A contemporary project that could save a much-loved but derelict building on the outskirts of Chorley

Places Matter! Design Review Case Study:
Bank Hall

A ‘glowing report’ from the Places Matter! Design Review Panel helped to win planning permission for a contemporary project that could save a much-loved but derelict building on the outskirts of Chorley. Riches Hawley Mikhail designed an ‘enabling scheme’ to make the rescue of Bank Hall, one of English Heritage’s 16 most at risk buildings, but was having trouble persuading the conservation officer at Chorley Borough Council that its proposal was appropriate.

Bank Hall, Riches Hawley Mikhail

After a local campaign to save the Grade II* listed Elizabethan  building, developer Urban Splash came up with a scheme to restore the existing building, turning it into 10 apartments, and also to build  new houses around two courtyards in the grounds. These new buildings were essential to allow the developer to pay for the cost of restoration, and under the definition of enabling development could, exceptionally, be allowed despite the fact that the area was designated as Green Belt. After considerable research Hawley Riches Mikhail designed these in a contemporary manner, echoing the design of local agricultural buildings.

‘It was very difficult for us to persuade the planners that this was high-quality design,’ said David Mikhail of Riches Hawley Mikhail. ‘They were concerned about it being too contemporary.’ The Places Matter! Design Review report said: ‘ The modern interpretation of the farm buildings within the curtilage of the hall is wholly appropriate and we particularly like the modern agricultural interpretation.’ It concluded: ‘We support the design of the enabling project and find it an understated and sympathetic approach to Bank Hall.’

Bank Hall, Riches Hawley Mikhail

Tom Fenton of Urban Splash said, ‘discussions with the council had got bogged down in what it looked like. I felt that they weren’t 100 per cent comfortable it being their sole decision. This design review allowed them to share the burden of decision making.’ Mikhail said, ‘It was very useful for us to go to design review and get a glowing reference from them.’ The design review did make a couple of suggestions to the architect, in particular commenting on the position of one building and how it affected the relationship between public and private space. Mikhail said ‘It was relatively easy for us to change the emphasis and length of the building. This is the kind of criticism that we like because it is practical.’

The project subsequently received planning permission, and the developer is making an application for a further grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

This was the first design review that Nicola Hopkins, principal planning officer at Chorley Borough Council, had attended. ‘Design is subjective,’ she said. ‘It was interesting to hear the thoughts of other people about it.’