Context 163 - March 2020

C O N T E X T 1 6 3 : M A R C H 2 0 2 0 39 from government (following the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013), an HPA is a legal agreement between the owners of a listed build- ing and their local authority that helps manage change efficiently, while maintaining the special qualities of a place. Crucially, an HPA captures a shared understanding of a historic site’s signifi- cance, and sets out a number of routine works that can take place on a regular basis without the need to apply for listed building consent from the local authority. Following the successful delivery of the station in time for the London 2012 Olympic Games, John McAslan + Partners was commissioned by Network Rail to prepare the HPA. Katherine Watts, senior architect at JMP and author of the agreement, developed a new format for the HPA which was graphic and significance-based. It included a consent chart on a double-page spread, which made the document easy to use – something that Network Rail was keen to promote. ‘We were all pleased when Network Rail requested a hard-wearing version which would withstand many years of use,’Watts says. Deciding what could be classed as routine or minor works was not a simple process here. Because the station is so large and complex, works that may be acceptable in one place may not be elsewhere. All parties agreed that the best way forward was to clarify where works could take place through conditions, which referred to certain parts of the building and relied on the different levels of significance being fully understood and appreciated, thanks to a series of colour-coded floorplans. Also at the heart of the agreement is the understanding that this is a working build- ing that needs everyday management beyond the strict confines of the historic fabric. The agreement therefore includes areas within the owner’s control, such as the modern concourse and the piazza space to the southern side of the station. Consented works in these areas range from managing ticket machines, to allowing for public artworks. ‘This agreement is a first for Network Rail,’ says Tom Higginson, its director of planning and land services. ‘We have worked closely with Historic England and Camden Council and this agreement will save all of us time, which can now be spent in other areas, and means that passengers can benefit from improvements to the station more quickly. This will also help to reduce our costs, which is important to us as a tax-payer funded organisation.’ The HPA was two years in the making and the continued strong working relationship between all parties remained essential.We have all learned through this process that an HPA is best kept simple. It needs a clear format so that it does not just sit on a shelf but is a valuable working document for those who need to use it on an almost daily basis. Thankfully the HPA is already proving to be a useful investment of time and has become an indispensable working document for looking after the building. Station managers have hap- pily reported that the HPA has already paid for itself, finding it a practical guide to ensure that all works within the station are of the high qual- ity that such an important building needs. So far around 40 works have been carried out that would otherwise have required listed building consent. This demonstrates that the HPA has streamlined and simplified the management process, saving time and money, while protecting what is special about the building for the future. King’s Cross joins a handful of statutory HPAs nationally, including Stow Maries Airfield in Essex, the University of Sussex, and several at Battersea Power Station in the London Borough of Wandsworth. The power station, which lay derelict for over 30 years, is currently undergoing an extensive restoration programme which will transform it into a new destination for London. It entered into its first HPA in April 2018. Following the success of this, a second HPA was formed for the 100 or so retail units within the power station. This HPA enables the shopfront instal- lation, signage and design of all retail units, and prevents the need to submit individual listed building consent applications for each. The King’s Cross HPA remains a pioneering project that demonstrates how we can progress the powers given to us by government to make the most of our heritage. A real benefit of this HPA is that it can be used as a template for future agreement. At Historic England we hope that this HPA will inspire other similar sites to consider such an agreement as a practical option for efficient management of our heritage. Historic England will not be a party to all HPAs, but it has produced an advice note Setting up a Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreement historicengland.org.uk/images-books/ publications/setting-up-listed-building-hpa- advice-note-5. Claire Brady is an inspector of historic buildings and areas at Historic England, working in the London and south east region. Opposite: The new Western Concourse at King’s Cross station, designed by John McAslan + Partners King’s Cross station from York Way (Photo: Historic England)