Bridge Street & Market Place Conservation Area.
The site also sits within the Bridge Street and Market Place conservation area. The Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan forms part of the additional information to accompany this brief.
Within the conservation area there are several distinct character areas each with their own special interest. The White Hart Street site sits within the Viaduct character area and the Brewery and Warehouse District character area. The plan shown below from the above document shows the Viaduct area in red and the Brewery and Warehouse area in green.
The Viaduct area is the smallest of the defined character areas but perhaps the most striking with the imposing railway viaduct that runs through it. The prevailing uses of the majority of properties in that area are of a retail type to the ground floor with storage or vacant spaces above.
The Brewery and Warehouse District covers the majority of the site acquired by the Council. Within that area are a listed building and several non-designated heritage assets which are identified in the plan below.
Number 63.
The listed building is the former Head Post Office (number 63 on the above plan) which also includes the sorting office located behind. It is a Grade II listed and the sorting office to the rear has been acquired by the Council. The sorting office building is able to be demolished notwithstanding it adjoins the Head Post Office. Note that the main Head Post Office sits outside of the Council’s ownership.
The non-designated heritage assets are:
Number 100.
The warehouse at 2 Dame Flogan Street was formerly occupied by a printing company called Plumbe and Richardson. The building was constructed in the viaduct age of the early 1870’s and has been complemented with an extension at the turn of the last century.
Non-designated Heritage Asset Register description:
The south range is of brick with stone dressings, now rendered. The principal façade to the building is on Dame Flogan Street with the use of brick to the rear elevations. The interior is notable for a brick jack-arch floor and original ornate cast iron columns, windows and roof trusses.
Number 89.
The Maltings on the corner of Dame Flogan and Midworth Streets formerly Mettham’s Mineral Water Works. This is an interesting and largely intact industrial complex and is notable for its place in Mansfield’s brewing history.
Non-designated Heritage Asset Register description:
The building is built of plain red brick. The gable front of the main factory range features a round attic opening with an elaborate keystone under a shaped gable. There are two long rear wings incorporating stables and cart sheds.
Number 65.
Bailey Forman building, 22 Church Street was the former Evening Post building.
Non-designated Heritage Asset Register description:
2-storey property situated to the rear of properties on Church Street. Stone section with stone surrounds and gable end with kneeler brackets facing towards alleyway off Church Street, the gable end would have been an internal wall as such it has been rendered. Section to the centre constructed in brick (seen to south elevation) with brick columns still evident and stone capitals with stone eaves above, the apertures between would have been open (bark mashing for tannery), with further stone section to rear. To east flat roofed single storey brick modern extension, 2-storey flat roof modern brick extension to the south, both have been painted/rendered, both of no architectural merit.
There is a policy presumption that the non-designated heritage assets will be retained and refurbished in line with the various documents referred to in this Brief. Although the White Hart SPD does not indicate that 22 Church Street must be retained an assessment after the SPD was adopted showed that the building met the criteria adopted by the Council for a non-designated heritage asset.
However, it is also noted that the National Planning Policy Framework states that where a development will lead to substantial harm to (or total loss of significance of) a designated heritage asset, local planning authorities should refuse consent unless it can be demonstrated that the substantial harm or total loss is necessary to achieve substantial public benefits that outweigh that harm or loss.
Emerging Design Code.
Mansfield District Council is one of 25 areas taking part in the Government’s Design Code Pathfinder Programme. Accordingly, it has been awarded Government funding to produce a Design Code for the town centre.
The Town Centre Masterplan will form the basis of the Design Code with the Code providing detailed guidance on the development sites within the masterplan area including the White Hart Street site.
The Code however is not due to be adopted until around April 2023.
