|
12. A Section 106 Agreement following this consent required the preservation of those parts of the Hall which were of particular note - the portico, tri-partite windows, and the pediment to the front elevation. These features were dismantled, recorded, and given to Liverpool City Council. However, a contractor (who at that time was unconnected with the building) purchased the remaining stonework which was recorded prior to dismantling and storage. Other features retained include chimney stacks and stairs.
13. Although the elements subject to the Section 106 Agreement initially formed an architectural monument, they were subsequently reunited with the remaining material. As a result, the appellant contends that some 90% of the original stonework is stored and recorded. Because the brickwork and areas of render to the rear of the Hall were of little architectural value and not preserved, this equates to some 50% of the overall building being available for reconstruction. A comprehensive photographic record within the aforementioned RCHME survey would assist such a venture.
The first issue
14. The appeal site lies some 3 kilometres to the south of Alderley Edge village, and some 8 kilometres west of Macclesfield town centre in the rural parish of Nether Alderley. It is located to the north of Bollington Lane, a single track road which, by way of a further length of highway, has access to both the north/south orientated A34 Alderley Edge/Congleton Road and the east/west orientated A537 which links Macclesfield and Knutsford.
15. Encompassing approximately 10 hectares and of almost rectangular proportions aligned more or less north/south, the appeal site is a flat area of grassland with only a few trees, and which includes a brick outbuilding located close to the eastern boundary. To the east are open fields with the A34 beyond. There are also open fields to the north, whilst to the west is 'Yarwoods', a large detached dwelling, with further residential development beyond. At a point just over half way into the appeal site, it is crossed by power lines; the associated pylons being located on neighbouring land.
16. The appellant wishes to replicate as far as possible the former siting, appearance, internal layout and setting of Sandown Hall, and contends that the location of the appeal site would echo the original semi-rural setting close to the outskirts of a major commercial centre. The existing outbuilding would be demolished, and the reconstructed Hall positioned approximately a third of the way into the site, with the interior layout based on the RCHME records and photographs. It would be approached along a new access drive from Bollington Lane, whose route adjacent to the eastern site boundary would again reflect the alignment and orientation of the original.
17. Such a drive would lead to both a drop-off area at the front of the building, and a number of outbuildings to the rear. This latter group would include garages; tractor, machinery and garden stores; tack room and loose boxes. Whilst there would be a turning out paddock adjacent to the tack room and loose boxes, to the north west of the reconstructed hall would be a walled garden, approximately 50 metres square with brick walls 3.5 metres high, again reminiscent of the former feature. A terrace adjacent to the western elevation of the building would also afford glimpses of land to the north through a formal garden and 'border vista'. New woodland planting within the appeal site would act not only as a shelter belt around the dwelling, but also screen the aforementioned power lines.
|
|