Gosport Conservation Area Appraisals
Gosport Conservation Area Appraisals
Gosport rivals Portsmouth, Plymouth and Chatham in the depth of its military and maritime built heritage, which collectively tells a remarkable chapter in the history of the British armed forces. However, the widespread closure of sites across the Borough after the Cold War drove the need to find new uses for spaces and structures with highly specialised military uses. This process is ongoing, with renewed impetus and support provided by Historic England’s Heritage Action Zones (HAZ) project.
With HAZ funding, we are working the Borough Council to prepare Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans for one newly proposed and four existing conservation areas across Gosport, each of which designates a highly significant former military site now in alternative uses. Stretching from the former ordnance depot of Priddy’s Hard in the north to former barracks and surviving sections of the Gosport Lines fortifications in the south, our work has revealed just how far the military presence in Gosport has shaped its growth and development for over 300 years.
We have made a range of recommendations for the long-term protection of the scheduled monuments and listed buildings across the conservation areas, and to ensure future development positively responds to an historic environment that is rich but highly sensitive to change.
Client: Gosport Borough Council