4.2 Cathedral Quarter

Principles

Degree of Intervention
The revitalisation of the Cathedral Quarter should generally follow a programme of Conservation. Sensitively designed new developments, where appropriate, will allow the quarter to adapt to market demand while retaining its unique historic character. This will be achieved through close adherence to established conservation controls.

Activity
Encourage restaurants, cafes and bars that will complement existing city centre facilities and provide for the existing building and increasing residential population in the area.

Architectural style and materials
Acceptable proposals for new buildings will offer extremely well considered designs which are of a form, scale, proportion and style complementary to the existing urban fabric.

Reinforce and express the historic street pattern and topography in new buildings. In some instances curved facades may be appropriate or, on sloping streets, a stepped terraced building form. Building facades should present a solid form to the street to continue the historic sense of enclosure.

Detailed guidance on building design, orientation and materials is set out in Part 3.2 Guidance - Architectural Quality.

In the distinct character areas of the quarter building materials should be sensitive to the character of that area with the use of red brick and stone encouraged. Outwith these areas modern materials will be permitted. These should be sourced locally and from sustainably managed resources whenever possible to contribute to the sustainable development of the quarter (refer part 3.2)

Shop fronts should be sensitively designed and of high quality to reflect the historic context of both individual buildings and the overall character of the area.

Building form and height
New buildings must show sensitivity to their context and be in scale with the surrounding building height. In the Georgian heart of the quarter, this will be 3-4 storeys, with scope for 4-5 storeys to create corner features. Refer ‘Creating a sense of Enclosure’ in architectural guidance.

West Bar and Tenter Street can accommodate greater building heights as these streets are gateways into the city. New buildings could reflect the height of existing structures (up to 13 storeys) however, they must provide a transitional form to the lower scale of the Cathedral Quarter. New development on these sites must have no impact upon adjacent heritage sites, nor inhibit views from the quarter across the valley.

Views to and from the Cathedral should be protected to reinforce its position as an important city centre landmark.

Public realm improvements and materials
Enable a program of public art works in the form of small scale, detailed elements to be included in paving trails, signage or street furniture, responding to the historic or religious context of the quarter.

As part of the lighting strategy for the city centre, pedestrian routes and public spaces should be illuminated to enhance key sites and create a secure night time environment.

The Cathedral quarter will generally adhere to material palette and street furniture suite for Primary Zones as set out in table 5.1 and 5.2 respectively (part 5.1) with the exception of the area between Queen Street and West Bar which will adhere to the Secondary Zone palette of materials and street furniture set out in these tables (refer diagram 3.3).

Develop a strategy for rationalising and reducing car access and parking. Ultimately, limit or remove cars from lanes, closes and squares to reinforce the medieval character of the quarter. As a priority, commence this project with the reduction or removal of cars from Paradise Square which has the potential to become a focus of the Georgian heart of the quarter. Active ground floor uses such as cafes could take advantage of the south facing side of the square.

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