
unavoidable given the site’s urban location.
The recent community hall is a large flat roofed demountable building. Although it is positioned to
minimise its visual impact and has an important function, its position, design and appearance is at odds
with the strong uniformity of the site and detracts from its character.
Modest shed structures are positioned around the grounds serving the residents, however at present
they do not detract from the appearance of the site.
Replacement white plastic rainwater goods are relatively discrete, however the quality and finish of such
a product is not commensurate with traditional textured materials used elsewhere.
7.0 Enhancement
The buildings and grounds are exceptionally well kept at present and there are limited opportunities for
enhancement. The large road signs to the Broomfield Road frontage detract from the sites setting and
there is scope for improvement and careful selection and positioning of any future signs. If the
opportunity arises in the future, replacement of the community hall and rainwater goods would enhance
the appearance of the site.
The flats to the corner of Broomfield Road / Elms Drive make little contribution to the area. There is an
opportunity to redevelop this part of the site, although the site is constrained by the proximity to
adjacent buildings and the established pattern of development in the street.
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8.0 Conclusion
The John Henry Keene Memorial homes are of considerable historic and architectural interest,
contributing to the local environment and the quality of residents lives. The special character of the area
is derived from its uniform planning, design and materials, which give a cohesive and homogenous
appearance.
The buildings and grounds are well kept and almost completely unaltered externally. Designation of a
conservation area would recognise the historic significance of the site and allow this to be a
consideration in any future proposals which affect the site or its setting.
9. 0 References
www.keenehomes.org.uk /html/history.html
Essex Record Office document D/DU 787/8
OS 4th edition map, 1939
Chelmsford Borough Local Plan, 1997
Chelmsford Borough Core Strategy and Development Control Policies, 2006
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Appendix B Conservation Area precedents in Essex
Florence Gardens, Hadleigh
Florence Gardens, Hadleigh is located in Castle Point
Borough and was designated a conservation area in 1997.
25 bungalows were constructed by the Salvation Army in
the mid-1920s to house its ex officers. The layout is along a
single stretch of road with semi-detached bungalows to
each side with small gardens and soft landscaping. The
bungalows are simple in form, with a uniform design,
detailing and materials.
Silver End, Braintree
Silver End was founded by Francis Crittall and was built
between 1926 and 1932 to house workers from the Crittall
factories. The layout of the roads, houses and open spaces
followed many of the principles of the garden city
movement, previously established at Letchworth and
Welwyn. Different architects were appointed to achieve
different style houses, of which there are 153 early flat
roofed modern movement buildings. The village was
designated a conservation area in 1983.
Bata, Tilbury
Bata village was founded by Thomas Bata as a planned
village for workers at the British Bata Shoe Company. The
housing was constructed in phases from 1933 to the mid
1960s. Similar to Silver End the village followed the
principles of the garden city movement and used modern
movement housing, designed by the parent company
architects in Zlin, Moravia (now the Czech Republic). The
village was designated a conservation area in 1993.
Appendix B – Heritage Environment Record Sites
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