This report constitutes a heritage statement for the former St Luke's chapel building on the former Winterton hospital site on the north side of Sedgefield and includes a desk-based cultural heritage and visual impact assessment. The heritage statement was prepared by The Archaeological Practice Ltd at the request of Intersect Architects Ltd. for George Bhaker, Next Gen Homes NE Ltd. The report incorporates an audit of historical landscape components and presents a synthesis of the overall chronology of the site. It identifies cultural heritage constraints upon the proposed development and makes recommendations regarding further work required to mitigate the impact of the scheme. The report also includes consideration of potential visual impact constraints upon development. It is concluded that this impressive Victorian Gothic chapel is a building of considerable quality in which the use of polychrome brickwork is used here to particularly good effect. It appears to be the only church designed by the little-known architect, William Crozier junior, which is considered surprising in view of its quality superior to that expected in a Victorian institutional building. The building stands alone and unenclosed in wooded parkland with adjacent modern housing developments visible from its south and west sides and woodland interrupting views to the north and east. Its location means that no other sites or buildings of known cultural heritage value are visible from it or likely to be impacted by any developments associated with it. During the century or so of its use the church suffered very little modification, and the post-deconsecration changes have been tactful, independent of the original structure and reversible, although the infilling of the nave aisles inevitably leads to a change in how the interior of the church is appreciated. In its current disused state, the building is vulnerable to further gradual decay, however, presenting a potential threat to its the long-term survival, and requires a new function. The proposed remodelling for residential use will ensure its survival if a reasonable balance is achieved between conservation of the original building and the need for it to serve its new function. Thus, whilst the structural integrity of the building remains of paramount importance given its designated status, certain relatively minor modifications could be considered acceptable in order to ensure its renewed use. While changes are essential to its continued use, these must respect the original fabric and architectural features which are of high quality. Such interventions should aim to be minimal or restorative with respect to the original building, including its walls, roofing and floors, although some adaptation to the windows and roofs in order to introduce more daylight are considered acceptable. In the context of the National Planning Policy Framework, with its emphasis on sustainability in the context of conserving heritage assets at risk, it may be considered that minor alterations, as well as any indirect negative impacts in terms of visual impact are counterbalanced, or mitigated by the safe and economically-viable operation of a building which retains its structural integrity. Also important, though secondary, is that the internal spaces, within which the outstanding polychrome brickwork and fine roof structure can be appreciated, are divided up as little as possible. It is recognised, however, that while ameliorative measures may be possible, it is probably not feasible to redevelop the building whilst retaining former and existing levels of intervisibility between internal features.
Ryder et al. (Mon,) studied this question.