Sculcoates Conservation Area

Sculcoates Conservation Area provides heritage protection for three distinct areas. The -

• former medieval settlement of Sculcoates, which evolved to become a Victorian industrial zone
• natural environment of the Beverley and Barmston Drain
• late 19^th and early 19^th residential suburb of Northumberland Court

Sculcoates Conservation Area was designated on the 20 January 2005. The designation of the Conservation Area includes the former location of the Needler factory and other areas of industrial landscape. The boundary of the Conservation Area has not been reviewed since 2005 and requires re-assessment. A ‘Character Appraisal’ which describes why the area is a conservation area has not been adopted for Sculcoates.

As part of the ongoing re-surveys of all of Hull’s Conservation Areas, Sculcoates has been selected as the tenth area to be reviewed and to undergo public consultation.

Public consultation is being undertaken on the following proposals -

• changes to the designated boundary of the Sculcoates Conservation Area
• the adoption of a Conservation Area ‘Character Appraisal and Management Plan’

Details of what is happening and how you can provide feedback are provided as follows -

What is a Conservation Area?

A ‘Conservation Area’ is a designated area of special architectural or historic interest relating to the heritage of the City of Hull. We currently have 26 designated Conservation Areas(External link). The designation removes certain permitted development rights associated with the demolition and alteration of buildings. It introduces additional requirements for new development for buildings and land located within the boundary of the Conservation Area. It also introduces controls over the felling and pruning of trees. Applications for development within a Conservation Area, and its setting, are assessed by specific heritage policies and legislation.

What Boundary Changes are Being Proposed?

Proposals are being made to remove the following areas from the Sculcoates Conservation Area which are considered as no longer contributing towards the area’s special interest -

1. residential dwellings located on Abbey Way and Needler Way.
2. area of industrial land located between the Beverley and Barmston Drain and to the west of the ‘Tannery’.
3. area of land to the north of Bankside Park from the Travellers Site.

Consideration is also being given to removing the following areas to the north of Sculcoates Lane -

1. section of Railway Embankment to the west of Abbey Way.
2. the area of the Beverley and Barmston Drain between Abbey Way and Needler Way.

The attached map identifies the area being consulted on for removal.

What is a Character Appraisal?

To inform on the special interest and reasons why an area is designated as a Conservation Area, we can adopt a ‘Character Appraisal’ document.

A character appraisal will include information such as a definition of the special interest of the Conservation Area. It will explain the character of its built and natural environment, and will identify key elements such as -

• buildings
• open spaces
• views

A character appraisal can be prepared as a joint document or separately with a ‘Management Plan’ document.

What is a Management Plan?

A Management Plan provides guidance on how development should take place within the Conservation Area. It includes guidance on what features should be retained and how elements such as advertising should be introduced. It can also identify positive and negative trends within a Conservation Area and propose management tools for reversing or promoting such trends.

What is in the new Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan?

The new Character Appraisal and Management Plan (CAMP) includes the following elements -

1. a definition of the individual elements of special interest of the Conservation Area
2. a historic and archaeological assessment of the area
3. an explanation of the historic layout of the area and how this influences the Conservation Area boundary
4. a review of the character of the built and natural environment of the area
5. the grading of buildings by their contribution towards the special interest of the conservation area
6. the identification of positive architectural features which contribute towards the character and appearance in the area
7. the contribution made by the natural environment to the area
8. the importance of open spaces within the Conservation Area
9. identifies key views and vista
10. opportunities for further development
11. management guidance for the conservation area

Specifically for the unique industrial character of Sculcoates the character appraisal identifies the following elements -

• the importance of the historic layout and settlement pattern of Sculcoates
• the significance of the contribution made by surviving late 19^th and early 20^th industrial architecture, including fragments of boundary walls

A copy of the Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan is available download here.

What happens when a Character Appraisal and Management Plan is Adopted?

Once a Character Appraisal and Management Plan have been agreed they form a ‘material consideration’ in the determination of planning and advertisement control applications. This means that an application for development or alteration to a building within a Conservation Area should be determined in accordance with the Character Appraisal and Management Plan.