06 July 2015
Delivered electronically
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea,
Planning Services,
Town Hall,
Hornton Street,
W8 7NX
Dear Joanna,
LISTED BUILDING CONSENT APPLICATION - YOUR REF: LB/02374
9 WILBRAHAM PLACE, LONDON, SW1X 9AE
We are acting on behalf of the freehold owners of 9 Wilbraham Place and, following the earlier submission
of a listed building consent application, reference LB/15/02374 for works at roof level, I am pleased to
provide, in respect of no. 9 Wilbraham Place, a new application for determination, which includes the
following supplementary documentation:
•
Location plan, (ref: MAA100) to a scale 1:1250, with the site outlined in red
•
Site plan, (ref: MAA100a) to a scale 1:500 showing the site outlined in red
•
Roof plan (ref. MAA_101B) showing proposed areas of works
•
Roof plan (ref MAA_108) showing the proposed anti-skid walkway at roof level
•
Rosewood Method Statements (ref. RMS-01)
•
Photograph showing the existing lead dome on the Wilbraham Place elevation of the
building
•
Sika Specification, works to flat roof (ref. SSP)
•
WCJ Engineering Report, detailing works to the chimney (ref. WCJ-R1A)
•
Supporting photographs showing the condition of the asphalt roof, as existing (to follow)
•
Supporting photographs showing the condition of the chimney stacks, as existing (to
follow)
The Charlotte Building
17 Gresse Street
London
W1T 1QL
T 020 7851 4010 turley.co.uk
Registered in England Turley Associates Limited no. 2235387. Registered office: 1 New York Street, Manchester, M1 4HD
Proposals
This application relates to:
Works at roof level to include;
Removal of defective lead from dome on Wilbraham Place elevation and replacement on a like-forlike basis
Repair to damaged areas of mastic asphalt on main flat roof and apply coating of Sika
Removal of defective cement render to chimney stacks and repair on a like-for-like basis.
There will be no alterations to the interior of the building as part of this application.
Significance of the Building
No. 9 Wilbraham Place is a grade II listed building located within the Sloane Square Conservation Area.
The property was listed on 31st August 1999 and the listed description reads:
Mansion flats. Circa 1896 in Queen Anne style, architect not known. Built of red brick with stuccoed
dressings and C20 tiled roof with Westmorland slates and stone finial to corner turret. Each of the three
buildings has a different elevational treatment but forms a unified composition. 9A is of 5 storeys
basement and attics; 4 sash windows. Attic has three triple windows divided by pilasters. Bracket cornice.
Fifth floor has 3 triple windows and single window. Other floors have three curved bows through all floors
with brick aprons (moulded to ground floor) and attached cast iron railings. Other window has mainly
French windows and cast iron balconettes. Doorcase with double open fanlight and steps to street. No 9 is
also of 5 storeys and attics with 4 windows to Wilbraham Place, including square tower to left and circular
turret to right. Left side tower has curved lead roof. Attic storey has rusticated pilasters. Above the fifth
floor is a segmental pediment with brackets. Triple window below with decorated terracotta panels and
balustrading. Entrance has 4 Tuscan columns on piers and wooden double doors. To the right is a further
bay with single windows, mostly French windows with cast iron balconies. Corner tower has cast iron
balconies on all floors. 9B is also of 5 storeys and attics and basements and 4 windows. To the extreme
left is full-height chimney breast. Attic has 4 double stuccoed flat roofed dormers. Large bracket cornice.
Third and fourth floors have triple windows under cambered arches. Through basement to second floors
are triple canted bays with aprons and balustrading above. Attached area railings. Rear elevation is
plainer with cambered sashes and central external staircase. INTERIOR: Panelled halls with tessellated
floors. Well staircases with scrolled cast iron balusters and brass handrails and two 1920s Marriott Scott
lifts with cast iron grilles and mahogany cars. Original five-panelled rosewood doors remain together with
elaborate cornices and fireplaces with bolection mouldings, Gibbs surrounds and pilasters with plumed
capitals, paterae and panels.
The significance of the building derives from the successful application of the Queen Anne style through
the architectural detailing of the Wilbraham Place elevation, which has been little altered in its
appearance. The building is six storeys in height above basement, of red brick construction with stucco
embellishments.
At ground floor level of the Wilbraham Place elevation, are simple cast iron railings, the design of which is
repeated on the balconies at first, second and third floor level. The half-round bays on the Wilbraham
Place elevation, embellished with stucco banding and brick projecting collars add interest to the character
of the street scene. Likewise, the variety of window designs, some of which are accented by stucco
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surrounds, provides a visual contrast to the red brick façade. At fifth floor, the triple windows, divided by
pilasters add vertical emphasis to the façade. On the corner of Wilbraham Place is a turreted tower, which
carries the high quality design onto D’Oyley Street. On the whole, the D’Oyley Street elevation is of a
more simple design and of lesser significance to the principal elevation of Wilbraham Place. The Ellis
Street elevation, in contrast to Wilbraham Place and D’Oyley Street is of a simple design and free of
detailing and embellishments. The windows are cambered timber sash windows, again of a more simple
design than those of the other two elevations, illustrating the lower status of this elevation. Overall, the
Ellis Street elevation does not contribute to the significance of the building.
Impact of Proposed Development Upon Significance
The proposed works have taken consideration of the statutory duty of the Planning (Listed Buildings and
Conservation Areas) Act 1990, national policy set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (The
Framework), and regional and local policy for the historic environment.
Paragraph 132 of the Framework requires that when considering the impact of proposals on the
significance of a designated heritage asset, great weight should be given to their conservation, and the
more important the asset the greater the weight should be. Where a development proposal would cause
harm to a designated heritage asset, this should be treated as either 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.
Policy CL4 of the Council’s Conservation and Design Policy SPD, adopted 3rd December 2014, states
that, “the Council will require development to protect the heritage significance of listed buildings…To
deliver this the Council will require all development and any works for alterations or extensions related to
listed buildings, scheduled ancient monuments and sites of archaeological interest, to preserve the
heritage significance of the building, monument or site or their setting or any features of special
architectural or historic interest;
1. Removal of defective lead from dome on Wilbraham Place elevation and replacement on a like-for-like
basis
The lead on the dome roof, seen from the Wilbraham Place elevation is currently in poor condition, with
evidence of corrosion and rippling, as seen in the photograph below. If left, the lead will begin lifting or
splitting and will allow water to penetrate into the sub structure. The lead will be replaced on a like for like
basis with sheet lead, as detailed within the Rosewood Method Statement, page 3. This like for like
replacement will preserve the special architectural significance of this feature of interest and would not
alter the appearance of the leaded dome or of the building as a whole.
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Photograph showing the lead dome on the Wilbraham Place elevation
2. Repair to damaged areas of mastic asphalt on main flat roof and apply coating of Sika
The main roof consists of a flat concrete deck covered with mastic asphalt. Areas of cracking and
'slumping' of the asphalt has started to occur around the front edge abutting the top of the mansard slope
on the Wilbraham and D'Oyley Street elevations. The asphalt has been patch repaired and painted in the
past to extend its life, however, it has now reached a point where the deterioration will lead to water
ingress beneath the surface of the asphalt. Photographs showing its current condition are provided with
the application.
This current proposal for repairs to the asphalt has been set out in the Method Statement provided by
Rosewood (page 4). All localised blisters, cracks and other defects would be 'ironed out' using the hot
poultice method, the repairs are intended to give an even surface ready of the application of cold poured
Decothane in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations by a Sika specialist approved
contractor. All perimeter lead flashings would be carefully turned back to allow access to the asphalt
surface and dressed back into position on the completion of the works. The details of the Sika application
are detailed within the Specification provided by Sika, submitted with this application. Attached to the Sika
specification are typical sketch details for the various features such as perimeter upstands and pipes
where they protrude through the roof surface.
The repairs to the asphalt will preserve the heritage significance of the listed building by preventing any
further damage to the building’s fabric. The repairs will not alter the appearance of the building therefore
will not impact upon the architectural significance. The current roof covering is modern in fabric and these
repairs will arrest any further deterioration that may result in damage to historic fabric below.
3. Removal of defective cement render to chimney stacks and repair on a like-for-like basis
The 18 chimney stacks on the roof of 9 Wilbraham Place have been inspected by WCJ Surveyors (report
attached) and they have provided a recommendation of repairs, which is detailed within the Method
Statement, provided by Rosewood (page 5). The chimneys are currently in a poor state of repair, as
demonstrated by the photographs submitted in support of this application. The proposed works to the
chimneys are a remedial approach to the fabric, in an attempt to prolong their lifespan. Any more intrusive
works would likely risk the integrity of the chimney stacks and would require the replacement of the
chimney stacks sooner than would be desirable. The proposed works would preserve maximum amount of
historic fabric therefore would be considered to enhance the architectural significance of the listed
building.
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Accordingly, the proposals will conform to national and local planning policies and will enhance the special
interest of the listed building, which is primarily invested in the high quality architectural detailing of the
Wilbraham Place elevation.
I trust that this is satisfactory but should you wish to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Yours faithfully
Paul Crisp
Associate Director
paul.crisp@turley.co.uk
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