RELOCATION OF ONE ADULT PITCH, CREATION OF
TWO JUNIOR PITCHES AND ASSOCIATED
FACILITIES
AT
BROMBOROUGH
POOL
RECREATION GROUND, BROMBOROUGH POOL,
WIRRAL
HERITAGE STATEMENT
January 2015
PETER DE FIGUEIREDO
HISTORIC BUILDINGS ADVISER
1 Ingestre Road, Oxton, Wirral CH43 5TZ
T: 0151 652 1027 M: 0771 7291947
E: peter@defigueiredo.co.uk W: www.defigueiredo.co.uk
1
CONTENTS:
1
INTRODUCTION
page 3
2
HISTORY OF BROMBOROUGH POOL
page 3
3
CONTRIBUTION MADE BY THE SITE TO THE SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE BROMBOROUGH POOL CONSERVATION AREA
page 8
4
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
page 11
5
THE PROPOSAL
page 12
6
HERITAGE PLANNING CONTEXT
page 12
7
HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT
page 17
2
1
INTRODUCTION
1.1
This report concerns a proposal to relocate the MSC Eastham Football Club to
a new site at Bromborough Pool. The current home of MSC Eastham is at the
Riverside Football Ground alongside the Manchester Ship Canal in Eastham
Village. The club plays in the Premier Division of the Wirral Sunday League,
and has a junior team and youth academy.
1.2
Bromborough Pool is a pioneering industrial village. It is located on the
eastern side of the Wirral Peninsular, close to the banks of the River Mersey,
and was developed in 1854 to provide homes for workers in the nearby
Price's Candle Factory. The site was chosen for this purpose due to its
proximity to Liverpool, and the factory made us of imported palm oil for
candle manufacture. The factory’s owners, the Wilson brothers, built housing
for their workers in an ordered and spacious layout, and during the second
half of the 19th century they added a school, hospital, village hall and Church,
all of which remained in the ownership of the factory. The Village represents
one of the earliest examples of English private company philanthropy.
1.3
The early layout incorporated allotments on the land which is proposed to be
used as a football ground. They were converted into a sports and recreational
ground in the post WWII period, but the land is currently unused.
1.4
The site is included within the Bromborough Village Conservation Area, which
was designated in October 1986. This Heritage Statement has been
commissioned as part of the planning application to relocate one adult pitch,
create two junior pitches and associated facilities at Bromborough Pool
Recreation Ground. It analyses the history and significance of the site and the
contribution that it makes to the setting of the conservation area. It also
assesses the potential impact of the proposal on that significance.
2
HISTORY OF BROMBOROUGH POOL
2.1
Bromborough has an ancient history, probably stretching back to the 12th
century, when the manor of Bromsborough was part of Eastham, which was
then in the ownership of the Earls of Chester. The manor house is thought to
have occupied the site of the later Court House, which was on the edge of
the current conservation area. This was a moated house built c. 1680 by the
Hardware family of Chester, and survived until the early 20th century.
2.2
Although the growth of Liverpool as an international port was rapid from the
18th century, the Wirral coastline remained undeveloped until after the
introduction of steam-powered ferries in 1815. This provided the impetus for
the construction of select residences, and in 1824 of the establishment of a
ship-building yard by the Scotsman William Laird at Birkenhead. The railway
3
and a new turnpike road followed in 1839, linking Chester and Birkenhead,
and spanning the Bromborough Pool river inlet.
2.3
In 1853 construction was begun on a factory for Price’s Patent Candle
Company at Bromborough Pool. Price’s was a well established London-based
company, which was attracted by the proximity to Liverpool where palm oil
was imported. The company had discovered that this oil provided a new
inexpensive material to replace tallow and beeswax, and was a pioneer in the
use of industrial applications for the chemistry of fats to produce better
candles by modern production methods.1
2.4
Many key workers came from the Battersea works to train the local
workforce, and as the new riverside site was some distance from residential
areas, the factory owners decided to build new housing for the workforce.
The Wilson Brothers were religious and socially-motivated, and arranged for
services in the factory every morning, and for schooling for the children of
the workers in the evening.
2.5
The first houses were erected in 1854 on York Street, followed by Manor
Place in 1856. By 1858 there were 76 houses, including four large dwellings
for managers on The Green. A second phase was completed between 1872
and 1878, and a final phase in 1896-1901. A school was constructed in 1858,
which later became the village hall when the current school building was
erected in the 1890s. The company also provided paid holidays, pension
schemes and profit-sharing for their workforce.2
2.6
The houses were built in short rows on a grid of streets, and planned with
front and back gardens. Each had a parlour, kitchen and scullery on the
ground floor, and three bedrooms above. Eventually there was a village of 47
dwellings, although some have since been demolished. The original school of
1858 was designed by the company architect Julian Hill, and is now a public
hall. The chapel, originally non-denominational, but later made Church of
England, was built in 1889-90 by Leach of London. It is of red stone from the
company’s quarries, as is the replacement school of 1898. There were also
two hospitals, of 1878 and 1901. The original one was demolished after
bomb damage in 1941, and the later one is now a community centre.
2.7
In the early 20th century Prices was the largest manufacturer of candles in the
world, employing 2,150 people in its London and Bromborough factories, but
the use of gas and electricity for lighting affected its business, and in 1919 the
company was taken over by Lever Brothers, who were based nearby at Port
Sunlight. The factory continued in use until recent years as part of Unichems
Ltd. Of the original factory, only one building – in an Italianate style with a
clock tower – remains.
1
2
http://www.prices-candles.co.uk/history/historydetail.asp
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/
4
2.8
Following the loss of many of the buildings in the post-war period, the village
was declared a conservation area in 1984. This was followed in 1986 by listing
of the earlier houses and public buildings, together with the church. In 1989
the village was acquired by Riverside, which has undertaken extensive repair
and improvement work to the houses, public buildings and open spaces, as
well as constructing a number of sensitive new houses on infill sites.
2.9
Historic maps, reproduced on pages 6 and 7, show the gradual development
of the village. The different phases are shown by colour coding on the plan
taken from Wirral Council’s Conservation Area Appraisal and Management
Plan (CAMP), which is reproduced below.
5
OS Map 1870s
OS Map 1890s
6
OS Map 1910
OS Map 1930s
7
3
3. 1
3.2
CONTRIBUTION MADE BY THE SITE TO THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
BROMBOROUGH POOL CONSERVATION AREA
Character of the proposed site
The proposed football ground site is roughly rectangular and is located to the
south west of the village settlement. It consists of a flat grass area which is
bounded on all four sides by roads. To the north east it is overlooked by the
row of semi-detached houses fronting South View, which date from
1889-1901. The edge of South View is defined by a roadside kerb and a row
of cherry trees stretching the full length of the site. Along the south west
boundary to the busy Old Court House Road there is a timber fence with a
double row of trees. The north west corner of the site contains a surfaced car
park surrounded by concrete bollards which has been used by the factory,
together with a copse of mature poplars which help to screen the industrial
buildings beyond from the recreation ground. In the south east corner is the
social club, which formerly served as the hospital. This is approached by a
drive running across the green area from South View, and includes a bowling
green, surrounded by a tall beech hedge. The land is otherwise featureless,
but affords open views of the surrounding area.
The historic maps show that the site was used at least from the 1970s for
allotments, and probably earlier. This use continued until the mid 20th
century, when it became a football pitch. It is currently vacant and used for
informal recreation.
Aerial view of Bromborough Pool Village showing its relationship with the water and
the surrounding countryside
8
3.3
Character of the conservation area
The village has always been isolated. Originally it was surrounded by marshy
land on the edge of the Pool; today it is cut off from other residential areas
by modern industrial units, roads and surface car parks. It has also lost its
former connection with the River Mersey.
3.4
The character of the village today is therefore dependent on its internal
spaces and architecture. The terraces of houses are contained by an
orthogonal grid with rear gardens and a small space in front of each house.
The public buildings are mostly situated within the grid of housing, although
the cricket and bowling pavilions, and the social club are positioned away
from the housing. The grid is adjoined by two open spaces that serve as
recreational or sports grounds: to the north east is the cricket pitch, and to
the south west is the former football ground.
3.5
The Council’s CAMP states that the flatness of the surrounding area and its
modern industrial character largely preclude any interesting views into or out
of the conservation area, the only view of interest being that of the office
building with the tall campanile, which is a reminder of the original factory.
3.6
Significant views are short range and are better described as ‘streetscapes’,
featuring groups of village buildings, often of an equal hierarchy. These views
rarely terminate in an interesting feature, although there is visual interest in
the flanking elements of streetscape, as illustrated in the views of Manor
Place and South View below.
South View looking from the junction with Dock Road South
Manor Place
9
3.7
The CAMP also highlights the importance of green spaces and planting within
the village, which is important to the visual character of the conservation
area, but also performs a role as a buffer, often obscuring the poor quality
industrial units and infrastructure beyond. Attention is drawn to the area of
shrubs to the western ends of York Street and Manor Place, which provides
an attractive bookend to the streetscape. The trees along Old Court House
Road are also mentioned for the contribution they make to screening the
industrial sheds beyond.
3.8
It is pointed out in the CAMP that the two sports grounds have played an
important role in the social as well as visual significance of the village, since
participation in organized games was considered to play a part in the welfare
of the residents. Likewise, the original use of the football ground as
allotments would have encouraged recreation, self-sufficiency and healthy
eating. Although this area is no longer used either as allotments or football, it
remains of value as an open area on the perimeter of the village.
View across former football ground from west
View across former football ground from east
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4
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
4.1
The CAMP lists the principal aspects of significance that give the conservation
area its special character as:
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
Important example of a village created by wealthy industrialists that
helped to revolutionize the working and living standards of its
occupants
Historic residential area surviving within a large industrial area
Sixteen individual or groups of listed buildings, reflecting the high
level of significance of the village
The ancient site of the Court House – designated as a scheduled
monument and an important local history site
Buildings that date back to the 1850s
Simple, but carefully detailed terrace housing
The architecturally interesting public buildings of the school, church,
village hall and social club
Buildings within the area are almost entirely from the Victorian period
and have escaped the wholesale alteration that has significantly
damaged the character of other historic areas
Residential and primary public buildings set out on a grid surrounded
by open green spaces
Houses are of five different types
All houses are constructed of red brick with a Welsh slate roof. Other
materials are confined to the public, factory and higher status
buildings
Timber sliding sash windows would have featured on all of the
houses. These are generally still present on all of the listed terraces
and some of the semi-detached houses
There are relatively few extensions within the conservation area of
significant size
4.2
The former football ground contributes to two of these aspects of
significance, namely the historical and community importance of the village
as an example of pioneering social planning, and the value of the green
spaces that surround the grid to the overall character of the area.
4.3
From a social perspective, the area no longer fulfils its original purpose as an
active sports ground, and is little used.
4.4
As an open space, it cannot in itself be credited with special landscape value,
since it is largely featureless. Its principal importance is as a landscape buffer
from the unsympathetic industrial development and infrastructure that
surrounds the conservation area. In this respect the trees and shrubs that
bound the area are important.
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5
THE PROPOSAL
5.1
The proposal, which is explained in the Design and Access Statement,
involves the relocation of one adult pitch (to an existing adult pitch), creation
of two junior pitches and associated facilities at Bromborough Pool
Recreation Ground. In order to meet national standards of safety, security
and hygiene, this will involve improvements including the erection of a onemetre high fenced enclosure around the football ground, construction of a
changing, toilets and storage building and re-use of the existing car park.
5.2
After considering the options for siting of these facilities, it was decided to
position the amenity building in the north west corner of the site, beyond the
existing car park, so as to minimize its impact.
6
HERITAGE PLANNING CONTEXT
6.1
National Planning Policy and Guidance
Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
6.1.1 Statutory protection for built heritage is principally provided by the Planning
(Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.
National Planning Policy Framework
6.1.2 Historic Environment Policies included in the National Planning Policy
Framework (March 2012) replaced Planning Policy Statement 5 (PPS5).
6.1.3 The NPPF states that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to
the achievement of sustainable development. The Government sees three
dimensions to sustainable development: economic, social and
environmental, and these roles should be regarded as mutually dependent.
Economic growth can secure higher social and environmental standards, and
well-designed buildings and places can improve the lives of people and
communities. The planning system is therefore expected to play an active
role in guiding development to sustainable solutions. Policies 126-141 are
related to conserving and enhancing the historic environment.
6.1.4 The NPPF describes the historic environment in terms of “heritage assets.” It
defines the significance of a heritage asset as its value ‘to this and future
generations because of its heritage interest. That interest may be
archaeological, architectural, artistic or historic. Significance derives not only
from a heritage asset’s physical presence, but also from its setting.’
6.1.5 Paragraphs 128 and 129 of the NPPF require planning applicants and local
planning authorities to assess the significance of any heritage assets affected,
including any contribution made by their setting. The level of detail should be
appropriate to the assets’ importance and no more than sufficient to
understand the potential impact of the proposal on their significance. Local
12
planning authorities should take this assessment into account when the
potential impact of proposed development to avoid or minimise conflict
between the heritage asset’s conservation and any aspect of the proposal.
6.1.6 Paragraph 130 of the NPPF sates that where there is evidence of deliberate
neglect of or damage to a heritage asset the deteriorated state of the
heritage asset should not be taken into account in any decision.
6.1.7 Paragraph 131 states that local planning authorities should take account of
the desirability of new development sustaining and enhancing the
significance of heritage assets; the positive contribution that heritage assets
can make to sustainable communities; and the desirability of new
development making a positive contribution to local character and
distinctiveness.
6.1.8 Paragraph 132 sets out policy principles guiding the consideration of impact
of development on the significance of a designated heritage asset. The more
important the asset, the greater the weight should be given to the asset’s
conservation. Any harm to or loss should require clear or convincing
justification.
6.1.9 Paragraph 133 provides a series of tests which should be applied in cases
where substantial harm to or total loss of significance will be caused. In the
case of development proposals which will lead to less than substantial harm,
this harm should be weighed against the public benefits of the proposal,
including securing its optimum viable use.
6.1.10 Paragraph 134 states that where a development proposal will lead to less
than substantial harm to the significance of a heritage asset, this harm should
be weighed against the public benefits of the proposal, including securing its
optimum viable use.
6.1.11 Paragraph 137 states that local authorities should look for opportunities for
new development within Conservation Areas and within the setting of
heritage assets to enhance or better reveal their significance. Proposals that
preserve those elements of the setting that make a positive contribution to
or better reveal the significance of the asset should be treated favourably.
6.1.12 Paragraph 138 states that not all elements of a World Heritage Site or
Conservation Area will necessarily contribute to its significance. Loss of a
building (or other element) which makes a positive contribution to the
significance of the Conservation Area or World Heritage Site should be
treated either as substantial harm under paragraph 133 or less than
substantial harm under paragraph 134, as appropriate, taking into account
the relative significance of the element affected and its contribution to the
significance of the Conservation Area or the World Heritage Site as a whole.
13
6.1.13 Policy 141 states that local planning authorities should make information
about the significance of the historic environment gathered as part of the
development process publicly accessible, and should require developers to
record and advance understanding of the heritage asset before it is lost.
Conservation Principles: Policy and Guidance (English Heritage) 2008
6.1.14 The English Heritage document Conservation Principles: Policies and
Guidance for the Sustainable Management of the Historic Environment is
intended to guide conservation thinking and practice in England. It defines
conservation as managing change in ways that will sustain the significance of
places, for change in the historic environment is inevitable, whether caused
by natural processes, through use or by people responding to social,
economic and technological advances.
6.1.15 If the significance of a place is to be retained and its historic value
sympathetically managed, further change will inevitably be needed.
Development need not devalue the significance of the place, both its tangible
values, such as historic fabric, or its associational values, such as its place
within the landscape, provided the work is done with understanding.
6.1.16 The Principles state that new work or alteration to a significant place should
normally be acceptable if:
·
·
·
·
There is sufficient information comprehensively to understand the
impacts of the proposal on the significance of the place;
The proposal would not materially harm the values of the place,
which, where appropriate, would be reinforced or further revealed;
The proposals aspire to a quality of design and execution which may
be valued now and in the future;
The long-term consequences of the proposals can, from experience,
be demonstrated to be benign, or the proposals are designed not to
prejudice alternative solutions in the future.
6.1.17 It is suggested that features of lesser significance offer opportunities to
create heritage values of tomorrow, which can be achieved if the quality of
the new work is of a high standard of design, materials, detailing and
execution.
6.2
Local Policy and Guidance
Unitary Development Plan for Wirral
6.2.1 Wirral Council is committed to securing new development of
commensurate with local character and the protection of
environment. The Heritage and Conservation chapter of
Development Plan includes a number of historic environment
are relevant to the application proposal, as follows:
14
high quality,
the historic
the Unitary
policies that
6.2.2 CHO1 THE PROTECTION OF HERITAGE
In considering all development proposals the local planning authority will pay
particular attention to the protection of:
i)
ii)
iii)
Buildings, structures and other features of recognised architectural or
historic importance;
historic areas of distinctive quality and character; and
Important archaeological sites and monuments
Proposals which would significantly prejudice these objectives will not be
permitted.
6.2.3 CH1: DEVELOPMENT
STRUCTURES POLICY
AFFECTING
LISTED
BUILDINGS
AND
Development likely to affect a building or structure listed under Section 1 of
the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 will be
permitted
where:
(i) the proposals are of a nature and scale appropriate to retaining the
character and design of the building or structure and its setting; and
(ii) adequate provision is made for the preservation of the special
architectural or historic features of the building or structure.
When granting consent, special regard will be given to matters of detailed
design, to the nature, quality and type of materials proposed to be used, and
to the need for the alteration or development proposed, in terms of securing
the viable, long-term future of the building or structure.
6.2.4 CH2: DEVELOPMENT AFFECTING CONSERVATION AREAS
Development located within, adjacent to, or otherwise affecting the setting or
special character of a Conservation Area, will be permitted where the visual
and operational impact of the proposals can be demonstrated to preserve or
enhance:
i)
ii)
The distinctive characteristics of the Area, including important views
into and out of the designated Area;
The general design and layout of the Area, including the relationship
between its buildings, structures, trees and characteristic open spaces;
and
15
iii)
The character and setting of period buildings and other elements
which make a positive contribution to the appearance and special
character of the Area.
When granting consent, special regard will be given to matters of detailed
design, especially within main frontages and prominent elevations, and to the
nature, quality and type of materials proposed to be used.
6.2.5 CH3: DEMOLITION CONTROL WITHIN CONSERVATION AREAS
The demolition of buildings or structures within a designated Conservation
Area, other than Listed Buildings or structures, will only be permitted where:
i)
ii)
The building or structure to be removed has little historic importance,
visual merit or group value, or otherwise detracts from the special
character of the Area; and
Detailed plans for redevelopment have been approved by the Local
Planning Authority and would serve to enhance the character of the
Area.
6.2.6 CH22: BROMBOROUGH POOL CONSERVATION AREA POLICY
In relation to Bromborough Pool Conservation Area the principal planning
objectives for the area will be to:
(i) retain the uniform, planned form of the historic, industrial workers village;
(ii) preserve the open aspect of land providing an important separation
function from surrounding modern industrial uses;
(iii) retain unifying features of design, including the grid-iron pattern, terraces
of four, materials, scale, elevational treatment and garden areas; and
(iv) retain the high wall bounding the Village along Dock Road South.
Only primarily residential uses will be permitted within the Area and
notwithstanding designation as sports grounds under Proposal RE6, priority
will be given to retaining the primarily open aspect of land used as playing
fields at The Green and fronting South View.
Bromborough Pool Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan
2009
6.2.7 This document which is discussed in sections 3 and 4 above contains a
number of policies relating to management of the conservation area.
16
7
7.1
HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT
The change of use of the site to a football ground
Since 2013, when the recreation ground ceased use as a football pitch, the
land has lacked a specific purpose, and is used solely as an informal
recreation area for dog walking, knock-about games and individual exercise.
While this is of recreational value to the local community, it does not accord
with the active social purpose for which the land was originally dedicated.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, its function was as allotments,
encouraging self-sufficiency, and later it became used for football.
7.2
While Riverside has continued to mow the grass and keep the area tidy and
free of litter, the current lack of a specific use is likely to engender a limited
maintenance regime, and will not justify investment in new tree planting or
other landscape enhancement, which could of long benefit for the
conservation area.
7.3
The proposed sports use of the land will therefore bring activity back to the
area, and act as a catalyst for improvement. Consequent economic
investment and associated environmental improvements could have a major
beneficial impact.
7.4
Impact of development
The development required is very limited. There will be a main full-sized
football pitch, and two junior pitches. These are grouped together at the
centre of the existing grassed area, and surrounded by a one-metre high
fence. The fence is required to keep dogs off the pitches for health and safety
reasons, and will be constructed of a light wire mesh. The fence will not
impede views across the main area, and together with the erection of goal
posts will be the only visible change. This will have a negligible impact on the
character and appearance of the area.
7.5
The only building required for the proposed use is the changing room and
toilet block. This is single storey and measures 26m x 4.5m. It will be clad in
vertical timber boarding in a natural or stained finish with a membrane or
profiled metal roof. The building has no windows for security reasons, and
the only openings are five reinforced steel doors along the front elevation
facing the football pitches, and a larger doorway in the south west facade.
The building is designed in a simple and unassertive manner, with the result
that its impact will be minimized. It is deliberately sited in the corner of the
field, against the backdrop of mature trees on the opposite side of Pool Lane,
and within the vicinity of a mature copse of poplars that will partly shield it
from view. The impact of this building will be negligible.
7.6
The existing car park on the site will be enhanced and used by the football
club, with the result that there will be no loss of green space to new areas of
handstanding. The impact will be neutral or slightly beneficial.
17
7.7
7.8
Relationship to listed buildings
No listed buildings are visible in relation to the site, which is bounded by the
unlisted buildings on South View. The impact on listed buildings will
therefore be neutral.
Conclusion
The proposal will therefore have no harmful effect on heritage significance,
and provides the potential for public benefits in terms of wider social,
recreational and community activities. It will return the grass area closer to
its original purpose, which is a fundamental aspect of significance of the
conservation area. There could also be benefits in terms of improved
maintenance and investment in environmental enhancement. The proposal
therefore fulfils the objectives of the NPPF relating to the conservation of the
historic environment. It is also compatible with the relevant policies of the
Wirral Council UDP, and the Bromborough Pool Conservation Area
Management Plan.
18