5.3.12 Landscape and Setting

CONSERVATION FRAMEWORK

5.3.12 LANDSCAPE AND SETTING

See also:

5.3.4 Ruined cathedral

5.3.7 Restoration and new works

5.3.9 Visitor facilities and access

5.3.10 Interpretation

HERITAGE CONSIDERATIONS

Setting is the surroundings in which a heritage asset is experienced. Setting may change as the asset and its surroundings evolve. Elements of a setting may make a positive or negative contribution to the experience and significance of an asset, may affect the ability to appreciate that significance or may be neutral. Its definition goes beyond views, to the intangible aspects such as smells, sounds, sights and experiences.

The setting of Coventry Cathedral, within the City of Three Spires, extends beyond its immediate setting of Hill Top, to include long distance views across the city. Whilst these views are an important consideration, the focus of this section is on the immediate setting within the Precinct and Hill Top Conservation Area. The parameters of the Cathedral’s setting can be extended more widely in the future. The Cathedral will work with the CPA to protect long distance views as far as this is in their power When considering change within the setting of the Cathedral, it is recommended that Historic England’s guidance (Advice Note 3) is referred to, which sets out the following steps for assessment:

Step 1: Identify which heritage assets and their settings are affected.

Step 2: Assess the degree to which these settings make a contribution to the significance of the heritage asset(s) or allow significance to be appreciated.

Step 3: Assess the effects of the proposed development, whether beneficial or harmful, on that significance or on the ability to appreciate it.

Step 4: Explore ways to maximise enhancement and avoid or minimise harm.

Step 5: Make and document the decision and monitor outcomes.79

The setting of Coventry Cathedral is anchored by Spence’s vision and Donald Gibson’s intent for the spire of St Michael to connect the Cathedral quarter with the wider city.

79 The Setting of Heritage Assets: Historic Environment Good Practice Advice in Planning Note 3, Historic England, 2017 VULNERABILITIES AND CONFLICTS

There is a general, concern that the setting of Coventry Cathedral is being eroded in character and in condition. The original intent of Gibson and Spence has been compromised by the Cathedral Lanes development, which blocks physical and visual connections. Over time, development has moved away from the Post-War vision for the city and has become incremental, low-quality and lacking understanding of how areas of the city connect with one another. Other issues include a lack of maintenance, intrusive advertisements and signage, lack of material continuity, issues with parking and generally poor-quality street furniture.

Issues identified by J&L Gibbons as part of their assessment of setting include:80

• The ruined cathedral’s consecrated ground is cluttered so that the character feels municipal in the worst sense, compromising the inherent symbolic beauty of the ruins and consequently their spiritual impact.

• The gardens, including the Unity Lawn and green space adjacent to the tower, provide vital greenspace but require an overall landscape vision for rejuvenation. This should be approached with caution. There are no known burials but these could exist. The green space has been used in the past for the scattering of ashes.

• Surrounding streets paved with traditional materials are significant to the charm and distinctiveness of the Cathedral

Precinct and Conservation Area, but do not extend sufficiently to aid wayfinding to the heart of the Cathedral quarter.

80 J & L Gibbons, Coventry Cathedral Conservation Management Plan draft, Landscape and Urban Design section, 26 July, 2018

CONSERVATION FRAMEWORK

• The outdoor area adjacent to the former County Court (now the Slug and Lettuce pub). This was identified in the Area

Action Plan as a proposed ‘open space/node’ with proposed direct access from Broadgate related to Cathedral Lanes development.81 It faces directly onto the Cathedral Precinct itself, currently of inappropriate pseudo-rustic character, and with inappropriate furniture and lighting in the external space.

• Pepper Lane which leads to the Cathedral is compromised in terms of townscape quality by open refuse and service yards and low-quality paving.

• University Square is cluttered with planters and lighting that no longer functions adequately. The adjacent stepped space to the Herbert Gallery is suffering damage and disintegration.

It is surrounded by an ‘eclectic architectural mix’ including the

University’s Alan Berry Building which impacts on the setting of the (eastern) ‘long elevation’ of the Cathedral.

• The former Cathedral shop, now managed by St Clare’s, with its recent window dressing, fit out and decoration that gives no due consideration to its orignal architectural character.

• The pathway condition between Priory Street and Priory

Place, linking attractions such as the Rising Café and the Priory

Visitor Centre.

• The liturgical east end of the new cathedral (sometimes known as Cathedral Square), which, despite investment in 1994, is in a poor state and in need of improvement; the large

Plane trees being the only asset which helps to screen the brutalist architecture of the Britannia Hotel, an unfortunate juxtaposition to the fine north elevation of the Cathedral.

81 City Centre Area Action Plan, CCC, Adopted December 2017 • Lower part of Hill Top approaching the Cathedral from Fairfax

Street, marred by the open, poorly managed service area and refuse provision for the Britannia Hotel, Priory Place and its multi-story car park.

• Overall, there are two strategic considerations that have a substantial impact on the Cathedral quarter and its conservation: waste management and views management.

POTENTIAL FOR CHANGE

Strategic objectives: • Strategic visioning – there is potential to reemphasise the

Cathedral’s place at the heart of the city’s public realm, reflecting its significance in the city. This should be carried out in conjunction with partner organisations.

• Whole journey experience – consider the circulation and navigation across the Cathedral quarter and city as a whole, particularly the route from the station, through the city centre and towards the Cathedral.

• Developing an integrated landscape strategy for the long-term benefit of the Cathedral and the city82 – take an ambitious, holistic and creative review of setting to better reveal and enhance significance.

• Both the City Centre Area Action Plan and the Hill

Top Conservation Area Management Plan contain recommendations and actions for improvements to preserve and enhance the character and appearance of the Cathedral’s setting.

82 J&L Gibbons, Landscape and Urban Design draft document for Coventry Cathedral CMP, 2018 Opportunities identified by J&L Gibbons as part of their assessment of setting include: • A holistic strategy for the management and design of the surrounding landscape is required, including a green infrastructure strategy for tree conservation and biodiversity enhancements. • A wayfinding strategy that rationalises the existing signage, advertisements and street furniture (retaining historic features). • A lighting and after-dark review to consider safety and security. • An improved waste strategy to reduce significant visual impact. • Traffic management strategy and consideration of existing car parking and loading zones. • Integration into any events programme and strategy and interpretation strategy. • Improvements to pavements and surfaces, including identification of the historic and Post-War schemes that require conservation. • Consideration of protected views across the city as part of future local planning.83

There is also a potential opportunity to consider turning parts of the ruined cathedral interior floor to lawn, as originally envisaged by Spence. This would reduce the municipal character and create a high-quality landscaped space for visitors to spend time in, but would, increase the maintenance burden.

Overall, there is an opportunity following production of this CMP to partner with key stakeholders to discuss the future of the Cathedral quarter public realm, particularly with regard to the City of Culture 2021 and the Heritage Action Zone.

83 Ibid

CONSERVATION FRAMEWORK

MANAGEMENT POLICIES

POLICY 38: Seek to promote, record, preserve and realise key views of Spence’s original vision as part of a management strategy developed with all other local stakeholders.

POLICY 39: Produce a landscape strategy management & maintenance plan for the Precinct to address intrusive features and improvements to streetscape. Include arboriculture within this strategy.

POLICY 40: Seek to improve the landscape within the ruined cathedral. This should also address issues of accessibility, way finding and interpretation.

POLICY 41: Contribute to the development of policy documents specific to the Conservation Area and city centre.

POLICY 42: Ensure landscape and setting are taken into account as part of any interpretation, public art, wayfinding and events strategy. PRIORITY ACTIONS

Action Priority level Owner

Start discussions with the City Council regarding the protection of key views as identified in the work of J&L Gibbons. B Cathedral Administrator

Commission a landscape management and maintenance plan. B Cathedral Administrator

Continue discussions with partner organisations on the City of Culture and HAZ to improve public realm. A Cathedral Administrator

Focus on traffic management as a rapid way to reduce visual impact on the Precinct A Cathedral Administrator

Priority levels: A – within 6 months, B – within 1 year, C – within 2 years