50 years of fighting to preserve city's heritage (Nottingham)

JUST over 50 years ago, a group of men – and they were all men – came together to form the Nottingham Civic Society.

They set up an acting committee and then called an inaugural meeting on January 11 1962 at the Co-operative Education Centre, in Broad Street.

Half a century on, the society is still flourishing, and one of the original committee, Robert Cullen, is still active as a vice-president.

The society was formed because of a shared concern about the buildings and heritage of Nottingham.

In 1956 the Collins almshouses, on the south side of Friar Lane, were demolished, and in 1961 it was possible to save the 14th-century Severns Building, originally in Middle Pavement, only by re-erecting it to a site at the top of Castle Road, where it still is. At the inaugural meeting in 1962 the Civic Society declared its aim to be "to encourage the improvement, development and preservation of the features which go to make a pleasing environment for the citizens of Nottingham".

This "pleasing environment" was partly about saving buildings of historic importance, and partly about taking an interest in what was being planned for the future.

They wanted to co-operate with, rather than to be seen as opposing, the city's planning authority.

This was not as easy as it sounds. An early speaker was the city engineer, Fred Little, who set out plans for encircling inner-Nottingham with a motorway.

The Civic Society decided it could not co-operate but must put up a fight. As a result, a public inquiry was ordered and the plans were terminated, although it was too late to stop Maid Marian Way.

At least the rest of this scheme, which would have seen an inner ring road cutting straight through the Park, and the demolition of part of the Lace Market, was halted.

Since then, most of the Civic Society's work has been concerned with conservation and new design.

Some battles it has won and some it has lost. A "victory" was persuading the government to think again about the original plans for the Inland Revenue building on Castle Boulevard. The society lobbied for an architectural competition, which was won by the Michael Hopkins partnership.

Subsequently the Hopkins partnership went on to design the University of Nottingham's Jubilee Campus.

A recent defeat was the failure to stop the plans proposed for redeveloping the Odeon site, in Angel Row. There have been other setbacks as well. The society is still fighting to save 41 Pilcher Gate, believed to be Nottingham's oldest house, and County House in High Pavement.

The Civic Society rightly respects and rewards good design. Its long-running Mark of the Month award, now known as its Commendation scheme, aims both to support and draw attention to good quality new architecture, environmental improvements, restoration and conservation.

Recent awards have gone to Maggie's Cancer Care Centre at the City Hospital, a new building by Piers Gough, an architect of national standing; and a converted Wetherspoons pub, the William Peverel in Bulwell.

Fifty years ago Nottingham was primarily a lace-making city, and it had four coal mines inside its boundaries.

There are no collieries today. Raleigh has gone. Players has moved to a single factory in Lenton, and Boots is primarily focused on its Beeston site.

The Civic Society has had to think about the buildings left behind by these changes, and to suggest new use of the vacated sites.

In the early days the society also had to worry about the building of the Victoria and Broadmarsh centres, and the demolition of one of the city's iconic buildings, the Black Boy Hotel in Long Row.

Hilary Silvester, the current chairman, recently said the aim of the society was to maintain "the character and vitality of Nottingham".

Ken Brand, a long-serving vice-president, talks of how the society seeks to "create an interest in the local built environment and its architects past and present". Among those "past" were the great Victorian architects T C Hine and Watson Fothergill, on whose work Ken is the acknowledged expert.

Above all it must continue to support the good, and oppose the not so good, to keep the city council on its toes, and preserve the heritage of the city.

From: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/50-years-fighting-preserve-city-s-heritage/story-15254884-detail/story.html

News - Council fighting on to get listed status (Kimberley)

KIMBERLEY Town Council is fighting on to get an old railway building at the brewery site listed after an appeal was rejected.

Councillors applied to get the old Midland Railway building listed in April 2009 and when it was rejected they appealed.

But the appeal was recently rejected and councillors are now asking Nottinghamshire’s Thoroton Historical Society and the Civic Society to help.

Council chairman Roy Plumb said it was a very significant building and if it was listed it could be restored.

“We feel the fact that it’s so unique has been overlooked. Unless we get new intervention we have shot it. And yet that building is of a very important nature,” he said.

“We are looking for fresh blood. These societies might see some other features that were not taken into account during the decision making process,

“The Thoroton Society has been going for over 100 years and is very well respected.

“We are hoping that they may well have the experience and enthusiasm to take it on board for us because they will see the potential for it straight away.”

The station was one of the first arts and crafts style buildings, if not the first, built by Charles Trubshaw for Midland Railway in 1879.

Cllr Plumb said the building had been vandalised to ‘high heaven’ over the years, but if it was given listed status it could be restored and cleaned up.

The council wants the building to be given listed status so it becomes a feature in Kimberley, said the chairman.

“People will come to look at its unique features,” he said.

“If it’s got significant value in the architectural world, it would make something of it. We could bring it back to its original style and appearance.”

Features of an arts and crafts style building include prominent chimneys and decorative sunflower images.

Kimberley historian John Lee said: “It’s a shame the appeal was rejected, but involving the Thoroton Society is a good idea because they have people with a lot of expertise.

“It’s a very rare building architecturally,” he added.

Charles Trubshaw went on to design some very key buildings for Midland Railway and has several listed buildings elsewhere in the country.

From: http://www.eastwoodadvertiser.co.uk/news/eastwood-kimberley-news/council_fighting_on_to_get_listed_status_1_4080519

News - Controversial Nottingham Lace Market office block approved

 

Developers Studon Holdings produced artists' impressions of how the office block would look

Plans have been approved for a new office block in Nottingham's Lace Market that heritage campaigners have warned will ruin an iconic city view.

The six-storey £12m development in High Pavement had been criticised by the Civic Society because it would obstruct views of St Mary's Church.

The project is due to create about 320 jobs when the new offices open.

Planning committee chairman Chris Gibson said it would "bring new life to a very difficult site".

He said the council had been considering applications for this site for more than six years and had worked to get a design that "sits comfortably in one of Nottingham's most historic and attractive areas".

"We believe these plans sit sympathetically alongside St Mary's Church and the nearby buildings.

"People who are familiar with High Pavement and Short Hill will realise there is a big space used as a car park that has been there since the bombs dropped in the 1940s that eventually is going to be put back so it looks like a proper street," Mr Gibson said.

But Hilary Silvester, of Nottingham Civic Society, said: "We are disappointed with the decision as it will impact on the views of the Lace Market and particularly St Mary's Church which is located in the oldest part of the city."

'Block the view'

She said the glass construction material being used on the buildings would create "glare" and ruin the view.

Ms Silvester added: "The council in Lincoln would never build something that would block the view of the [Lincoln] cathedral - would they?"

 

The civic society said the view from the south was one of the most important in the city

The city council's development control committee was told the location was one of the most sensitive in the city centre with an iconic view of Nottingham from the south.

Developers Studon Holdings will pay £38,675 towards improving public transport in the area.

An archaeological survey will be carried out before work begins.

Archaeologists believe "significant pre-Norman Conquest" items may be found on the site.

From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-16302327

Nottingham City Council proving themselves as ever as morons!

News - Nottingham Lace Market office block plan criticised

 

Plans for an office block in a historic part of Nottingham have been criticised by campaigners.

Studon Holdings wants to develop the last open site in the Lace Market, currently a car park, and alter three listed buildings.

The civic society said the six-storey development would harm the skyline around St Mary's Church and one of the most important views in the city.

Councillors have been recommended to approve the plans at a meeting later.

Much of the site has been empty since buildings damaged in bombing during World War II were demolished.

Plans for a larger building on the site were rejected in 2007.

 

'Sensitive location'

Nottingham's Civic Society and English Heritage have both objected to the plans as being too large and intrusive.

Ian Wells, from the civic society, said: "Our great worry is that it will impact on views of the church, you can see the east end of the church at the moment and their is a great sense of visual climax at the moment.

"There have been very telling comparisons made with Lincoln and the view as you drive towards it with the cathedral right at the top - would they build something obscuring that view?"

Planning officers said the site was "one of the most sensitive locations in the city centre" but said changes to the amount of glazing and a red brick finish meant "the height and mass of the proposed development now responds well to the significance of this view".

Studon Holdings said it could not comment on the plans at this time.

From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-16283160

Link - In pictures: Historic buildings for sale in Nottingham

Nottinghamshire County Council are selling off several historic buildings: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-14528625