Context - Southampton chapel_tcm63-36782… · Context This character area comprises a recently completed housing scheme adjacent to the docks railway branch line which forms its

Southampton City Council

City Characterisation Project

January 2009 175

24 Chapel

ContextThis character area comprises a recently completedhousing scheme adjacent to the docks railway branchline which forms its western boundary with the industrialestate and business parks of CA40 to the south, northand east.

The northern part of this flat area lies within the knownextent of Saxon Hamwic. Chapel Road is an historicrouteway that provided access from St Mary’s Church toa chapel close to the shore and an adjacent mill. Thearea was developed with terraced housing by 1845.

GrainThe development comprises three perimeter blockswhich have achieved through well articulated facades afine grain at a very high density of 134 dph. The buildingline follows the line of the surrounding rectangular streetpattern but the blocks are set well back from the edge ofpavement and are semi-raised over basement parking.There is a good degree of comfortable enclosure to thetwo intermediate ‘streets’ running east-west betweenthe blocks.

ScaleWithin the blocks the heights vary between three andfour storeys but are consistent to each facade. There areuninterrupted views from the development to St Mary’sChurch and spire, and views from the upper storeys ofhouses and individual flats on upper levels will enjoyuninterrupted views out across the Itchen River andnorth to the football stadium.

There is an important view from the lower sections of theItchen Bridge towards the spire of St Mary’s over theroofs of this development.

UsesResidential.

Public RealmThere is a high quality public realm to the immediateenvirons of the development to include landscapedraised walkways, bins stores, cycle stores and there is asmall children’s play area.

ConnectivityThe development lies adjacent to an important pedes-trian link over the Docks Railway branch line. This linksdirectly into the centre of the city via East Street and isa well-used if poorly designed* pedestrian link.

*The construction of a new safer footbridge crossingover the railway line at Chantry Road is planned tobetter enhance this character area’s connectivity withChapel and St Mary Street.

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ViewsThere are local views of St Mary’s Church spire fromwithin and across the character area from the elevatedbase of the Itchen Bridge.

There are two strategic views which pass over the char-acter area from Itchen Bridge to St Mary’s Church spireand the campanile of the Civic Centre.

Building typesApartments and townhouses set out in three perimeterblocks with two pedestrianised crossing streets.

Architectural qualitiesThis development displays a high degree of architecturalawareness and has executed the three perimeter blocksin an exemplary way by varying the heights of elevationsto each side and articulating the facades with projectingoriel bays and balconies. The monopitch roofs provide astrongly defined eaves line and the subtle variation incomplementary materials adds to visual interest in thefacades and helps distinguish apartments from houses.

Heritage AssetsThe character area lies within the known extent ofHamwic. The area is considered to possess a highdegree of evidential value due to the potential for nation-ally important archaeological remains relating to the mid-Saxon settlement. Despite part of the area having beenrecently developed, it is estimated that as much as 40%of the area remains un-investigated and thereforearchaeological remains of importance may survive. Thearea lies within a Local Area of ArchaeologicalImportance to reflect this potential to yield significantevidence for past activity in the area.

There are no listed buildings or locally listed buildingswithin the character area and the area is not within aconservation area.

MaterialsGrey/blue stock brick plinths with colour-finished renderabove with untreated timber cladding and grey powdercoated aluminium windows to the elevations. Zinc cladprojecting bays and roof.

ConditionVery Good.

OwnershipPrivate ownership, shared equity and housing associa-tion.

Interventionn The planting of street trees to the Andersen’s Road

and Paget Road.

01 Good detailing and attention to orientation to apartment blocks02 Well articulated with projecting bays and balconies03 Amenity space, landscaped parking and play areas under

construction

Key design principlesn Further development in the immediate vicinity should

pay special attention to the scale of this developmentand its design quality and material finish.

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2

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Heritage Assets



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Townscape

Documents

Context - Southampton chapel_tcm63-36782… · Context This character area comprises a recently completed housing scheme adjacent to the docks railway branch line which forms its