Garden Room Office, 16 Tower Park, Fowey, Cornwall - Results of a Heritage Impact Assessment

This report presents the results of a heritage impact assessment that was carried out by South West Archaeology Ltd. (SWARCH) for a commercial development at Garden Room Office, 16 Tower Park, Fowey, Cornwall. The proposed site is located within the Fowey Conservation Area and c.100m from three Grade II Listed buildings and c.200-250m from three Grade II* Listed buildings. The Grade II Listed buildings are: Point Neptune and its boundary wall and gate piers (to the south-west); and 76-80 Esplanade (to the north-east). The Grade II* Listed buildings, all also scheduled monuments, are: Fowey Blockhouse (to the north-east); St. Catherine's Point (to the south-south-west); and Polruan Castle (to the south-east). The proposed garden room office is to be located to the rear of 16 Tower Park and it will be screened in its entirety by the three-storey house and the neighbouring properties from all river views and from all heritage assets to the south, east, and west. The terraced nature of the garden and the natural topography of the site will further limit the visibility of the proposed garden room. Other Modern impacts (including large Modern houses) have been constructed to the rear of properties along Tower Park. These structures are clearly visible behind the Conservation Area at the end of Hanson Drive and they have more of an impact and complicate views to the site which further lessens any potential impacts. There is no need to terrace the proposed garden room into the slope as its visibility is so minimal and any significant landscaping is likely to risk undermining the historic boundary walls.