| Abstract: |
The purpose of heritage impact assessment is twofold: Firstly, to understand – insofar as is reasonably practicable and in proportion to the importance of the asset – the significance of a historic building, complex, area or archaeological monument (the ‘heritage asset’). Secondly, to assess the likely effect of a proposed development on the heritage asset (direct impact) and/or its setting (indirect impact). The methodology employed in this assessment is based on the approaches advocated in Managing Significance in Decision-Taking in the Historic Environment [GPA2 Historic England 2015] and The Setting of Heritage Assets 2ND Edition [GPA3 Historic England 2017], used in conjunction with the ICOMOS [2011] and National highways [DMRB LA 104 2020] guidance. General policy and guidance for the conservation of the historic environment are now contained within the National Planning Policy Framework (Department for Communities and Local Government 2012 revised 2021).
Any development within a historic environment has the potential for both direct and indirect impacts. Direct impacts can be characterised as the physical effect the development may have on heritage assets within, or immediately adjacent to, the redline boundary. These impacts are almost always adverse, i.e., they represent the disturbance or destruction of archaeological features and deposits within the footprint of the Scheme. Indirect impacts can be characterised as the way the development affects the visual, aural, and experiential qualities (i.e., setting) of a designated heritage asset in the wider area, where the significance of that asset is at least partly derived from those qualities. These impacts can be adverse, beneficial, or neutral.
The designated heritage assets potentially impacted by a development are, by definition, a known quantity and, to a greater or lesser extent, their significance is appreciated and understood. Nonetheless, understanding of the value and significance of the designated heritage assets must be achieved via a staged process of identification and assessment in line with the relevant guidance. We can see the significance of the building has already been assessed in previous reports (included and updated here in Section 3), so the Impact Assessment below will quantify how the new proposals may affect those various areas of significance, for both the farmhouse and cottage. Batson Hall Farmhouse and Cottage are much altered buildings, that derive their value from the interesting remains of a former high-status mansion or manor house on the site. The farmhouse and cottage have undergone considerable change in the 2019-2021 period and now a new scheme aims to rationalise those changes and finish the project, the house having been derelict for a long period in the 2000s. Whilst much of the change is seen as sensible and sympathetic, a considerable burden of change has been placed on the cottage element of the range – whilst in many ways this is seen as sensible, the farmhouse is technically of higher status and importance, the cottage is an intrinsic and vital part of the wider narrative and it is felt that the extent of the changes here probably do represent a level of harm, which could affect one of the main conservation values of narrative significance.
The general design response to the project is considered to reflect a modern farmhouse aesthetic which is felt to be appropriate and could benefit the future understanding of the building in its 17th century phase, when first constructed out of the ruins. The use of vernacular materials no doubt echoes the earlier medieval phase well, as the quality and level of detail reflects the sites former high status. There is a lack of post medieval character or referencing of those phases in the current design however and the cottage would be the perfect location to emphasise this. |
