Threat to heritage assets
Stockbridge’s High Street is built upon a 2,000-year-old Roman chalk causeway and lies within a designated Conservation Area that is celebrated for its unusually high concentration of Grade II and Grade II* listed buildings.
The proposed development presents a serious and cumulative threat to this sensitive environment, particularly to the setting of Grade II and Grade II* listed buildings such as:
- Stockbridge War Memorial (Sir Edwin Lutyens, Grade II)
- Lutyens Memorial Cross in Winton Hill Cemetery (Grade II)
- King’s Head House (Grade II*)
- Old St. Peter’s Church (Grade II*)
- The Grosvenor Hotel (Grade II*)
- Stockbridge Town Hall (Grade II*)
Of particular concern is the potential harm to both the historic character and setting of the Conservation Area and the landscape setting of Marsh Court, a Grade I listed Arts and Crafts residence designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with Grade II* listed gardens designed by Gertrude Jekyll. This site is of national importance, not only for its architectural distinction but also for its horticultural legacy. The proposed development represents a serious threat to the integrity of irreplaceable heritage assets and carefully preserved surroundings.
There are six listed buildings close to the site (near and at the crossroads). The impact on the Houghton and Bossington conservation areas, including the nearby Houghton Lodge, also needs to be considered.
The cumulative impact of development in this area risks undermining the historic integrity of these important heritage assets.
