{"id":3773,"date":"2017-11-23T16:51:26","date_gmt":"2017-11-23T16:51:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/7dials.hyperlinkmedia.co.uk\/?page_id=3773"},"modified":"2023-08-15T03:11:25","modified_gmt":"2023-08-15T02:11:25","slug":"about-the-study","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sevendials.com\/study\/background\/about-the-study\/","title":{"rendered":"About the Study"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Study Area<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The \u2018Study Area\u2019 is defined in the map below and covers the core Seven Dials Conservation Area in Camden and the southern  part of the Covent Garden Conservation Area with the borough boundary shown in blue. The Seven Dials area in Camden is mostly small scale with many of the late 17th century houses remaining, whilst the Westminster side is dominated by the massive ex-brewery buildings, part of the Mercers\u2019 estate since 1531.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whilst the two areas are subject to the different planning and licensing policies of the two local authorities, the Study seeks to harmonise approaches to the public realm – both lighting and the treatment of streets, some of which has already been achieved. It also deals with managing the public realm and potential conflicts of interest between different stakeholder groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The Study Area. Click to expand.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Structure of the Site<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The site is organised into four principal sections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Background & Context<\/em><\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This section sets out the Study’s key principles and objectives, the particular characteristics of the Study Area, a short history, the planning and licensing policies of Camden and Westminster, and relevant national policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Streets<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/a><\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This section sets out the approach for harmonising the public realm in an historic area that also needs to work for the aspirations of people in the 21st century. It analyses the existing streetscape and proposes a uniform approach suited to the formal historic layout of the core Seven Dials Conservation Area and the adjacent Covent Garden Conservation Area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building Maintenance and Improvement<\/em><\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building, Maintenance and Improvement comprises a series of specifications with advice for the treatment of key elements of the buildings in the two conservation areas, such as brickwork, shopfronts, door and window joinery, signs and paintwork, set out A-Z.  Each section here is a summary dealing with key features. There are links to more detailed information where available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building by Building<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This section sets out the principles for the treatment and improvement of buildings and groups of buildings in the Study Area based on an analysis of the historic fabric, the evolution of the area and an analysis of each building. It gives guidance to freeholders and occupants on ways of improving their buildings so as to enhance their historic character and that of the conservation areas as a whole and make the streets more attractive. Attention is drawn to typical features which might form specific models for restoration work to other buildings in the conservation areas. It can be navigated via the interactive map which brings up streetscapes with historic images where available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previous Editions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first edition of the Seven Dials Renaissance Study was published in 1990 to national accolades, funded by the Kleinwort Benson Property Fund, who voluntarily increased their s52 from \u00a3100K to \u00a3450K to implement its recommendations. Following a congratulatory debate in the House of Lords It was revised and republished as the second edition in 1997-8, funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport at their request, and the Foundation for Sports and the Arts as a national exemplar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This digitised, third edition retains the basic format originally devised by Peter Heath, and has been substantially revised and extended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Study Team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This study was produced by a multidisciplinary team together with in-house input. It was organised by Trust chairman David Bieda and coordinator Kathy Pimlott. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This web edition of the Seven Dials Renaissance Study retains the basic format originally devised by Peter Heath BSc Arch; Bachelor of Architecture Architects Registration Board, RIBA, Dip Town Planning, RTPI; Academy of Urbanism, and retains some earlier material written by him. New and revised text was written by Patrick Baty FRSA; Chris Mason retired Architect\/Town Planner; Dr John Martin Robinson MA; D.Litt; D.Phil. FSA; Paul Velluet BA Hons, B. Arch Hons, M Litt, RIBA, IHBC; Richard Shepherd  RIBA (formerly AA Conservation Head);  Barry Smith BA (Hons), MA, MRTPI (Retired) and Dr Meredith Whitten, MSc Regional and Urban Planning Master of Public Affairs and a Bachelor of Journalism, Fellow in Environment, LSE. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The contemporary architectural photography in the Building by Building section<\/a> is by Guy Archard, who generously halved his fee. Most of the historical architectural images are from the London Metropolitan Archives, who waived their reproduction licence fees. Additional historical images are from other sources as credited. Additional contemporary images of architectural details are by Alan Simpson and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The axonometric diagram of Neal\u2019s Yard was designed pro bono by DSDHA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A special thanks to Owen Ward, co-chair of the Bloomsbury Conservation Areas Advisory Committee, who radically redeveloped this website into its current format, and contributed photographs, diagrams, text, and continuing advice on the overall format and presentation of this web study. The original site was designed by Radford Wallis and built by Hyperlink Media, with additional design and modification by Tattersall, Hammarling & Silk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In house: David Kaner (Covent Garden Community Association) assisted with Licensing; and David Bieda (Trust chairman) and Kathy Pimlott (coordinator) spent much time on the study and have both lived in the West End for more than fifty years; and technical assistance and guidance provided by trustee Jamal Uddin MIET FRSA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Financial Contributions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Trustees thank all those below whose support made this project possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Donations in Memory of the late Francis Golding<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n