Identity

Contents:

• Local Character and Settlement Pattern
• Design of Buildings
• Roof Pitches
• Windows and Doors
• Windows and Glazing: Light Spill and Glare
• Building Materials
• Roofing Materials
• Walling Materials
• Landscaping, Gates, Fences and Walls

Local character is derived from the interaction of many factors — built form, landscape, public spaces, history, nature, and cultural associations, as well as less tangible aspects like a sense of community.

Development should respond to and complement existing patterns of settlement type and layout (see Supporting Information for Information on Lake District settlement forms). In most cases these elements have developed over centuries and are an important part of the historic character of a place. The reasons for any deviation away from the existing historic pattern should be explained, together with active measures towards good placemaking.

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Vernacular architecture varies across the Lake District in response to changes in the underlying geology, that influences not only the choice of local building material, but also built forms and methods of construction.

Information on common vernacular forms, and their distribution across the Lake District, can be found in the Supporting Information. Each settlement has a distinct architectural tradition depending on several factors, but common characteristics are:

• Buildings sit low in the landscape. Generally, they are one or two storeys high in a rural setting, extending to three storeys in towns.
• Constructed of local building material, which means that buildings harmonise with the surrounding landscape.
• Slatestone is dominant across much of the Lake District and is associated with the characteristic ‘drystone’ appearance of many local buildings.
• Slatestone is frequently left exposed.
• Rough-cast render (often painted white or cream) is also common, especially in areas of Carboniferous limestone.
• Traditional slate roofs are ubiquitous across the Lake District and are a significant part of the character of the region. These tend to be low pitched with either equal or asymmetric eaves. The latter is often associated with a cat-slide roof over an ‘outshut’ (or lean-to). Traditionally, the slates become smaller closer to the ridge, laid in diminishing courses.
• Window locations are dictated by internal layout and not necessarily symmetrical. Windows are generally small with deep reveals and stone mullions. Sash windows are common in properties from the late-18th century onwards and these are well-recessed into the walls.
• The nature of the local walling stone means openings in walls are well-spaced and kept to a necessary minimum. As a result, building elevations are dominated by the stone rather than glazing or large openings, except where the building function required large openings, such as farm buildings or boathouses.
• Dormers are rare, except in towns.
• Chimneys are a prominent feature. Gable end-stacks are characteristic of early buildings.
• Water-tabling – a line of projecting slates to deflect water – is a typical Lake District feature.
• Door designs vary considerably but generally feature a prominent lintel and stone jambs. Porches or a door canopy are common, intended to offer protection to visitors from the elements.
• Buildings are orientated to reflect the constraints of the landscape and direction of prevailing weather patterns. This varies considerably from valley to valley.

Although these features are common there are many variations according to location and designs need to respond appropriately to the specific traditions of the area. This is not intended to stifle contemporary design or encourage pastiche, but simply show how a design has been inspired by local character. Information on common vernacular forms, and their distribution across the National Park, can be found in the Supporting Information.

In areas where there is a wider variety of architectural styles, particularly those areas of 19th and early 20th century expansion around the edges of towns, design cues should still be taken from the prevailing architectural forms of the area. However, detailing should be consistent with architectural style, and mixing features within a building should be avoided. In all cases, design must be informed by analysis of context and local character.

The type, form and composition of new buildings must be rooted in local character. Where development sits within the historic core of a settlement, design must reflect the local vernacular tradition (where buildings were designed to meet functional needs). This varies across the National Park in response to changes in the underlying geology, that influences not only the choice of local building material, but built forms and methods of construction.

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1. Houses joined for efficient land, energy efficiency and to reflect local tradition of terraces.
2. Carriageway kept to a minimum, detailed simply and in keeping with rural settlement.
3. Drives are a minimal size.
4. Different housing types and sizes within the same scheme.
5. Traditional Westmorland slate roofing in diminishing courses.
6. Traditional Westmorland green slatestone walls and good quality detailing.
7. Traditional drystone walls as the outer boundaries to the street.
8. Active frontages and good passive surveillance.
9. Discrete lighting to the street.
10. Local details: simple gable forms.
11. Local details: over hanging roofs.
12. Local details: largely blank gables.
13. Local details: buildings stepping with the topography.
14. Local details: chimneys enhancing the skyline and roofscape.
15. Local details: sheltered doorways.
16. Buildings spaced and roofs angled for solar power. Photovoltaic panels sited for purpose but to minimise visual impact, placed symmetrically and integrated with roof slope.
17. Large window to principal rooms for solar gain.

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1. Retention of traditional stone boundary wall as rear garden boundary.
2. Use of native species hedge to enclose private rear gardens.
3. Passive surveillance of the street from upper windows.
4. Interesting variety of building forms and orientations

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1. Traditional gabled forms with overhanging roofs.
2. Houses joined for efficient use of land, energy efficiency and to reflect local tradition of terraces.
3. Slight variations in building line and eaves height to give an organic character, add rhythm and emphasise individual houses.
4. Chimneys to enhance the skyline and respect local character.
5. Sheltered doorways with porches that announce the principal entrance to each house.
6. Active frontage with good overlooking of street and gardens.
7. Use of local materials: Cumbrian blue grey slate, slatestone and roughcast render.
8. Attention to the scale, density and form of buildings within the site’s context.
9. Retention of rail-topped stone boundary wall and use of a simple gate detail. Clear edge between the public highway and the private path and gardens.
10. Retention of hedge boundary and mature trees along garden edge.
11. Communal open plan garden allows space for play equipment, greater ease of maintenance and greater flexibility than individual smaller plots.
12. Incorporation of informal meeting space on the roadside.

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1. House is built into the hillside in a manner that is reminiscent of a bank barn
2. A simple main roof plan
3. Circular slatestone chimneys
4. Westmorland slate roof in diminishing courses, but laid on a sweeping roof form
5. Oversailing roof with projecting eaves
6. Hung slate and coursed slatestone walling with timber cladding providing a contemporary addition
7. Vertical window proportions within simply detailed reveals
8. Siting of gardens means that some elevations join straight onto fields
9. Formal driveway (behind wall) has a minimal impact on the wider landscape
10. Integration of new walling with existing drystone walls

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1. Traditional gabled form
2. Houses joined for efficient use of land, energy efficiency and to reflect local tradition of terraces
3. Slight variations in building line and eaves height to give an organic character and emphasise individual houses
4. Chimneys to enhance the skyline and respect local character
5. Porches that announce the entrance to each house and also have built-in storage to the side
6. Traditional local slate, slatestone and roughcast render
7. Small semi-private spaces in front of each house
8. Informal communal driveway with a single, simple entrance from the lane
9. Retention of stone wall with fencing to improve visibility splays for drivers
10. Retention of mature trees and shrubs provide screening for the private space, but also maintains the rural character of the lane

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1. Variations in setback and eaves height break the terrace down to reflect the grain of the settlement, and provide rhythm and visual interest
2. Large south-facing windows to upper floor
3. High stone boundary retained and repurposed as the boundary to the back gardens
4. Building materials harmonise with those of the context
5. The orientation and grain of the new houses forms an attractive group with neighbouring buildings

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1. Contemporary design built as a traditional terrace of three houses.
2. Large windows on southern elevation and smaller windows to north promote passive solar gain and reduce heat loss.
3. Local slate roof, and roughcast render finish references the locality, with timber cladding a contemporary addition.
4. Simple main roof plan with chimneys adding interest to the skyline. Gabled roof forms and overhanging roofs.
5. Articulation of the building line and changes in materials identify the individual dwellings.
6. The private south side is an active frontage through its windows and patio doors, while the north side is active due to the front doors being located here. Functional porches announce the entrance to each house.
7. Private raised patios for each dwelling, with less formal gardens beyond.
8. Simple communal parking area is more sympathetic to local character than driveways and garages.

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1. A good balance of providing a street frontage that suits the traditional character of the village, whilst accommodating space for cars and bins to the rear.
2. Traditional gabled forms.
3. Traditional cottage grain and terrace
4. Chimneys and pots that add interest to the skyline
5. Use of local slate and render
6. Traditional low boundary walls of slatestone provide a clear edge between public and private space
7. Variation has been used in the style and size of window openings and porches to add interest to the street frontage

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1. Roof pitches should not exceed 50º. Steeper roof pitches are rare and tend to be limited to Victorian buildings and chalet-style dwellings.
2. The typical roof pitch used in traditional buildings in the Lake District is 30º to 35º and will therefore be appropriate in most circumstances.
3. Roof pitches should not be shallower than 27º. Shallow roof pitches are rare in the Lake District, and shallow roofs are therefore unlikely to reflect or contribute to local character.

The roof pitches of projections, particularly catslide roofs that are often found in the Lake District, should match or be similar to the roof pitch of the main roof of the house.

4. The roof pitch of the catslide roof can either continue the slope of the main roof or be slightly shallower (e.g., by 5º) to slow runoff and increase headroom under the catslide roof.

5. Lean-to extensions should generally have the same or a similar roof pitch to the main roof of the house.

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In this illustration:

1. The proportion of an existing window opening is taller than it is wide, giving the window opening a vertical emphasis. In most cases, traditional window openings are noticeably taller than they are wide as this works best with sliding sash windows or windows hinged on the side that swing open.
2. This proposed new window opening is smaller than the existing window, but it has the same proportion (i.e., ratio of height to width) as the existing window, and so provides a positive response.
3. The proposed new window has a proportion that is noticeably squashed, and squat compared to the existing window. This is not a positive response to the existing window proportion.

• The number of windows and the spacing of windows on an elevation has a big impact on how a building looks. Most houses in the Lake District have a rhythm of evenly spaced window openings that give elevations a pleasing and balanced appearance, as shown in the illustration.

4. The right-hand part of the elevation looks noticeably ‘busier’ than the rest of the house due to the number of small windows squashed into this part of the building. It detracts from the character of the whole elevation.

5. All parts of the building have a similar layout of windows giving a harmonious appearance.

Windows and doors often make the most difference to the finished appearance of a new building, extension or conversion, and are manufactured in a range of materials. The most common are wood, uPVC and powder coated aluminum.

Wooden window frames and doors will normally represent the most appropriate and sustainable option. They can be designed in ways to respect the character of any building and can be painted and repainted in any colour without replacement. If looked after and properly maintained, they will last for many years. They can be constructed to be as secure and weather-proof as uPVC windows.

UPVC and composite windows and doors come in a limited range of colours and designs. Storm casement uPVC windows (where the opening pane overlaps the frame) are the cheapest and most common window frame in use but they result in the least satisfactory appearance on Lake District houses. Because they are not symmetrical, they cannot replicate the appearance of a traditional casement window or a later sliding sash window which are normally symmetrical in appearance.

The use of standard uPVC storm casement windows is only likely to be acceptable in a limited range of circumstances where their use has no overall impact on the character of the building or the wider area.

Significant advancements have been made in UPVC windows. Both convincing high quality sliding sash windows and flush fitting casement uPVC windows (where the opening part of the window sits flush within the frame) which replicate traditional window types are now available. These will be considered on a case-by-case basis but will nearly always represent a more appropriate option than a uPVC storm casement window.

Powder coated aluminium frames come in a large range of colours. They are also thinner than uPVC windows so have a wider range of uses. They are often used successfully on contemporary buildings.

The colour of windows and doors is an important part of the appearance of a building.

Darker colours are more appropriate for barn conversions rather than hew housing schemes because it is often necessary to reduce the impact of new windows and doors as far as possible, to avoid compromising the agricultural character of the building.

Anthracite Grey (dark grey) is currently a very popular choice. This colour tends to work well on contemporary rendered buildings, providing a contrasting colour with lighter rendered walls. However, it provides no contrast with buildings which have darker walls or stone walls.

Whites and off-whites which provide a strong contrast with local stone walls are normally the most appropriate choice but a range of colours including light greys, greens and blues will complement the subtle colours found in local slate and stone.

Where planning permission is not required for the replacement of windows and doors, we strongly advise that existing traditional or original windows are retained and refurbished where possible but that any replacement considers the appropriateness of the design, materials and colour to the character of the building and the area and also takes into account longevity, value for money and carbon footprint.

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The darkness of the night skies is a key characteristic of the Lake District that reflects its rural character. The skies achieving complete darkness is also of ecological importance.

The unwanted impacts of light spill and highly reflective glazing can be avoided via the following measures:

• Recessing glazing within the wall as far as is practical.
• Using features of the building, like projecting eaves or hoods directly over windows to cast additional shadow onto the glazing.
• Using anti-reflective glazing. This is particularly effective where the aim is to make large areas of glass frameless, minimal or ‘invisible’.
• Using the thinner varieties of double or triple glazing that have narrower air gaps between the inner and outer panes. Standard double glazing with a 24mm air gap has a noticeably stronger reflectivity than glazing with a 12mm air gap. The thinnest glazing units use an argon-filled or vacuum-sealed gap, which conduct less heat than air and so are narrower than air-filled glazing units.
• On larger openings, using chunky and strongly projecting frames that break up the plane of glass and provide shadow.
• Where they form a coherent part of the overall building design, external shutters are a form of heat control that also assists with light spill and glare. On winter nights they keep heat and light inside when closed, but on hot and sunny days they keep intense sunlight and heat from reaching the glass when closed.
• On less conspicuous or private garden elevations, fixed or temporary canopies and awnings or permanent veranda-style structures can provide shade to windows or large glazed openings and avoid glare.

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National policy and the Local Plan support development that reinforces local distinctiveness, character and sense of place.

One of the most important ways of establishing a sense of place in the built environment is through the use of materials, most importantly through roof and wall materials. These should be complimented with an approach to windows, doors, landscaping and boundaries which reflect the quality of the landscape and the importance of the built environment.

Unlike other areas of the country where building materials are often imported or manufactured, the appearance of buildings in the Lake District is a direct product of the geology beneath them.

Whether it’s distinctively pink Eskdale granite or it’s the greens and greys of Honister stone in the centre of Keswick, when planning a design for new house in the Lake District, looking at the roofs and walls of your neighbours is often all that is necessary to help inform what the most appropriate approach should be.

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Roofing Materials

Most locally distinctive of all are the local slate roofs of the Lake District that can be seen covering the majority of buildings in the area and which make a significant contribution to sense of place, particularly when seen from above. Local slate has a thick gauge, rough hewn surface and distinctive pattern which all contribute to an appearance that is as locally distinctive when first laid as it is decades later.

The use of Westmorland green slate or blue grey slate will be informed by the immediate context of the site. Often, either option will be acceptable.

Imported slate is not an acceptable alternative to local slate. This is because it is likely to retain a smooth and uniform colour and texture which means it does not weather in the same way as local slates. As they are normally made to standard sizes and to a thinner gauge, they cannot replicate the variety found in a local slate roof and cannot replicate its appearance.

Where planning permission is not required for replacement or repair of an existing roof, we strongly discourage the use of imported slate because the incremental effect of changes which do not require planning permission is the erosion of local distinctiveness, character and sense of place.

If there are valid reasons to consider roof coverings other than local slate, alternative locally produced roofing materials are likely to be more appropriate than imported slate, when considered in terms of its appearance, longevity, value for money and carbon footprint.

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Walling Materials

The walls of a building can often be as important to local distinctiveness, character and sense of place as its roof, especially within a dense town context or a tightly knit farm group when seen from road level. Wall finishes are functional, decorative and often both.

Local walling materials vary more obviously across the Lake District than roofing slate. Stone is less easy to transport and therefore historically, the easiest stone to build a house or barn from was the closest available. Walls were often built upon boulders or bedrock, with stone quarried from the nearest rock face or gathered from the land or nearby streams. Most buildings constructed in this way using ‘found’ rubble stone would historically have been externally finished with a lime render and limewashed.

Because it is a by-product of slate manufacture, slate stone remains the most common walling material for buildings in the Lake District, with limestone, granite and red sandstone used in outlying areas.

Roughcast render or ‘wet-dash’, or modern products which replicate its appearance, is the other most common walling finish. Roughcast render is used throughout the Lake District and its use as a wall finish is likely to be appropriate on a range of buildings, particularly where it is not possible to obtain stone to match nearby buildings.

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Alternative Materials for Roofs and Walls

It will be necessary to demonstrate that the use of materials other than local slate, stone and roughcast render is appropriate.

Metal wall cladding (including zinc, copper, lead, stainless steel and aluminium) and timber wall cladding or composite cladding products which mimic the appearance of timber are only likely to be acceptable where used sparingly as part of a cohesive design solution and where the context of the site and character of the landscape means that its use would not compromise sense of place.

Large areas of glazing do not reinforce local distinctiveness or sense of place. Large areas of glazing can also result in light pollution which both national policy and the Local Plan seek to avoid. In sensitive landscape locations the extensive use of glazing is unlikely to be acceptable.

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With a large or prominent development in a sensitive area, the way the development interacts with the landscape beyond its boundaries can be equally as important as the appearance of the building itself. The entrance and boundary walls are the place where private space meets public and where the influence of your development on the landscape can be felt most.

Stone boundary walls are normally the most appropriate option. Stone used should reflect existing stone walls in the area in terms of type of stone and method of laying. Dressed stone is not normally used for boundary walls. Other boundary types such as native hedge planting will be considered where this is consistent with the other boundaries in the area.

Large entrances will rarely be appropriate in the context of small-scale vernacular buildings and in sensitive rural landscape locations.

Hard landscaping should be kept to a minimum and must take cues from the surrounding area, subject to associated constraints such as drainage and durability. The choice of surface must harmonise with local character particularly in terms of colour.

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