KET7 Local Heritage Assets
In support of KET5 this policy idea seeks to identify and protect individual buildings that have local heritage interest because of their architecture or historic connections (but are not already listed) or do not form part of a wider area of special character.
Identifying them will raise the awareness of developers that a building has some local heritage interest that should be given proper attention in the design of their proposals. For each building (or structure) the policy will have to describe the essential features of that local interest. Kettering has a number of distinctive late nineteenth century former shoe factories, no more than four storeys high and rarely more than around ten bays in length with regular patterns of windows – sometimes round headed – a much more domestic scale of industrial building than say the traditional cotton and woollen mills of the north or the engineering factories of the west midlands. Altogether the factories in Kettering are much more integrated into their streetscape without the barriers offered by mill yards, detached office/engine room buildings or mill reservoirs found elsewhere. Where are the best examples of these that could be included in the policy? Kettering also exhibits quite distinctive school buildings – owing to their late building date and the decision to use these to act as landmark beacons in the Kettering townscape. Are there any fine examples of these that would be appropriate to consider including ( if they are not already listed)
The Advisory Panel have identified a number of potential locations and will undertake an initial assessment of these locations over the coming months before engaging with landowners and considering which sites to take forward to the next stage of community engagement.