Dudley Council

Part Two: Centres and Site Allocations (Regulation 18)

Ended on the 22 December 2023
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Historic Environment

1.53 The historic environment and heritage assets of Brierley Hill are to be protected, conserved and enhanced. This section sets out those characteristics of the most importance to the Brierley Hill Inset Plan area and town centre specific policies.

Policy DLPBH5 Conservation and Enhancement of Local Character and Distinctiveness in Brierley Hill

  1. All development proposals in the Brierley Hill Inset boundary:
    1. Should take account of the locally distinctive character of the area in which they are to be sited and should respect and respond to its positive attributes.
    2. Physical assets (buildings, sites or areas together with their settings) whether man-made or natural that positively contribute to the local character and distinctiveness of Brierley Hill's landscape and townscape should be retained and wherever possible enhanced and their settings should be respected.
    3. New development in Brierley Hill should be designed to reinforce and enhance local distinctiveness and full reference should be made in Design and Access Statements accompanying planning applications to the Brierley Hill Urban Historic Landscape Characterisation and the Urban Design Guidelines in Appendix 3 of that document.
    4. Design and Access Statements should clearly set out the steps that have been taken to achieve locally responsive outcomes through either traditional or more contemporary design solutions.

Justification

1.54 The historic importance of Brierley Hill is recognised as a major asset in delivering regeneration and enhancing the town centre as more attractive, engaging and vibrant place for people to live, work and spend time. The name Brierley Hill derives from the Old English word 'brer', meaning the place where the Briar Rose grew; 'leah', meaning a woodland clearing; and 'hill'. Originally established as a settlement in the woodland of Pensnett Chase, it began expanding rapidly following the Chase's enclosure in 1784 and the construction of the canal in 1776-9.

1.55 At the beginning of the 19th century the area had become heavily industrialised with a number of quarries, collieries, brick, glass, and iron works emerging. Major employers in the town in the 19th century included: the Round Oak Ironworks and later Steelworks, founded in the 1850s; Royal Brierley Crystal, one of the oldest and most prestigious names in British Glassware; Harris and Pearson brick makers; and Marsh and Baxter's, famous for curing ham and bacon and being major producers of sausages and pork pies, and more recently known about thanks to the Black Country Living Museum 'Forging Ahead' programme.             

1.56 Located within the centre of Brierley Hill is the Brierley Hill High Street Conservation Area and located just to the south is the Delph Nine Locks Conservation Area. There are a number of statutory Listed Buildings, such as the Grade II Listed St Michaels Church, Brierley Hill War Memorial, Brierley Hill former Technical Institute and Library, the former Royal Brierley Crystal Glassworks and the scheduled remains in Saltwells. There are also various non-designated heritage assets such as the Marsh Park Archaeological Priority Area (APA), the Adelaide Street Triangle Area of High Historic Townscape Value (AHHTV), Saltwells Area of High Historic Landscape Value (AHHLV) and Geosite, and individually significant buildings and structures such as the Locally Listed St Mary's Catholic Church, Brierley Hill Market, and Brierley Hill Civic Hall.              

1.57 The 'Brierley Hill Urban Historic Landscape Characterisation' (UHLC) (2007/2023) provides the evidence base to inform an understanding of the town's historic character. This evidence has been used when considering how new development proposals and the enhancement of existing townscapes and landscapes should respect Brierley Hill's character.

1.58 The boundary of the UHLC study area is not contiguous with that for the Inset Plan but spreads wider in order to more fully capture the historic extent of Brierley Hill and to include its associated hinterland. The study describes the historical development of Brierley Hill and identifies ten Historic Townscape Character Zones within the Town Centre and beyond. Each character zone was individually assessed and provided a summary description of its townscape, architectural and historic character and archaeological potential. These are:

  1. The High Street
  2. Area of modern and late 20th century industrial and commercial development
  3. The Delph and historic canal side
  4. Mid-20th century high-rise development
  5. St Michael's Church, Marsh Park and mixed housing development
  6. Mid-20th century low-rise middle class housing development
  7. Late 19th and early 20th century terraced housing development
  8. Modern town centre shopping and recreation development
  9. Merry Hill Shopping Centre
  10. Harts Hill.

Figure 1.3: Brierley Hill UHLC Boundary and Character Zones

This plan shows the Brierley Hill Urban Historic Landscape Characterisation. The HLC boundary follows that of the character zone and covers a slightly larger area that the town centre inset boundary to include a further section to the west. There are 10 character zones marked on the plan. Please refer to Policy DLPBH5 Conservation and Enhancement of Local Character and Distinctiveness in Brierley Hill for more detail.

Policy DLPBH6 Brierley Hill High Street and Delph Nine Locks Conservation Areas

  1. Planning applications for sites and premises within the conservation areas will be determined with particular reference to the relevant Conservation Area Character Appraisal, Management Plan and Historic Landscape Characterisation. The Council will safeguard and seek to enhance the special architectural or historic interest of the conservation areas by:
    1. resisting the loss of historic fabric/buildings, including landscape
    2. encouraging the reinstatement of architectural detail
    3. seeking a high quality of design in new development and to the public realm
       
  2. The Council will encourage new development within the Brierley Hill High Street Conservation Area where it will reinforce historic townscape character by:
    1. removing buildings that have a negative impact on the area
    2. providing sensitive infilling that respects prevailing height, form, building line, plot rhythm, proportions and fenestration
    3. making use of traditional building materials, such as red brick and blue slate or complementary new materials that contribute positively to local distinctiveness

Justification

1.59 The Brierley Hill High Street Conservation Area was designated on the 12th March 2009, due to it forming a significant part of the mid-18th to early 19th century development of the borough and due to the group value of surviving historic buildings. The conservation area is focused along the High Street, with the extent of the conservation area being determined by the extent of the historic town centre and the survival of historically significant buildings and spaces.

1.60 In 2009 a Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan was published for Brierley Hill setting out the various features which give the Brierley Hill High Street Conservation Area its special architectural and historic interest. The appraisal identifies six separate character areas within the Conservation Area, these being: the Civic Centre, The High Street, St Michael's Church and the surrounding main street frontages; Marsh Park and Seager's Lane; Albion Street and Talbot Street; and Bell Street. Despite these areas having individual characters, together they provide the Brierley Hill High Street Conservation Area its significance. The appraisal also identifies a number of issues that negatively impact on the Conservation area and explains why it has been identified by Historic England to be a 'Conservation Area at Risk".

1.61 In 2019 the High Street Heritage Action Zone Programme (HSHAZ) was established. It is a nationwide initiative funded by the Government and run by Historic England designed to secure lasting improvements to historic high streets. In 2019 Brierley Hill High Street was selected as one of 68 High Streets across England to receive a share of the fund following the submission of a successful bid by the Council. A significant part of the evidence which helped to underpin the bid and the programme of projects contained within it, related to the key issues affecting the Brierley Hill High Street Conservation Area as well as the CACA designations.

1.62 The Delph 'Nine' Locks Conservation Area was designated in February 1976 and then updated again in April 2007. The canal conservation area marks the beginning of the Dudley Canal and the navigation link between the West Midlands and the West of England. It was built as a flight of nine locks on the Dudley No.1 Canal by Thomas Dadford Senior between 1776-79. The canal-side buildings include the Grade II listed Delph stables, which were built between 1900-1914 to house up to 14 horses. The Conservation Area forms part of the Brierley Hill UHLC study, identified as Character Zone 3: The Delph and historic canal side. In 2007 a Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan was prepared for the Delph 'Nine' Locks Conservation Area.

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