Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

3 Dovecot Street

The property is a small premises in a prominent location on Dovecot Street, directly facing the entrance to the Wellington Square precinct. A poor replacement shop front and the insertion of an out of keeping window at first floor level has altered the proportions of the frontage detracting from the appearance.  Investigations have shown this may have been a sliding sash window that was replaced with a small bay window during the Victorian era.

The business is a retail tobacconist and is a well-established small business in the town centre. Trade for the existing use may have been improved through the restoration of the architectural integrity of the building.

The Dovecot Street approach and general character of the conservation area would have been improved through the restoration of shop frontage and the street scene.

Application

The façade of the building would have been restored through the insertion of a traditional shop front and the replacement with a window with suitable detailing and proportions for the period. Further internal investigations would take place and partial removal of existing render may have been required to ascertain original windows proportions to inform the restoration scheme.  A grant was awarded to the project in March 2009, but has not been taken up, and the project will not proceed. 

Design

The preliminary design was completed by a RIBA Heritage Accredited Architect to be in keeping with the period of the building.  It was not been possible to trace definitive photographic evidence so the knowledge of period design was essential to ensure reliability and quality was embedded in the design.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Shop Front Design Guide provided the starting point but additional evidence to support the agreed design was provided.

Planning

No problems were anticipated with Conservation Area Approval or Planning Permission.

Evaluation

Grant funding would have ensured the building was restored to the highest standard of design and workmanship. On completion the use would have been continued and the property would have formed a pleasing addition to the street scene helping to preserve the historic townscape. Dovecot Street lies on the axis of cultural development leading from the riverside through the Cultural Quarter across to ARC, the arts centre and therefore these high quality visual improvements would have supported the ongoing developmental aspirations for the area.

Last updated: 30.7.10

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