Gardens Trust Protects Hampton Court Landscape
Big congratulations go to the Gardens Trust Conservation Team who have helped to protect the Hampton Court landscape from an overbearing development, after a sustained campaign since 2018. Elmbridge Planning Committee have decisively refused the planning application for the site, which would have engulfed Hampton Court Station in East Molesey, directly opposite Grade I registered Hampton Court. This is an excellent result which protects the Palace, its gardens, and other related heritage assets in the conservation area from a dominant development of 97 residential units, a hotel, retail and associated services.
The station, designed by Sir William Tite in the 1840s, acts as the herald of the Palace for rail visitors. It was sensitively designed in a Jacobean style to complement the Palace and was intended to offer visitors views of the Palace as well as being a feature of the Palace setting and views. This is an excellent result which protects the Palace, its gardens, and other related heritage assets in the conservation area from a dominant development of 97 residential units, a hotel, retail and associated services.
Birds eye sketch of proposed development at Hampton Court:
The Gardens Trust had strongly objected to proposals submitted in 2008 and 2018/19 and raised additional concerns with the Council after reviewing the case early this year. No adequate rigorous historic impact assessment had been submitted as part of the planning application, nor were night-time visualisations provided. We reiterated our strong objection to the planning application.
Sarah Dickinson, Chair of the Conservation Committee of the Gardens Trust, said: ‘The Gardens Trust, the leading source of expertise on the value and significance of historic designed landscapes, is delighted to have worked successfully with our heritage partners to protect the exceptional historic landscape of Hampton Court Palace, its gardens and unique Arcadian setting. We engaged with those asked to determine the future of this place, sharing our knowledge and passion to help conserve and protect this heritage for the benefit and appreciation of current and future generations.’
The Gardens Trust is most grateful to Dr Sarah Rutherford for her work and to all those campaigners who helped to keep the case in the public eye.
For more information download : https://thegardenstrust.org/gardens-trust-protects-hampton-court-setting
With thanks to Susannah Charlton editor of the Gardens Trust Summer 2021 e-bulletin for permission to reprint.
Dr Sarah Rutherford is a founder member of the Buckinghamshire Gardens Trust, former Chair, Council member and Research & Recording Group Chair.
