WARNING - This is a draft and is work in progress. Nothing in this draft should be relied upon. Please email HCERA if you notice mistakes or have suggestions for improvements or additions.
Doors, Porches and Canopies
The doors of Collins' houses are a distinctive feature as they are normally 3 feet 5 inches wide, which is 5 inches wider than standard front entrance doors. This small difference gives a more imposing, generous and welcoming effect to the entrance.
Many of the doors are based on early Georgian designs with modem variations. They are all well proportioned with carefully detailed mouldings, frames and architraves. Generally they are painted or varnished with simple, carefully designed ironmongery.
Boundaries
Landscaped front gardens with and without boundary hedges are an important feature of the Bassett Green Estate. This mixture of open and planted frontages reinforces the garden suburb character of the estate and for this reason should be retained.
Trellis-work
Rectangular sections of wooden trellis used as a rear boundary treatment is also a characteristic of the Estate, a typical section and elevation is shown below.
Replacement of non-original materials on front and side elevations.
There are a number of properties within the Conservation Area where uPVC wondows or rainwater goods have been used on front and side elevations. Generally these will date from before the imposition of the Article 4 Direction. Where these materials have come to the end of their effective life it would not normally be acceptable to replace them with similar materials. Where it is proposed to replace uPVC double-glazing it will be acceptable to install new double glazed units provided they match the profiles of windows in neighbouring properties as closely as possible.
Rainwater goods can be replaced either with cast iron or cast aluminium units, provided these match neighbouring properties.
Harsh, UPVC can be good now DHTrees
Probably no trees predate the building of the estate.
Is there evidence for this in the historical record?MW
Two large mature trees are the silver birch on the green in Bassett Green Road and the
Monterey cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) in Field Close.
The estate is approximately 80 years old.
This tree, a native of the west coast of America, was cited as a new plant in 1849
and probably arrived as seeds some decades earlier. The girth (at chest height) is 174 inch (4.42 m).
It does seem to be in
a slightly odd position being so close to the rear boundary of a property in
Ethelburt Avenue. A very crude estimate of age (by me) from the girth
suggested >100 years, but I am no expert. MW
Early each May, the flowering cherries in Ethelburt Avenue are spectacular. Most of the original
cherry trees have died and as this has occurred the Residents' Association and
the Swaythling Housing Society has carried out new planting. When the estate was first built, old photographs show there was also a verge on the odd-numbered side of Ethelburt Avenue. Recently, part of this verge has been restored and planted with trees. As part of the Golden Jubilee VE Day celebrations, a grant was obtained from the City Council for new tree planting. This included a Himalayan birch on the green in Bassett Green Road and a whitebeam on the green in Leaside Way. Later in the 1990s the City Council planted
Cypress oak trees Quercus robur ‘Fastigiata’ in the verges of Leaside Way. A popular tree on the estate is the Scots pine which is found on the large green in
Ethelburt Avenue, on the green at the corner of Stoneham Lane and Bassett Green Road and on Bassett Green Road on either side of the entrance to Field Close. Responsibility for maintenance of the trees varies. Along
Leaside Way, it is the City Council. For the greens in Ethelburt Avenue and on the corner of Bassett Green Road and Stoneham Lane it is the Swaythling Housing Society. Elsewhere this is more uncertain, but the Residents' Association looks after
trees in the communal areas in default of anyone else. Not
true for Field Close
MW
Mature trees both within private gardens and shared open spaces are an important element in the appearance of the Bassett Green Estate. In designing housing layouts Collin's sought to retain mature trees where possible.
[Should residents have any questions concerning the condition of trees they are advised to contact the Directorate of Strategy and Development whose arboriculturalists provide an advice service. Contact the Trees Team DH] The Council is no longer able to offer an arboricultural advice service and it will be the responsibility for tree owners to seek advice from professional, qualified contractors or consultants. NG
Community Involvement
ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE [PRGCA] ETHELBURT AVENUE (BASSETT GREEN ESTATE) CONSERVATION AREA
SWOT - Strengths Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats
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Strengths Good community support Retains most of the original character Retains most of the traditional features Strong Residents Association Green spaces Ethelburt Avenue is a tranquil area General compliance with the article 4 |
Weaknesses Traffic (especially on Bassett Green Road) Some pre-Article 4 alterations )eg uPVC windows) Loss of front gardens to hard standing for parking Parking constraint (especially Stoneham Lane) DHSome different materials used Maintenance (especially windows) Housing stock difficult to adapt to modern needs |
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Opportunities Give clarity to the Article 4 Produce clear policies Give clear practical guidance to residents on how to manage their properties to minimise degradation of character at affordable cost DH The possibility of self-regulation by transfer of the leases from the present freeholder to the Residents' Association JO |
Threats Proliferation of minor alterations The restrictions in the leases or Lack of enforcement by both Planning Authority and Freeholder. JO Limited availability of traditional materials Some traditional skills being lost Traffic and parking Further loss of front gardens to hard standing for parking Parking overspill from adjacent areas DHUnregulated upgrading of houses Microgeneration and solar water heating DHSatellite aerials Danger that inflexible policies will cause a decline Erosion of rear gardens Developments adjacent to the CA Climate change impact on the gravel road DH |