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The Associationof ConservationOfficers The Association aims to promote good practice in the conservation of historic buildings through planning authorities in the UK. EDITORS NOTE Regeneration is a word we have all become used to hearing and seeing with increasing frequency these days, yet how many people outside the conservation field make the link between economic regeneration and growth and investment in our built heritage? To many people, particularly in local and central government, conservation is still seen at worst as stifling development and restricting peoples freedom to choose what they do with their property, and at best as the icing on the cake. Yet slowly over the past few years conservation schemes have been promoted and developed, away from the recognised historic towns, in less well known centres of our heritage where they are making significant contributions to their economic and social well being. By providing jobs, attracting commerce and tourism, and improving images and perceptions, more positive attitudes are developing, investment is taking place and the people who live and work and visit these places are getting better opportunities and a better quality of life. The key to bringing a renaissance to some of the most unpromising sounding places in Britain has been not only energy, vision and teamwork- both on behalf of the private sector, amenity organisations, the communities and the Local Authorities - but also in encouraging people to see historic buildings as a resource and not as a restraint. Of course, it is not always easy and to quote from "Yes Prime Minister", one does come across apparently "insoluble opportunities". Knowledge of how similar problems have been tackled, restraints resolved, and opportunities realised is invaluable, and this is why, this year, West Yorkshire has been chosen as the venue for the ACO annual conference, looking particularly at schemes in the once declining Pennine textile towns of the Halifax and Bradford area. In West Yorkshire we are fortunate that we have been able to form strong links between the conservation planners of the Metropolitan Districts. We meet regularly to discuss issues, problems and achievements, and it is some of these which we hope to share with you at the conference. The Yorkshire & Humberside Region is an area of contrasts and we have tried in this issue not only to set the scene for the conference but also to inform you of other initiatives which are underway in the Region. Thanks must go to all the people who provided copy for the magazine - some at short notice! - and to the members of the editorial team for their patience, stamina and endurance. As with many conservation projects, you don't know exactly how much is going to be involved until you actually start doing the job! We hope to welcome as many of you as possible to West Yorkshire in the Spring. Even though I'm a defector from what I now have to call the wrong side of the Pennines, I have developed a strong affection for this part of the country during my three years here-we hope you will too. Kathryn Gibson The articles appearing in this newsletter must not be construed as reflecting the policies or intentions of particular organisations, unless otherwise stated, and are only the views of the writers. We gratefully acknowledge assistance by Local Authorities where this has been given. COVER PHOTOGRAPH The Alhambra Theatre Bradford, Grade II listed. Restoration for Bradford Council was completed in 1986 at a total cost of £8.5 million with grant aid of £2.5 million from the European Regional Development Fund. YORKSHIRE PRODUCTION TEAM EDITORS Kathryn Gibson Derek Green Bob Scriven GRAPHIC DESIGN Hugh Mayfield Tina Haynes ACO OFFICERS CHAIRMAN: Mike Pearce Hampshire CC, 0962 846719 after 1st March 017346010 x850 SECRETARY: Chris Smith Avon CC, 0272 290777x530 3 Paul Street, Kinsdown, Bristol BS2 8HG TREASURER: Peter Richards Essex CC, 0245 352232x289 139Lifstan Way, Thorpe Bay, Essex SS! 2XG MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY: James Ross Essex CC, 0245 352232x293 Three Bears, Laindon Common Road, Little Burstead, EssexCMl2 9TL PUBLICITY: James Clifton Wycombe DC, 0494461000 Bucks, HP 11 l BB PROJECTS OFFICER: John Fidler HBMC, 01 734 6010x797or 0 I 741 7297 x725 Top Flat, 36 Ravenscourt Road, London W6 0UG ACO REGIONAL CONTACTS NORTH: Keith Murray South Tyneside BC, 0914567531x25l NORTH WEST: Mike King Liverpool CC, 051 2273911x461 YORKSHIRE: Bob Scriven Wakefield MDC, 092437021l x417 WEST MIDLANDS: MichaelFox Wolverhampton MBC, 090227811 EAST MIDLANDS: Graham Beaumont Nottinghamshire CC, 0602824277 SOUTH WEST: Robert Ladd Mendip DC, 0749 3399x320 SOUTH: James Clifton Wycombe DC, 0494461000 EAST ANGLIA: John Preston Cambridgeshire CC, 0223317616 SOUTH EAST: Geoff Pink Surrey CC, 01 5419416 John Davey Guildford BC, 0483 505050x3633 LONDON: Rosemarie MacQueen City of Westminster, 01 798 2519 SCOTLAND: Graham Reed West Lothian DC, 050 684 3121x89 WALES: John James Clwyd CC, 0352 2121 NORTHERN IRELAND: Colin Hatrick DoE Northern Ireland, 0232 653251 NEWSLETTER EDITOR: Jenny Pearce 130Bouverie Avenue South, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 SEA 0722 334129ext 387or 0722 334129(home) ASSISTANT EDITOR: Bob Kindred Ipswich BC, 0473 262934. 4 All Saints Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IPl 4DG CONTRIBUTIONS from a11ymember are very welcome. Please send copy to your Regional Contact or the Editor.
An air of elegance? A recent report on economic prospects for the North of England identifies three places in Yorkshire and Humberside that have "all the characteristics that the much-vaunted southern boom towns have to offer". This list of "Northern Lights" picks out Beverley, Thirsk and Harrogate. The authors state that such towns score particularly well in a "quality oflife" index designed to include, amongst others, social and environmental factors. This trio avoided the despoilations of the Industrial Revolution though all lie close to large cities. Further, they are urban focal points for affluent country districts, which have considerable attractions for the tourist and visitor. The "odd one out" is Harrogate, a "planned" Spa town with largely Victorian origins. Harrogate has the special character of homogeneity brought about by its development over a relatively short period. There are strong urban forms of stone terraces, crescents and avenues set amid open landscaping with many mature trees. The town centre is confined in part, by the open Stray or "200 Acres", giving a clean urban edge to older Harrogate. Much of the success of Harrogate as a shopping and tourist centre is derived from this special character of elegance created by buildings and related gardens. This ambience has traditionally attracted a wealth of small scale speciality shopping, selling classic fashions, jewellery, art and antiques as well as the more contemporary designer fabrics and boutiques. These fit harmoniously into the Victorian or Edwardian fabric adding variety and vitality to the shopping scene. The Borough Council have produced a Shopfronts Guide outlining basic design principles. This is available to the public and it is notable that, from recent experience in the town, fewer applications are being received involving standardised aluminium and plastic fronts. Conversely, it is pleasing to note that more applicants are coming forward with proposals for well designed, "bespoke" and traditionally based shopfronts. Design conscious multiples such as Laura Ashley, Next, Horne Bros., and "K" Shoes have contributed good examples in James Street, reinforcing the argument that good quality in presentation will attract the customer. The use of cast-iron and glazed canopies is traditional to Harrogate. They not only protect the shopper physically but extend the building into the street visually, thus unifying facades. One James Street A good example of a new shopfront and canopy well related to the original Victorian building. The house name is well in evidence whilst not being out of scale. recent and significant example of a refurbishment to such is that at Betty's Cafe, Parliament Street. Betty's, based in several Yorkshire towns, are very much an institution and were awarded the prize for serving "the best cup of tea in England" in 1987. The attractive Harrogate tea-shop is set overlooking the floral gardens edging the Stray, and, in restoring and refurbishing the shopfront and canopy, Architects Greenwood and Nicholas renovated the delicate brackets, tracery and trelliswork together with high-class signs. The very success of Harrogate has brought with it the usual development pressures. The town largely avoided the excesses of large-scale post-war commercial developments (though there ls one regrettably prominent example!) but there are proposals in the pipeline for at least two major sites in the town centre. Much care will be needed to ensure that these do not erode the special character and ambience of the town. The economic bouyancy of Harrogate should be geared to securing the reinforcement of the fabric, together with the careful management of the existing building stock, so extending the quality of homogeneity. Then Harrogate might feature in a future "Northern Lights" survey as being "Top-Town"! Brian Godward, Harrogate BC 2
CONSERVATION IN CALDERDALE "Halifax is full of character and hidden beauty. The Piece Hall is symbolic of its hidden and great worth. The skyline of Halifax, its churches, chapels, mills and warehouses, is something never to be forgotten and gives Halifax its identity." Sir John Betjeman 1979 The passing of 1987 has seen, amongst other things, the end of European Year of the Environment and the focus of attention on the importance of conserving and improving environmental quality embodied in that initiative. However, it is abundantly clear that every year has to be "environment year", and this is the approach that Calderdale has adopted and embraced since formation of the Council in 1974. At that time Calderdale adopted the Environmental Theme as the major objective of its planning philosophy, in recognition of the importance of environmental quality to the area's economic prospects, tourism potential and, not least, living conditions for its 190,000 residents. Although interpreted widely, the Environmental Theme has focussed strongly on conservation of the area's rich heritage of industrial, commercial, and residential buildings dating from the Victorian era and largely the product of changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution. A wide variety of conservation based projects and initiatives have been undertaken, 3 with impressive results, and a firm foundation for continuing efforts in future years has been established. Calderdale's environmental assets and potential have attracted the attention of several studies and reports over the years by the national and local conservation bodies and other organisations, as well as the Council. In the late 1970's, large-scale redevelopment proposals in Halifax town centre, which would have involved demolition of numerous listed buildings and obliteration of the historic Woolshops as a street, were strongly opposed at a public enquiry. Halifax Civic Society, supported by national amenity societies, were prominent objectors, and their ensuing report - Halifax- The Case for Conservation - put forward important arguments in favour of a strong conservation emphasis which were very much in line with the Council's own thinking and its developing work on local plans. The priority given by the Council to environmental conservation was further demonstrated by its commission of the Civic Trust to report on the environmental potential of Halifax and Calderdale, with the aim of improving the quality of life for those who live and work in the area, making the area more attractive to new industry, and stimulating trade and tourism. The Trusts' reports - Halifax in Calderdale - A Strategy for Prosperity published in 1984, and the follow-up report Calderdale- The Challenge published in 1986, contained a wide variety of detailed proposals and initiatives, and can be seen as important landmarks in the evolution of the conservation ethos for the area. The findings of these reports, again in close conformity with Council thinking, have provided the basis for much of the progress "on the ground" achieved to date, as well as ongoing activities. The remainder of this article attempts to provide a flavour of the many initiatives and approaches adopted in Calderdale over the years. Some of these, such as Conservation Area designation and grant-aid for the repair of listed buildings, are fairly standard practice in most parts of the country; others are exciting, new initiatives which could act as model approaches from w~ich other areas could usefully benefit. Section 10 grant aid has been available for individual schemes since I 976, however the first Section I O programme was established in 1983/84. Over the years, the amount of funding under these programmes has steadily increased. In 1987/88, English Heritage agreed a programme totalling £230,000 for works in 7 specified Conservation Areas, making the Halifax programme the second largest in resource terms in the country behind Liverpool. Calderdale's two Town Schemes, in Water Street, Todmorden, and St. George's Square, Hebden Bridge will progressively bring about further dramatic improvements to the appearance of the two areas, with the expectation that this will stimulate activity in adjoining parts of the towns. Reference should here be made to Calderdale' s "Inheritance Decade". Reflecting principles embodied in the Civic Trust reports, the Council declared an Inheritance Decade for the period 1985-95,and a project team was established to lead the work. The
Town Hall, Todmorden Inheritance Project Team, assembled from both the public and private sectors, is involved in a range of important conservation, urban regeneration and promotional activities and is already making a significant contribution to solving the area's problems and capitalising on its assets and potential. In Halifax town centre, the Council has funded a major programme of shopfront restoration in the Victorian Borough Market; the Inheritance Project Team itself took over a refurbished shop adjoining the market as its office base, and this has stimulated and encouraged further restoration work. Shop front restoration has undoubtedly increased the attractiveness of the town centre and has gained wide public and professional acclaim, reflected most recently in a commendation under the 1987 Civic Trust award scheme. Other schemes, particularly environmental improvements and building works in the Upper George Yard, are resulting in further sympathetic upgrading of the town centre. The legacy of industrial dereliction is one of the biggest challenges facing Calderdale. The previous uncomplimentary image of the area held by many people is changing, with a number of major industrial regeneration projects leading the way. Pride of place must go to Dean Clough, the carpet manufacturing complex adjoining Halifax town centre with over lm. sq.ft. of floorspace which closed in 1982. Employing 5,000 people in its heyday, closure of the complex left a massive reminder of industrial decline and dereliction in a prominent location. However, lead by entrepreneur Ernest Hall, private sector initiative, investment and faith has now resulted in this Piece Hall, Halifax complex of listed buildings being converted into a major business centre accommodating over 150 firms and employing around 1,000 people; a remarkable success story which has attracted wide national and international attention. Another major scheme is the Riverside Project at Sowerby Bridge, which is being undertaken by the Inheritance Project in conjunction with the Sowerby Bridge Improvement Trust. A large area of derelict mills overlooking the River Calder in the town centre is the subject of extensive conversion and landscaping works which will have farreaching effects on the town. Funded from a variety of private and public sources, including Section 10 grant, the project is already having an impact, reflected in private "spin-off'' investment on adjoining sites in the retail, leisure and service sectors. The conservation theme is being strongly persued in relation to two further major projects under way in Halifax town centre. West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority are currently constructing a new bus station to replace the present station which is restricted in size and inconveniently located. The replacement site is within the Halifax Town Centre Conservation Area, adjoining the Council officesand public library. Three Grade II listed buildings on the site - the 165 year old Sion Chapel, the Sunday School, and Jubilee Hall, which form an impressive classical Victorian group - are being incorporated in the development. The Sunday School (I 866) is being meticulously dismantled and re-sited alongside the main passenger entrance, and the facades of the other two buildings will be retained. This unique architectural solution will produce a development which will positively enhance the town- ,;cape of the central area. Sowerby Bridge Riverside Project Secondly, development of the National Children's Museum (the EUREKA! project) based around Halifax railway station, utilises a variety of important listed buildings including the impressive 1855 station building. In addition to providing major leisure facilities expected to attract around 500,000 visitors each year, and extensive environmental improvements to this neglected part of the town, the project safeguards the future of a further part of Calderdale's rich Victorian heritage. It is significant that the EUREKA! project, an example of far sighted initiative tailored to the needs of the late 20th century, with it's unique approach for children's informal learning, drew the deep interest of the Prince of Wales on his visit to Calderdale in December 1987. Only a short walk away is the Piece Hall, completed in 1779 in Italian piazza style, and undoubtedly the most remarkable Renaissance building of its type in the country. The award winning restoration of this marvellous building, once the centre of the pre-industrial textile industry, was a particular milestone. It only crept through by the narrowest margins - one vote gave refurbishment victory over demolition. The conservation theme, reflected in the treatment of the Piece Hall, can now be seen to run through the basic philosophy of the activities of Calderdale Council and, with them, voluntary organisations and the private sector, in the many and various attempts to preserve the best of the area's heritage and lay the foundations for urban regeneration and economic prosperity in coming years. Those attending the Association's conference to be held in April in Hebden Bridge will be able to judge the fruits of these efforts for themselves. 4
REACTIONS TO THE RESURVEY KEY • 70's Greenback Area * Area still being resurveyed FIG. 1. RESURVEY PROGRESS IN YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE ACO - Regional Membership North Yorks CC NY Moors Park Harrogate BC Marion Joy Barter Colin Watts Paul Elm Peter Fisher Brian Godward City of Bradford MC Kathryn Gibson Kirklees MDC Leeds CC Wakefield MDC Alastair Pott Adrian Caley Deborah Robertson Peter Baker, Trevor Houseago Alan Hull Rob Murphy Bob Scriven David Frost Derek Green Hugh Mayfield W Y Arch Service Peter Thornborrow Humberside CC Norman Smith Boothferry BC Phillip Asquith East Yorks BC Richard Ward Hull City Hilary Byers Associate Members Edmund Booth HBMC, John Denison Architect, James Hill Min. of Agriculture Honorary Members Patrick Nullgens, Douglas Wise, Derek Lins/rum North West County Yorks Yorks Listed Buildings 12,464 14,594 Grade I buildings 210 91 Distribution/1,000 people 17.84 7.09 Distribution/Sq Mile 3.89 18.53 Conservation Areas 195 191 Ancient Monuments 850 95 There are few detailed statistics on the results of the national resurvey of listed buildings within the region. Records do exist, but in a variety oflocations. These are often incomplete or based on different counts and criteria. The picture is further complicated by the fact that while in theory Phase II of the res'urvey was completed on the 14th May 1987, many areas are still without draft lists and resurvey work continues in a number of significant areas [FIG l]. The scale of this diverse heritage 1s outlined in TABLE 1. Regional reactions to the resurvey A Listed Buildings Workshop was held in York in 1987 on the appointed date for completion by the Alex Gordon Partnership in association with the RTPI Yorkshire Branch. This workshop raised many issues of concern. Public concerns; control and grant aid Information distributed with the notice of listing attempts to counter the threat South Humber- ACO Yorks side Region 2661 3319 33,038 9 32 342 2.04 3.89 7.84 4.41 2.45 5.55 93 79 558 80 229 1254 TABLE 1. HERITAGE RESOURCES IN YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE 1987 (Source; ENGLISH TOURIST BOARD, English Heritage Monitor 1987, Tables I, 2 & 3) 5 of increased "Planning Control" by unrealistically raising expectations of grant aid. However little extra financial or manpower resources have been made available nationally or locally to cope with increased demand for aid and advice. Criteria for inclusion on the list Concerns over interpretation of the list criteria is widespread. Types still felt to be inadequately represented include Victorian and Edwardian examples, as well as barns, chapels, hospitals, schools, various industries, and buildings with historical associations or with regional significance. There is a widespread feeling that the lists are still dominated by "polite" buildings and those that look "nice". Spotlisting and future resurveys Previous concerns over the adequacy of the resurvey lists of the l 970's is confirmed when compared with new lists. Spotlisting of threatended buildings at the request of local authorities or the amenity societies are a poor substitute for the thoroughness of a resurvey. Records, their use and availability The mnemonic B DAMP FISHES is known to identify the 11headings of the list description. However it is of little analytical use when descriptions vary greatly in content depending on each field worker and the degree of prior documentary research into the area, access to the building and the time available to complete the work. Meeting simple requests from owners and amenity societies for copies of list descriptions is complicated by the poor reproduction possible from the blue pages of the list. Analysis of lists is largely manual with few local authorities attempting to computerise data. Photographic records vary greatly, it is noted that 75% of Shire Districts took up the Alex Gordon practice's offer of prints at cost, but these were only of statutory entries after confirmation. With no grade III's or buildings oflocal interest shown, those records of what just failed to make the grade are lost. Development Control and deletions Many inadequacies in controlling alterations to listed buildings have been exposed by the resurvey. No authority is without its own horror stories, even where advised by conservation officers. Previously unrecorded demolitions and damaging external and internal alterations have been highlighted even in some of the areas most notable historic
- YORKSHIRE & HUMBERSIDE towns. Nationally over 500 listed buildings a year have been deleted from the earlier lists since 1983, compared to an average of 60 for the previous 6 years. An ongoing role for field workers? What of the experience and expertise of the field workers gained during the resurvey? Several are employed on continuing resurvey worl<, mostly outside the region, but few can even apply for jobs in the Districts they surveyed because of lack of planning experience or formal planning qualifications. As the RTPI is considering broadening its membership should there not be some scope to include them so that their skills can be used within the Districts? WEST YORKSHIRE RESURVEY REACTIONS Data on West Yorkshire has been collated with the aid of Peter Thornborrow, ex fieldworker and the West Yorkshire Archaeology Service's Historic Buildings Officer, and the district's conservation officers at their quarterly meetings. The SMR and recent RCHM surveys of rural and workers houses, mills and churches provides detailed data for comparison purposes. A number of omissions thus noted have been drawn to the attention of the DOE for spotlistihg. TABLE 2 tabulates the expected final results of the resurvey whilst FIGURE 2 gives the distribution of actual buildings across the County although areas still remain to be completed in Halifax and Pontefract. The County as a whole has the richest heritage of any metropolitan area outside London but considerable varicftion exists within the county. The higher density of listed buildings to the west is a consequence of the full flowering of the industrial revolution in the hills and valleys of the Pennines rather than pressures on fieldworkers to complete the eastern areas near the end of their contracts. Previous Resurveys Major concern over the I 970's lists is reflected in the number of spotlistings KIRK.LEES KEY 0-8 8-16 16-32 32-48 N/A 48-64 N/A 64-80 80+ FIG. 2. DENSITY OF LISTED BUILDINGS IN WEST YORKSHIRE (Buildings/Sq Mile) particularly in Sheffield, with 70 additions since 1973, and Leeds, with over 120 as well as 2 complete Victorian Arcades since 1976. Often occurring late in the development process such listings are often seen to hinder the efforts to regenerate central areas. Condition and Use The identification of major dereliction and underuse of listed buildings following the Kirklees Buildings Preservation Trust's survey of condition and use must lead other authorities to evaluate their own stock and decide priorities. It is hoped that a county wide view will guide such priorities in West Yorkshire. Ongoing analysis of the lists To date there has been little analysis of buildings by type, construction, use or age as outlined by Oliver Bott for Cheshire in Context No 16. One surpnsmg fact has emerged - the non comparability of local statistics with any other published figures for the region. DOE, HBMC and Tourist Board figures are assumed to refer to listed building 'entries' because of the difficulties of ensuring accurate counts of actual structures where postal numbering, conversions, and attached buildings and structures introduce inaccuracies. Even the tables used to illustrate this article do not agree! Do other regions and counties figures.also exhibit such discrepancies? Issues generated by the resurvey and the size and diversity of the Heritage in West Yorkshire will be debated at the ACO Conference at Hebden Bridge, Thursday 21st April 88. Derek Green, Wakefield MDC DISTRICT Listed buildingentries District totals Percent Increase Total Distribution per I II* II A B C Before/ After Total/Survey Area Buildings Sq Mile 1000 People LEEDS 34 55 1696 7 6 25 1228/ 1822 147% 294% 2940 13.5 4.1 KIRKLEES 10 55 2851 I 15 0 I 533/2932 191% 932% 4387 27.7 11.0 CALDERDALE 14 89 1925 2 1 8 650/2039 313% 507% 3655 26.0 19.0 BRADFORD 20 66 2179 0 2 l 639/2265 354% 431% 5482 39.2 11.8 WAKEFIELD 24 52 597 2 5 2 439/682 151% 208% 944 7.3 3.0 WEST YORKSHIRE 102 317 9224 12 29 36 4489/9722 216% 445% 17408 22.2 8.4 TABLE 2. THE LISTED BUILDING RESURVEY IN WEST YORKSHIRE 1988 6
(5 -,.,fttit· • crmanf'. IS THIS THE REAL BERLIN Only a few months ago Peckover Street, in the heart of Bradford's Little Germany, became the set for a major TV film by Columbia of America. The story, based on real events, has a central character, Harry Seidel, who was ultimately imprisoned in East Germany for helping people escape to the West. The original story, titled The Berlin Wall, was written by French author Pierre Galante who witnessed the partition. This epic story retold by the film The Wall of' Tyranny suddenly transformed part of Bradford into the Berlin of 1961. Producer Peter Graham-Scott described the Little Germany location as ideal for the film, in which the Bradford wool barons' warehouses will represent the grandeur of Berlin alongside landmarks such as the Brandenburg Gate. The cafe-bars, shops and apartment houses brought the 20 acre Little Germany quarter of 19th century wool barons' warehouses back to life. Why then couldn't this fictitious situation be present day reality? The Western Sector was just the sort of atmosphere the Planning Section had been attempting to create for the past I O years. HTV, who were contracted to make the film, took less than 2 weeks to transform the buildings into a busy community. What has all this to do with conservation, Little Germany, or Bradford in 1988?The answer is simple- promotion 7 and publicity necessary to attract investment into the numerous empty buildings. Many of those who have looked at the area over the last 2 years have walked away, but one or two have decided to stay and now major investment schemes in hotels, housing and leisure related activities are being planned. Little Germany is an island of development physically isolated by l960's road schemes and a very recently completed phase of the City Ring Road. However, the latter will give the area greatly improved access and add to the future commercial opportunities. Bradford Council recognised this potential, in 1973 and courageously declared a Conservation Area in Little Germany, together with a Commercial fmprovement Area in 1979, so as to provide a policy framework and much needed financial assistance to the building owners. The sheer scale of the problem in the early years of low occupancy and the need to refurbish over I million square feet of floor space led to little more than a holding operation being put into effect. The time and climate, within both Central Government and the Council, was not right for anything other than small scale incremental improvements, implemented so as to safeguard existing businesses and what little employment still remained. The most common problems being tackled were leaking roofs, inadequate means of fire escape and the soot blackened buildings giving the ·area a very bleak character. More major problems of redundant empty warehouse blocks, poor street lighting, access and parking still remained largely unresolved after years of effort and would have to wait for a co-ordinated solution. The turning point came in 1985 when the Council's Economic Development Unit, the English Tourist Board and English Heritage joined forces to promote Little Germany as part of Bradford's Tourist Action Programme and in 1986 the Little Germany Task Force was formed with Planning, EDU and other co-opted Local Authority staff. Bradford has a growing tourist trade concentrating short breaks for those interested in speciality packages and this gave the Task Force the necessary driving force to sell the concept that the area could become the most exciting business quarter in the city. Urbed (Urban and Economic Development) Ltd. were also drafted in for a short while to give added confidence to the private sector, especially from outside the district, by highlighting development potential and promotional ideas. Putting over an air of confidence and the creation of an action programme has been the key to success. The Little Germany fmprovement Association was formed in 1980 by local business owners as a means of communicating to the people already in the area and those hoping to set up in business. A number of excellent schemes are being developed and in comparison to the last I0 years the Task Force has achieved outstanding results in its first 24 months. Amongst other projects, 1986 saw: • A major landscaping scheme at Festival Square constructed in 13 weeks using MSC labour. • Grants offered for stonecleaning. • Little Germany Improvement Association formed. • Wine Bar No 2 re-opens. • Repair and street cleaning carried out more effectively. • Publicity taken nationally. • Pub Licence Granted. • Housing, Design Centre projects discussed. • Street Festival held ( I0,000 people attended over the 2 days). However by the beginning of 1987 everything looked as ifit had come to a standstill and, although negotiations were taking place, few people were prepared for the 3 months inactivity over the winter. The press kept asking 'what's gone wrong?'. Both the Gas and Water Boards undertook major repair work in the area because of the Ring Road and looking towards a brighter future. Disruption to existing business was terrible while the streets were
progressively closed for pipe replacements to take place. Highlights of 1987 were however: • Major Roof repairs with EH assistance. • Manufacturing Unit completed. • Arts Centre partially open. • Bradford Festival - Cathedral Close used for events. • Office refurbishment - on site. • Office investment scheme - on site. • Street lighting to be replaced - finance approved. • Footpath repairs finance approved. . • Housing Scheme Plannmg Application submitted. • Hotel Scheme - Planning Application submitted. • L A to relocate to empty office by June 1988 - work started. • L A backs managed workspace scheme - work started. • Fun Pub opens after full refurbishment of derelict building. • Art Gallery relocates from South East of England. • Car Park Scheme - on site. Success looks to be just around the corner and the area has started to generate its own interest and confidence but there is one major element missing in Little Germany - interesting street activities and pedestrian movement. The area does not have a major visitor attraction which puts people on the streets and this is limiting the development of small service facilities. In time they will come but a major visitor attraction would complete the regeneration package for Little Germany. There will be an opportunity to visit projects and hear more about Little Germany at the ACO conference in April. 8
KIRKLEES HISTORIC BUILDING SURVEYS By 1985, the Department of the Environment's resurvey of all the buildings of architectural or historic importance in Kirklees was complete. The number of entries in the statutory list had increased from a total of290 for the whole district to 2,932. Little was known about the vast majority of the newly listed buildings - in particular it was not known what condition they were in, and how many could be steadily deteriorating to a point where demolition seemed inevitable. The Kirklees Historic Building Trust, a charitable body set up, but not administered, by Kirklees Council, recognised the problem. Its main aim was to identify and, where possible, save threatened listed buildings by funding their improvement. Any profits would be ploughed back into a fund to continue the work. Although some properties which seemed suitable had been identified, it was recognised that the problem of listed buildings falling into severe disrepair was unquantifiable without some survey work being undertaken. An opportunity arose for the Trust to sponsor a Community Programme Team to carry out the work - a district wide survey of all the listed buildings in Kirklees. The main aim would be to record use and condition, and an assessment of the risk to which the building was subjected could be calculated from this, taking into account other factors such as the listing grade. English Heritage were keen to help - they recognised the value of the survey not only as a unique assessment of the condition of the listed buildings in a large metropolitan district, but also a pilot for what could progress into a nationwide survey. The work began in January 1985, and took 15 months to complete. Every listed building in Kirklees was visited, and an assessment made of use, condition, and type of ownership. Most THREATENED INTERIORS Some West Yorkshire examples of the larger listed buildings in isolated settings losing their interiors are Armitage Bridge House, Grade II, subjected to theft and vandalism; Hatfeild Hall, Grade II, fire damage, theft and vandalism; Kettlethorpe Hall, Grade I, vacant, theft and vandalism; Oulton Hall, Grade II, vacant, theft and vandalism; and the Upper Independent Chapel, Heckmondwike, Grade II*, fire theft and vandalism. Once listed buildings have become unused, vacant and boarded up pendmg decisions on their future, they 9 become the prime target of the criminal . specialising in "salvaging" architectural features such as firepieces, doors, panelling etc. for a market with a steady demand and offering good profits. Usually both the retrieval of items and conviction by the police is difficult and unlikely. Irreplaceable items have been lost including the fine firepieces at Hatfeild Hall and Kettlethorpe Hall. Restoration solutions for the buildings referred to are now being progressed, but too late to save many original interior features. Bob Scriven, Wakefield MDC buildings were photographed to provide a 'point in time' reference. The mountain of information produced by the surveyors was computer processed by English Heritage, and the last analysis was received by the Trust in December 1987. This information has now been passed on to Kirklees Council for assessment. No other Local Authority in Great Britain has such a complete picture of its listed buildings, and follow up work on the survey is indicating new, sometimes unexpected trends, which is adding to the information all the time. In particular, those buildings which are unoccupied and/or in poor condition have been able to be identified, and already about two thirds of those buildings have been re-examined by Council Officers, and efforts are beginning to be made to secure their long term future either by improvement, by finding a new use, or by a combination of both. The Council is also examining its Historic Buildings Grant Aid policy in the light of this new information, and it is possible that English Heritage may also reconsider the way they administer grant aid. The Historic Buildings Trust's original intention was to publish a 'Register of Buildings' at risk, and use this to publicise the plight of those buildings most in need of attention. However already, in advance of the publication of the Register, the information the survey has produced is proving sufficient to start the task of saving the district's threatened historic buildings. Eric Woulds, Kirk/ees MC
CONSERVING BARNS IN RICHMONDSHIRE As you move across Richmondshire District from the lowlands of the Vale of York, in the east, to the high hills of the Pennines, in the west, you pass through an agricultural landscape in which large centralised farmsteads are gradually replaced by scattered field barns as the main building element. The majority of these field barns occur in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, where the National Park Authority are generally opposed to conversion for several good reasons. However, there are many east of the National Park boundary, mainly in and around the valleys of Swaledale and Wensleydale, where Richmondshire is taking a different approach. Architecturally the field barn is modest and functional, relying on the rugged texture of plain stone walls for its strong visual effect. Most are two storeys high but single storey cow byres occur in the lowlands, where a less hostile climate made the storage of hay in ricks a feasible proposition. They seem to date mainly from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and slotted into an agricultural system based on small farms, small fields, hay meadows and pastures. Now mechanisation has put paid to this ecologically benign system. in the 1960's and 70's planners saw the profits from sale and conversion to holiday homes as the main threat to the survival of barns. We recoiled from the effects of the alterations made in the few cases that were granted planning permission, and our consistent practice was to refuse conversion proposals. By this means we succeeded in stemming the tide. By 1984, however, it was evident that, in Richmondshire, the threat had assumed another form - decay through neglect. Field barns are sturdy structures but they cannot survive indefinitely with no maintenance input. Our rural environment study of 1983-4 forced us to recognize that this was precisely what was happening, and a landscape devoid of these traditional buildings loomed as a reality. Ironically our strict conservation policies were a contributory factor, as barns were increasingly being demolished for their stone and stone slates. The District Council's response was to relax their previous stance against conversions. We felt we could do this without creating a general precedent for new houses in the countryside because the barns are finite in number and the numbers are not unmanageable. We saw the challenge as essentially one of conservation and good design, and in drawing up our policy concentrated on the design issues. The new policy "Alternative Uses for Redundant Field Barns,'' in effect says to the prospective applicant, if you can solve the design problems most things are possible, but you must abide by the criteria we set down. These criteria insist that the barn should be truly redundant, yet reasonably structurally sound. We recognise that alterations are virtually unavoidable, but expect a "minimal change" solution to be found, and original wall and roof materials to be retained. On rare occasions the policy accepts that a "cottage-style" conversion could be appropriate but this is not encouraged. Unobtrusive solutions have to be found for access, parking, services, etc. Curtilage definition is acknowledged as a tricky problem. Whilst an enclosed private area is usually necessary, it has to be provided in a way that preserves something of the barn's direct relationship to the surrounding landscape, and without overdomestication. In practice the policy has stimulated a lot of interest and a steady flow of applications, by no means all of which have been approved. There have been some dissapointing results. For example, we are finding that "cottagestyle" conversions are not producing the effect sought - the preservation of a distinctive type of building in the countryside, with its own identifiable aesthetics. On the other hand, we have been offered very innovative solutions to the design problems involved, and I think it is fair to say that the District Council are generally satisfied that the policy is realistic. It offers a chance of regeneration in the countryside when the alternative is all too clearly dereliction. Paul Steele, Richmondshire DC THE SHEFFIELD HERITAGE PROGRAMME The Sheffield Heritage Programme has been established over the last two years. Up until the early 80's Conservation activity in Sheffield followed a fairly set pattern. This tended to concentrate on residential areas of high environmental quality and former village centres. It was decided that a shift in policy was needed because conservation activity was not addressing itself to the full range of the City's heritage. Sheffield is an industrial city; one of the cradles of the Industrial Revolution and a major wealth generator of the past 150 years. However, apart from isolated examples, this sector was neglected. The decision was taken to concentrate action on industrial conservation, particularly of the 19th Century. It was felt that if quick action was not taken then in a very short time the City's remaining 19th Century industrial heritage would disappear. For this action to succeed it was not appropriate to see conservation as a separate activity. It would have to be married together with other inititives such as 1.1.A.s, C.I.A.s, Urban Programme etc.. There would be little romantic role for conservation. It would be targetted at regeneration, making sound sense in presenting and providing new jobs, refurbished buildings and improved confidence in the areas. The first area chosen was Kelham Island and it was designated the City's first Industrial Conservation Area in 1985. It contained significant buildings and much of the urban pattern of the early I9th Century. The area was also declared an I.I.A. Finance was also a serious problem and outside support was vital. The City Council had been building up excellent working relations with English Heritage. This coincided with a refreshing and significant policy shift at English Heritage in beginning to recognise the acute problems in northern industrial cities. As a result, the City Council and English Heritage are now in close partnership. Programme Town Status has been achieved and Section I O funding is secure. So far it is early days, but the evidence is encouraging. A large number of major and minor projects are off the ground. The more intractable problems are being faced squarely, with the City Council actively seeking out owners and developers by offering to finance feasibility studies, with follow on grant packages. For example, Green Lane Works has been restored, but probably the most ambitious project, however, is the restoration of Globe Works to a Little Mesters Centre for cutlery and silverware. What is evident is that conservation can be used as an active tool in the regeneration of an industrial area. Confidence is beginning to return and the spirit of co-operation between industrialists, City Council, Sheffield Development Office and English Heritage is heartening. The still daunting but exciting task over the next four years will be to sustain and enhance this co-operation. Andy Tapley, Sheffield CC 10
RIVERSIDE REGENERATION LEEDS RIVERSIDE - A MODEST ROLE FOR SECTION 10 FUNDING The River Aire ties this part of Leeds together as a coherent area with a fabric of historic features - from the transport eras (river, canal, rail and road) to merchants houses, cloth halls, corn exchange, assembly rooms, mills, warehouses and workshops. The Conservation Scheme, started in 1983, relates to a limited stretch of the river between Leeds Bridge and Crown Point Bridge, and also includes Canal Wharf at the most easterly lock on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal. NOT ABLE SCHEMES The earliest Section 10 grant aided scheme in the area was residential with frontage offices, for the Yorkshire Metropolitan Housing Association, at 160/161, Lower Briggate (8). Implemented between 19791982 it was the pioneer effort to re-establish courtyard housing in the city centre, but only a reduced payment was made after the discovery of major cracks forced the facades demolition and replacement by replicas. It is hoped that the Riverside Conservation Scheme will have an impact on other yards in the area, particularly those off Briggate such as Blayds, (3) Heatons, Queens and Hirsts Yards - as the yards were a characteristic of Leeds in the 18th and 19th centuries and an essential part of its character. A number of modest Section 10 grants on Kirkgate and Bridge End have, more recently, ensured the retention of original fabric. No 64, The Calls, (1) formerly a provender warehouse, received a Section 10 grant of £20,000 - even though the larger residential scheme, of part-newbuild and part-conversion for the Regent Housing Society, also received a large Urban Development Grant. . . A £20,000 Section 10 grant offer on Canal Wharf Granary (9) has been withdrawn, after a long delay while the applicant held out for bigger-deal funding, and at Nos 3038 Dock Street, (5) a Section 10 scheme, based on a preservation trust feasibility study, was swallowed up by the direction of Urban Programme money to a City Council workshops project - where there was no private capital for Section 10 grant to 3. Section 10 funding is encouraging the repair and conversion of small buildings in the Leeds yards. This is Blayds Yard off Lower Briggate. Applicant: Ultracare Ltd. Occupier: Heights Design Partnership. £9,500 Section 10 grant. Occupied 1986. subsidise. Two environmental schemes are, however, being assisted by Section 10 grant - the north terrace of Leeds Parish Church, (10) and the creation of a pedestrian walkway through the railway viaduct, immediately opposite (11). Part of the deal has been British Rail Property Board's involvement in converting arches to retail units. SCALE OF FUNDING The scale of Section 10 funding in Leeds has been modest compared to the scale of the Urban Programme (£4.5m per annum) and of Urban Development Grants (total approvals about £4.1 m since 1982) and Leeds is now to receive a mini Urban Development Corporation (£15m over 5 years), which will overlap the Riverside area. Section 10 grant offers throughout Leeds Metropolitan District have totalled about £450,000 since 1976of which about £290,000 has been for Riverside Area schemes. However, of the latter, less than half has so far been paid out. Nonetheless, conservation led opportunities and ideas have helped to stimulate the market and the involvement of a variety of agencies (2,7,6) on the Leeds scene. URBAN REGENERATION Assuming that the principle keys to urban regeneration are opportunity, money, partnership and planning, why is it sometimes difficult for conservation officers to persuade the big "agencies of change" that an existing building of character comprises an opportunity, as opposed to a hindrance? In Leeds the ethos is one of urban regeneration and major change, and this applies in the Riverside Conservation Scheme area too. The inner city now overlaps much of the Section 10 area, the Urban Programme and Urban Development Grant have come into play, and soon an Urban Development Corporation will arrive on the scene. The experience on the Riverside has been that, whereas conservation led planning may have been on the scene early, the public and private 'agencies of change' wish to raise the financial stakes: Section 10 grant only appears to have a modest role, namely for smaller buildings. The $truggle continues to save buildings of character, but there is a strong resistance to the extension of the conservation scheme to a longer stretch of the Riverside on the grounds that it would inhibit economic regeneration. One cannot help but wonder whether the new Urban Development Corporation will disregard questions of retaining existing buildings of character and play down the role of conservation in urban regeneration. Is it too late for a DoE mini re-survey of listed buildings, bearing in mind that Leeds City was last surveyed in 1974, or for the City Council to designate industrial heritage conservation areas? Would this aid or hinder the efforts of the UDC and Leeds City Council in the regeneration of Leeds Riverside? Would Section 10 funding retain its modest role in funding smaller schemes, in generating ideas, opportunities and the interest of other agencies? Rob Murphy, Leeds CC 1. Catalyst scheme introducinghousing to the waterfront at the Calls/ Crown Point Bridge - new build plus conversion of a provender warehouse. Developer: Regent Housing Society. Architect: Denison Peters Practice. £20,000 Section 10 grant. £0.94m UDG. Occupied 1987. 2. Catalyst scheme introducinghousing on to the industrial south bank of the river at Dock Street. New build plus conversion of Navigation Terminus warehouses - Victoria Keys 121 flats. Developer: Barratts Urban Renewal Ltd. Architect: Downes Illingsworth and Partners. £1.38m UDG. On site. 11
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