6 Seagrave Road | Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment Addendum | November 2011

2.0 Conclusions of the Original TVIA

As reproduced from the original TVIA:

Impacts on the Character of the Surrounding Area

2.1 The scale and mass of the Proposed Development has been carefully considered in relation to the character of the existing context. The Proposed Development will not harm the setting of any local heritage assets. It has been conceived as an integral part of the townscape of the locality. The positive character of buildings and open spaces in the wider context of the Site will not be harmed by the Proposed Development, which will, where visible, contribute to the existing urban setting of conservation areas.

2.2 The Proposed Development has been carefully designed to connect positively with the surrounding hinterland. The improved visibility, connectivity and permeability of the Site will effectively integrate the currently isolated Site with its surroundings.

Impacts on Local Views and Views from Surrounding Sensitive Receptors

2.3 The selected views permit the Proposed Development to be assessed in the round and in relation to relevant assessment criteria. Taken together they illustrate the impact of the proposals on existing views, and its relation to its urban and broader west London context.

2.4 Considerable thought has been given to the visual effect of the scale and massing of the Proposed Development in relation to its different orientations and environmental conditions, and particularly its visual impact on Brompton Cemetery as a significant local heritage asset. The redevelopment of the Site into a new high quality urban quarter with enhanced permeability and connectivity, will transform this part of London without harming any historic assets. The Proposed Development will have a beneficial effect on the character of the landscape and townscape of the Site and surrounding area and on views towards the Site and from within it.

2.5 The Views Assessment has demonstrated that the Proposed Development will relate well to local conservation areas and will not be harmful to the setting of listed buildings in the vicinity. No heritage assets will be harmed by the Proposed Development. Where visible, the Proposed Development will improve the setting of, or leave unharmed, key views from local conservation areas.

2.6 The impact significance on built heritage will range between negligible to major significance, and this is judged to be entirely beneficial. This is due to the long evolution of Proposed Development by renowned architects, an integrated process that has benefited from extensive consultation with statutory consultees, and:

• Recognition that the character of the conservation areas in London is one of contrasts, of historic and modern buildings, and that modern buildings of high design quality do not harm the settings of historic buildings; and

• The considerable townscape gains achieved on Site from the Proposed Development as a whole.

Impacts of the Proposed Development in relation to designated heritage assets (PPS5 Assessment)

2.7 There are no designated or undesignated heritage assets on the Site. The setting of a number of designated heritage assets in the surrounding area will be potentially affected; these impacts are identified and assessed above and no harmful impact has been found.

2.8 The setting of the Cemetery is presently distinctly urban. It is, in part, the contrasting character of its setting that provides the sense of enclosure which contributes to its significance. The listed structures and monuments within the Cemetery are seen in relation to both this immediate, open and green setting and the wider setting of urban development seen beyond its borders.

7Seagrave Road | Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment Addendum | November 2011

2.9 The focal point of the Cemetery is the formal composition of the Ceremonial Axis and the listed buildings at either end of it. The Proposed Development will not visibly alter that composition or the visitor’s experience of its centrality within the Cemetery.

2.10 The Proposed Development will be visible along the western boundary of the site in relation to the existing Empress State Building and the EDF substation, through and above existing mature trees. Where visible the Proposed Development will have a layered and well articulated composition that will be read as a distant townscape. In summer, planting on the western side of the Cemetery will screen the Proposed Development to a greater extent. The setting of the Grade I listed Cemetery and conservation area and the Grade II* and Grade II listed structures within it will not be harmed.

2.11 The impact of the Proposed Development on the Sedlescombe Road Conservation Area, will be minor to moderate and wholly beneficial.

2.12 The impacts on the settings of local conservation areas, and listed buildings in the local area have been assessed and where visible the Proposed Development will leave their settings unharmed.

2.13 As required by PPS5, the potential impacts on heritage assets on and off Site has been fully assessed and any harm weighed against the enhancements and public benefits brought by the scheme overall. The assessment concludes that the proposals will be, on balance, of significant benefit to the local and wider historic environment. The significance of each heritage asset, and the parts of the setting that contribute to that significance, will be preserved by these proposals.

Final Conclusions

2.14 Considerable care has been given to ensuring an appropriate design outcome. The suitability of the design of the Proposed Development in its spatial location has been tested using 25

different viewing positions, which were selected in consultation with the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, English Heritage and the GLA through the Scoping process. The over-riding conclusion from the Views Assessment is that – where visible – the Proposed Development will benefit London’s skyline and the local streetscape.

2.15 The Proposed Development has been designed to respond positively, in scale and mass, to the existing townscape including local conservation areas. The Proposed Development will enhance and promote sustainable regeneration by establishing a major new development that has been conceived as an integral part of the townscape of the locality.

2.16 Considerable thought has been given to the visual effect of the scale and massing of the Proposed Development in relation to its different orientations and environmental conditions. The creation of an appropriately scaled new local landmark within the Proposed Development will improve legibility within the Site and in the wider local area.

2.17 The layout of the Proposed Development will increase the connectivity and permeability of the Site for pedestrians and will establish attractive visual links with its the hinterland.

2.18 The Proposed Development will provide London with a new urban quarter. The existing Site is a surface car park; the Proposed Development will create a new mixed use, sustainable neighbourhood with a distinctive character and sense of place, drawn from analysis of the specific history and location of the Site and in relation to its emerging urban context.

2.19 Overall, this proposed major redevelopment will transform this Site without harming any historic assets.

8 Seagrave Road | Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment Addendum | November 2011

3.0 Revised Views Assessment

November 2011 revised massing wireline view over June 2011 proposed cumulative render

View 07Eardley Crescent

Easting view is as the original TVIA

Proposed Revised:

Building A, visible at the far end of the crescent, will reinforce the main parapet line of the crescent and form a back drop to the existing post war pub that will be beneficial to the setting of the conservation area. The red wireline overlay of the Amended Scheme on the original June 2011 render demonstrates that the roof line of Building A will be slightly reduced in height from the submitted June proposal. The 16-storey Building B at the northern end of the new garden square will be visible above the mansard roof extensions towards the southern end of the crescent. The blue wireline overlay of the Amended Scheme demonstrates that the height of building B will be slightly reduced, and the form of its top simplified to produce a cleaner silhouette. The re-rendered Amended Scheme in View 7 demonstrates that due to the distance of the viewing position from the Site and the architectural treatment of the top of Building B, the tall building will be read as a secondary distant object that recedes against the sky. The elegant sweep of the existing Victorian crescent will remain the foreground focus of this view and the setting of the conservation area will not be harmed. The night time impact will be minor; refer to view 07N in the original TVIA.

The effect of the revised massing of the Amended Scheme in comparison to the submitted proposal will be minor and the design refinements will not affect the significance of the Amended Scheme’s impact.

Significance of Potential Impact: minor, beneficial

9Seagrave Road | Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment Addendum | November 2011

Revised proposed cumulative view of the Amended Scheme November 2011

10 Seagrave Road | Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment Addendum | November 2011

November 2011 revised massing wireline view over June 2011 proposed cumulative render

View 14WBrompton Cemetery, from the western path (winter)

Easting view is as the original TVIA

Proposed Revised:

The eastern edge of the Amended Scheme will be visible, set back from the western edge of the Cemetery behind the railway line and potential extension of the Lost River Park. At the southern end of the Amended Scheme and closest to the viewing position, Building D will be visible through and above the trees, providing improved definition and enclosure to the edge of the Cemetery. The massing of Building D will be broken up by the balconies facing the Cemetery and the alternating rhythm of solid and void visible along its southern perimeter, screened by trees. The yellow wireline indicates the proposed revised massing of Building D, which is 1.5m lower than the submitted proposal; this will result in a perceptible reduction of the visibility of Building D above the treeline. To its north Building C will be visible as a series of interconnected mansion blocks, the articulated tops of which will be just visible above the trees. The red wireline overlay demonstrates that the revised proposed massing will slightly reduce the height of the blocks in this view. All but the very top of the Empress State Building will be concealed by Building C from this viewing position. The tallest element of the Amended Scheme, the 16-storey Building B, will be visible above Building C to the right of the Empress State Building and from this position appearing slightly taller than the existing tower. Building B will be set back from the eastern edge of the Amended Scheme, behind Buildings D and C. The blue wireline overlay of the proposed revised massing demonstrates that the height of Building B will be slightly reduced and the form of its top simplified to produce a cleaner silhouette.

The Amended Scheme will be considerably screened and softened by trees even in winter. The proposed revised massing will reduce the visibility of the Amended Scheme from the Cemetery in comparison to the original submitted proposal. The new buildings, where visible, will form a layered and well articulated composition of buildings that will mitigate the impact of the Empress State Building as a single poorly proportioned building on the skyline by creating a more coherent urban backdrop to views out of the Cemetery, and a well proportioned enclosure to the western edge of the Cemetery. The assessment of the impact of the Amended Scheme on the view will remain as for the June submission: these design refinements will not affect the significance of the Amended Scheme’s impact.

Cumulative Impact:

The top of one of the 28-storey towers within the Earls Court Masterplan (black wireline) will be just visible to the left of Building B.

Significance of Potential Impact: major, beneficial