Heritage Unlimited were approached regarding a proposed development of two residential apartments to the rear of a Victorian end-of-terrace property on Old York Road, Wandsworth. Prior to the engagement of our services a pre-app had been pursued which yielded mixed feedback, including concerns regarding visual impact to the newly designated Old York Road Conservation Area.
The chosen approach was to provide design guidance and a source of mitigation, creating a proposal which would not only overcome the concerns raised but enhance the character and appearance of the conservation area. Heritage Unlimited worked closely with the planner and architect and created sketches of a revised design, which included a reinstated historic shopfront to replace an incongruous late 20th century frontage.
The mock-ups illustrated that the rear development was of a harmonious scale and design, preserving views, spatial characteristics, and the established character and appearance of the conservation area, as required by Section 72 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, whilst the reinstated shopfront was a considerable enhancement that provided ample mitigation and public benefit as required by the National Planning Policy Framework.
The application was supported by a Heritage Statement which used the above justification in combination with comprehensive research into the historic environment to form a strong argument in favour of the development. This included the morphology of Old York Road and analysis of the effects of Second World War bombing raids which forcibly reshaped the pattern and character development in the area.
Following the submission of the planning application in late 2022, the initial concerns and objections of the conservation officer had been overcome, and it was determined by the officer that the scheme constituted a significant enhancement. Heritage Unlimited were delighted to learn that the design of the proposal had been well received by the local authority who consequently granted planning permission.
