Historic Buildings Register

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A decision made (09/08/2006) regarding Register of Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Historical and Archaeological Importance: assessment of Victorian sewer vents in College Hill, St Helier and Patier Road, St Saviour.

Subject:	Register of Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Historical and Archaeological Importance: assessment of Victorian sewer vents in College Hill, St Helier and Patier Road, St Saviour
Decision Reference:	MD-PE-2006-0100	Exempt clause(s):		None
Type of Report (oral or written):	Written/oral	Person Giving Report (if oral):		Historic Buildings Officer/ Curator of Historic Buildings
Telephone or e-mail meeting	n/a	Report File ref:		3/04/02/01/Ministerial Reports
Written Report Title:	Register of Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey - assessment of Victorian sewer vents in College Hill, St Helier and Patier Road, St Saviour	Written report – Author:		Curator of Historic Buildings
Decision(s): The Victorian sewer vents in College Hill, St Helier and Patier Road, St Saviour shall be added to the Register of Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey as Buildings of Local Interest.
Reason(s) for decision: In accordance with the strategic objective ‘to protect the best of the Island’s architectural heritage’ of the Island Plan 2002, and Policy HB1 of the Interim Policies for the Conservation of Historic Buildings the Victorian sewer vents in College Hill, St Helier and Patier Road, St Saviour satisfy the published criteria for registration as Buildings of Local Interest.
Action required:  Amend the Historic Buildings Register  Issue notification letter to respective parish authorities  Notify Development Control – Urban Section
Signature: (Minister/ Assistant Minister)			Date of Decision: 15 August 2006

Historic Buildings Register - Sewer Vents.

		Item No:
		Date:

PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

Register of Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey Assessment of Victorian Sewer Vents in College Hill, St Helier

and Patier Road, St Saviour

Purpose of the Report

The purpose of this report is for the Minister to consider adding the Victorian sewer vents to the Historic Buildings Register, having regard to the States strategic objective ‘to protect the best of the Island’s architectural heritage’ and a key objective of the Island Plan 2002 to protect and promote Jersey’s built, cultural and archaeological heritage.

Background

This report has been prepared by the Jersey Heritage Trust as part of its responsibility under a Service Level Agreement to provide reports and recommendations to the Minister for Planning and Environment on the registration of buildings and sites. It incorporates the views of the Ministerial Registration and Listing Advisory Group (MRLAG) - a group established to provide independent, expert advice on matters relating to the protection of buildings and sites of cultural interest.

The Jersey Building Heritage Sub-Committee added two Victorian sewer vents to the Historic Buildings Register as BLIs during its review of historic buildings in St Helier in 2002. A further two sewer vents have since been identified by the Curator of Historic Buildings - one in College Hill and the other on the corner of Patier Road and Bagatelle Road.

The Curator of Historic Buildings carried out an assessment of the sewer vents on 30 June 2006 ahead of discussions by the MRLAG on 10 July, whereby it was recommended that they be added to the Register as Buildings of Local Interest.

Discussion

The Victorian sewer vents are of an identical pattern with a cast iron fluted column base decorated with an anthemion frieze below and a geometric upper band. They substantially retain their historic form and detail although the upper vent column has been removed in each case.

The vents have historic interest as distinctive elements of a major engineering achievement - the construction of an underground sewerage system in the nineteenth century. The decorative nature of the vents also makes a positive contribution to the scenic value of their relative locations.

Taking these factors into consideration, Members unanimously agreed that the Victorian sewer vents satisfy the criteria for registration as Buildings of Local Interest.

Recommendation

The Victorian sewer vents should be added to the Historic Buildings Register as Buildings of Local Interest.

Reason(s) for Decision

The sewer vents satisfy the published criteria for registration.

The registration of the sewer vents is in accordance with Interim Policy HB1 which states ‘Historic buildings which contribute positively to the distinctive character or appearance of Jersey’s built-up areas or countryside, particularly where they are of ‘group value’, will be identified and included in the Register of Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey.’

Action Required

 Amend the Historic Buildings Register to include the sewer vents

 Issue a notification letter to the respective parish authorities

 Notify Development Control - Urban Section of the decision

Written by:	Roger Hills Curator of Historic Buildings - Jersey Heritage Trust

Approved by:	Fiona Smith Historic Buildings Officer – P&E

Endorsed by:	Kevin Pilley Assistant Director – P&E

Attachments:

 Plans showing the location of the sewer vents

 Registration assessment and photographs 2006

12 July 2006