Figure 3 Waltham Abbey South Site. Waltham Abbey SouthSite The Government research establishment at Waltham Abbey, which comprises North Site, South Site and the Lower Island Works, was closed in 1991. An intensive survey of North Site by the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England 0994) in association with English Heritage culminated in the scheduling of a large part of the works and the listing of 21 buildings. It is hoped that a suitable heritage use can be found for what English Heritage describe as the most important explosives factory in Europe. In January 1996, proposals were submitted to Epping Forest District Council for the demolition and development of the 158 ha South Site; the works contains some 650 buildings and structures which were used for the manufacture of nitroglycerine, guncotton, cordite, RDX and missile propellants (Figure 3). Given the potential national importance of the complex and its relationship with North Site, a decision on the planning application was deferred pending an archaeological appraisal. Based on the advice given in PPGs 15 and 16, the record comprises historical 16 research, a component sheet for each building and structure, a computergenerated CAD diagram with seven historic layers and an interim report. Once complete the assessment will enable English Heritage to make an informed decision on statutory protection and any further detailed recording will be undertaken as a condition on any future planning consent. CONCLUSION These examples demonstrate the way in which both PPGs 15and 16 can be used to record standing buildings before and after the granting of planning/ listed building consent. Clearly the recording level has to be appropriate to the scale of the proposed works and deemed reasonable by the local planning authority. For those buildings which are relatively simple, the developer may have sufficient in-house expertise to undertake the work in accordance to the brief, but for more complex structures specialists mayneed to be employed. Building recording and the development of record systems are fundamental components of historic building conservation, but there still seems to be a reluctance at county and district level to introduce the appropriate mechanisms. As the debate contin ues examples of good practice may help to strengthen the case for this important, but under-utilised aspect of historic building development control. Shane Gould works for the Implementation Team, Essex County Council Planning Department References 1 Chaddock, S 0996): Archaeological evaluation Qf South Site, Waltham Abbey, Essex (British Aerospace Defence Royal Ordnance) 2 Cooper-Reade, H 0996): Report on the recording of Daly's House and adjacent buildings, Rochford Hospital, Southend (Essex County Council Field Archaeology Group) 3 Cooper-Reade, H 0996): Report on the recording of Gardners' Brewery, Coggeshall (Essex County Council Field Archaeology Group) 4 Department of the Environment 0987): Circular 8/87: Historic Buildings and Conservation Areas - Policy and Procedures (HMSO) 5 Department of the Environment (1990): Planning Policy Guidance Note 16· Archaeology and Planning (HMSO) 6 Department of the Environment and Department of National Heritage (1994): Planning Policy Guidance Note 15:Planning and the Historic Environment (HMSO) Context 54 June 1997
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjgyMjA=