Market Place St Albans

A professional Heritage Statement, started early, is key to avoiding difficulties during planning. A phased approach can help to mitigate heritage issues, through informed design work.

AB Heritage was approached by a client to provide a Heritage Statement covering proposed works to No.2 Market Place & 16-18 High Street in the heart of  historic St. Albans.

Both buildings were Grade II Listed, meaning that the client needed to understand the historic significance of the structures, to best guide the design and redevelopment of the site.

To provide the strongest possible steer to the client AB Heritage recommended progression of a Phased Heritage Statement, comprising a Statement of Significance followed by a Detailed Impact Assessment once designs had been prepared.

This work confirmed that 2 Market Place is a timber-framed building, dating to at least the 17th century and possibly earlier. During the site visit it was discovered that the building retains much of its historic timber-frame, which is well preserved behind a 19th century façade. The adjacent building of 16-18 High Street is an early 19th century building, constructed in yellow stock brick with original sash windows. The proposals for both buildings involved changes to the historic planform, along with the slight loss of fabric to No. 16 High Street.

AB Heritage consultants were able to help steer the design to both minimise harm to the historic elements of significance in the property, while at the same time clearly articulating the benefits and opportunities behind progressing this development, enabling the much needed conservation of the buildings.

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