Part 2.3.1 - Context - the City of London Corporation

CONTEXT3.0
West Smithfield Area Enhancement Strategy
43

46
3.1 The Study Area
The study area is located within the north western part of the City of London and shares
boundaries with the London boroughs of Camden and Islington to the north of the market. It is
bound by Farringdon Road to the west, Aldersgate Street to the east, Charterhouse Street to the
north and Snow Hill/Holburn Viaduct/Newgate/ Angel Street the south. The area is approximately
18.86 ha in size.
The West Smithfi eld area has two dominant singular uses, The Smithfi eld Market buildings and
the Barts Hospital. The majority of the remaining built fabric comprises offi ce and residential
buildings 5-6 storeys in height with the exception of a row of taller offi ce buildings fronting on
to Aldersgate Street which are between 10-17 storeys in height. West Smithfi eld open space
between the market and St Bartholomew’s Hospital is the last remnant from the former market
space of Smyth Fyeld.
There are three primary vehicular routes within the site boundary are the east-west Long Lane/
West Smithfi eld and Giltspur Street and King Edward Street/Montague Street from the south.
3.2 Existing Nodes and Attractions
The West Smithfi eld Area has a number of strategic node points where there are a concentration
of features such as the new Crossrail stations at Farringdon, The Smithfi eld’s Market Buildings
and the St Barts Hospital.
The study area contains three key attractions the Smithfi eld Market, St Bartholomew the Great
Church and The Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Outwith the study area there are a number of key
attractions the most signifi cant of which are the St Paul’s Cathedral and the Old Bailey.
3.3 Existing Parks and Public Green Open Spaces
There are approximately 200 small parks, gardens and landscaped green open spaces within the
City of London. Out with the study area there are a number of green spaces in close proximity
such as Charterhouse Square, Fann Street Wildlife garden and the extensive green space
associated with The Barbican development. Within the study area there are fi ve principal spaces.
The majority of the public green open spaces are in courtyards approached by gatehouses or
fenced areas which imply that they are for private use only.
1.0 The churchyard garden at St Bartholomew the Great: To the north side a simple
public garden space dominated by two mature plane trees. It has a series of benches and is
accessed via steps from Cloth fair via a gated entrance and via steps from West Smithfi eld
through a historical gatehouse. To the south a gated semi–private garden space accessed from
West Smithfi eld again through the gatehouse.
2.0 The Rotunda Garden: A circular park space with mature trees and planting beds. The
small park has a centrally located historical statue, and clusters of play equipment and seating.
Pedestrian access to the park involves a minimum of one road crossings from every angle of
approach as well as contending with market trader’s vehicle loading bays and the underground
car park access route.
3.0 Postman’s Park: A mature and intimate public garden with a number of protected
trees. The park has well-tended fl ower beds, a water feature and a number of benches and
seating opportunities. The park has two gated access points.
4.0 The Garden at the Church for the Holy Sepulchre without Newgate: A predominately
hard paved area with many raised planters and pots access via a gated entrance way.
West Smithfield Area Enhancement Strategy
The Study Area
Borough Boundary
Ward Boundary
Landmark Buildings
Churches
Figure 18 The study area and related boroughs and ward boundaries
St Paul’s Cathedral
Farringdon + Barbican Rail
/ Tube / CrossRail
Smithfield market
Barbican
Museum of London
Barts Hospital
St. Bartholomew the Great Church
Green open spaces
04
02
Figure 19 Key Strategic Nodes
Figure 20 Key Attractions Figure 21 Local Green Open Spaces
05
01
03

BUS STOP BUS ROUTE
HT 17, 45, 63
HL 8, 25, 242, 521
HQ 56
ST 8, 25, 56, 242, 521
SV 4, 56, 100
BC 4, 56
BA 4, 56,153
Figure 22 London Underground and Rail Stations
Figure 24 London Bus Network
One Way Street
London Distributor road
Borough Distributor road
Local Distributor road
Cycle Hire Docking Stations
Transport for London Signed Cycle Routes
Transport for London Quieter Recommended Routes
City of London Official Cycle Routes
Cycle Racks
Figure 23 Road Network and Hierarchy
Figure 25 London Bike Stations and Routes
5.0 The Hospital Square at Barts: A large central courtyard space with tree planting
a water feature accessed through a gateway from West Smithfi eld or a passageway between
buildings from Little Britain. The space is currently car dominated.
3.4 Connectivity
The Eastern and Western edges of West Smithfi eld are defi ned by key routes which control the
volume of traffi c that move through the smaller streets of the study area.
Farringdon Street running North-South to the Western edge of West Smithfi eld is classifi ed as a
London Distributor Road which should attract and serve drivers making journeys between and
across boroughs. The traffi c function will predominate, but suitable facilities will be provided to
serve adjacent land uses.
Aldersgate Street on the Eastern edge running North-South and into Cheapside are both classifi ed
as Borough Distributor Roads providing for longer distance movements within the borough and
links to adjoining boroughs. They should operate effi ciently for traffi c but provide a full range of
facilities to serve the adjacent land uses.
Holburn Viaduct, King Edward Street, St Martin Le-Grand, provide the key links into West
Smithfi eld at a local level and between borough distributors. These are all classifi ed as Local
Distributor Roads to provide defi ned routes into local areas and will serve traffi c having an origin
or destination in the City, except buses and cycles which may be passing through. The needs of
local land uses will predominate over traffi c.
All other roads throughout West Smithfi eld are classed as Local Access Roads to serve the needs
of the local land uses and should only cater for traffi c serving the locality. It may be desirable for
local bus services to use Local Access Roads in some cases.
The area is well connected to public transport links. There is one underground station Barbican
located in the North West corner of the site on Aldersgate Street and a major interchange with
underground and over ground stations at Farringdon just a few minutes’ walk to the north east of
the study area.
There is limited network of offi cial cycle routes within the study area. The main route is along
Long Lane /West Smithfi eld although there is no dedicated cycle path marked on the carriageway.
It is noted that the Transport for London map shows different cycle ways than the offi cial City of
London routes. There are two London bike stations located next to the rotunda and on the corner
of Cock Lane and Snow Hill.
Five bus stops service the study area; these are located on Farringdon Road (HT), Giltspur
Street (HQ), King Edward Street (SV) and two stops on Aldersgate Street (BC and BA). There are
several other bus stops located just outside the boundary with a concentration to the south on the
Holborn Viaduct/Newgate Street. The following services operate within the area 4, 8, 17, 25, 45,
56, 63, 100, 153, 242 and 521. The area around the ambulance station is used as a waiting and
turning point for the number 56 bus service.
There is a good network of public transport facilities which will be improved further with the
opening of the transport interchange at Farringdon to the north of the site and the new Crossrail
Farringdon Station East within the study area.
West Smithfield Area Enhancement Strategy
47

48
3.5 Districts
This document has identifi ed four key districts associated with the West Smithfi eld area;
Smithfi eld Market; The market has traded meat for over 800 years making it one of the oldest in
London. The area was a signifi cant livestock market until the mid 1800’s when it was relocated for
public health reasons after which the Grade II listed meat market which stands today was built.
The main wings east and west are separated by the Grand Avenue.
Barts Hospital District; Barts is one of Britain’s leading healthcare providers and is worldrenowned
.It is also one of Britain’s oldest hospitals founded 1123. It comprises a series of
buildings with a central court area. A new main entrance will be established on King Edward Street.
The Barbican District; The Barbican Estate (1969) Grade II listed was designed to create a
coherent residential precinct and resemble a small walled town. Within the estate there are
surviving examples of the old London Wall.
St Paul’s Cathedral; St Paul’s sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of
London. The present St Paul’s is the fi fth cathedral to have stood on the site since 604, and was
built between 1675 and 1710, after its predecessor was destroyed in the Great Fire of London.
3.6 Conservation Areas
There are four Conservation Areas within the site boundary.
Postman’s Park Conservation Area
Aldersgate Street on the eastern boundary of the conservation area is of Roman origin. The
southern edge of the area was altered following the dissolution of the monasteries and the ravages
of the great fi re the enlarged building plots of the post offi ce and St. Botolph’s church evolved. The
northern edge retains the smaller scale medieval alignment with small plots of varied character.
Postman’s park, a former disused burial ground, was laid out as a formal garden in 1880. It is
located in a secluded location surrounded by domestic scale buildings and has 15 trees with Tree
preservation orders. A signifi cant view of St Paul’s can be seen from King Edward Street.
Newgate Conservation Area
The Northern extent of the Newgate conservation area sits within the study area with the historically
signifi cant Church of the Holy Sepulchre without Newgate as a focal point. Newgate Street itself is
one of the earliest routes west from the city. Giltspur Street was thought to be the route taken by
knights to nearby tournaments at Smithfi eld
Charterhouse Square Conservation Area
This area is dominated by the Metropolitan Railway/London’s fi rst underground railway line which
cuts through this zone. Substantial Victorian commercial brick buildings where developed either
side of the railway cutting replacing smaller scaled domestic properties. A new East Farringdon
Crossrail station is currently under construction to the south of the conservation area.
Smithfi eld Conservation Area
The area has distinct precincts which have been defi ned by the presence of the monastery of St.
Bartholomew and the hospital since the 16th century. The medieval alignment of Little Britain, and
the ancient building lines, small plots and thoroughfares have retained their pattern to the present
day as does the funnel shaped medieval market place of ‘Smythe Fyeld’
The road alignments of Little Britain, Aldersgate St, Long Lane and Charterhouse street where all
West Smithfield Area Enhancement Strategy
present in 15th century. The streets to the south of Long Lane are cohesive and modest in scale;
buildings are in brick which defi nes them from the grand Portland stone of the hospital. The meat
market creates a formal northern boundary to the area. The rotunda is a grand Victorian gesture
built to serve the market. To the west of Giltspur street post –war redevelopment has resulted
in a loss of the intimate scale found in lanes to the east of the conservation area. The church of
St Bartholomew the Great is the oldest parish church in London as the hospitals of its kind. The
hospital has a formal square surrounded by buildings which is unique to the city.
04
01
01 Smithfield Conservation Area
02 Charterhouse Square
03 Postman’s Park
04 Newgate
02
03
Figure 26 Key Districts
Figure 27 Conservation Areas

Residential
Office
Specialist Retail
Retail
Educational
Transport, car park
Vacant or under construction
Hospital
Hotel
Pub, bar
Restaurant, cafe
Historic building museum
Religious
Market
SNOW HILL
R.
HOLBURN VIADUCT
F.
R.
WEST SMITHFIELD
E.
GILTSPUR STREET
Listed Buildings
A. King Edward Building
B. St.Botolph’s Church Aldersgate
C. 9-10 Little Britain
D. 12 Little Britain
E. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre
F. 4 Snow Hill
G. 133-134 Aldersgate Street
H. 39-40 Cloth Fair
I. 41-42 Cloth Fair
J. 43-44 & 48 Cloth Fair including 51 Barley Mow Passage
K. 74 Long Lane
L. 1 Middle Street
M. Gate House St Barts Hospital
N. North,east,west and north east block St Barts Hospital
O. St Bartholomew-The Less Church St Barts Hospital
P. Medical School Barts Hospital
Q. St Bartholomew the Great Church and Gateway building
R. Central Smithfield Market
S. 58-59 West Smithfield
R.
M. O.
N.
N.
Q.
N.
S.
J. J.
I. H.
N.
Q.
LONG LANE
K.
L.
P.
KING EDWARD STREET
D.
G.
A.
ALDERSGATE STREET
C.
B.
Figure 28 West Smithfield Land Use
Scheduled monuments
Statue of Sir Rowland Hill
Gates , railings and drinking fountain in St. Botolph’s
churchyard
Watts memorial shelter
Police Call box St. Martins Le Grand
Roman City Wall
Railings and wall and drinking fountain at the The
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Golden Boy Statue
3.7 Current Land Use
West Smithfi eld area contains a mixed scale of building footprint and diversity of use.
Barts hospital and Smithfi eld Market are all large singular uses within the area and strongly
infl uence the way the streets and spaces between have developed in character and use. The
Market and soon to be upgraded Crossrail infrastructure create an industrial character that
juxtaposes the historic street pattern and churches. St Bartholomew’s hospital breaks the fi ne
grain of the streets with the large hospital footprint and spaces dominated by hospital access and
users.
The fi ner grain of surrounding streets, lanes and alleys are predominantly offi ces with high quality
restaurants and traditional pubs providing street level and evening activity for those working and
living in the area. Throughout the site are churches which underpin the medieval street pattern,
key vistas and small green courtyards.
There are opportunities in vacant buildings in the Western end of Smithfi eld market, General
market annex and cold store and the proposed Farringdon Crossrail station will take the place of
vacant plots to the east.
Listed Buildings
There are several listed buildings within the study area. The most signifi cant being the Barts
Hospital building complex, the three main buildings of the Smithfi eld Market and the St
Bartholomew the Great Church.
West Smithfi eld also lies within an Archaeological priority area which is an area specifi ed by Local
Planning Authorities to help protect archaeological remains that might be affected by development.
The implication of this is that any sites proposed for redevelopment are required to be assessed
for their archaeological potential.
West Smithfield Area Enhancement Strategy
49

Figure 29 Strategic Sight Lines of London
01 02 03
50
West Smithfield Area Enhancement Strategy
02
03
01
02
03
Sight lines
Landmark Buildings
Churches
01
Figure 30 Strategic Sight Lines of London - Across Study Area

Area Views
Landmark Buildings
Churches
05
06
04
07
Figure 31 Significant Area Views
04
05 06 07
West Smithfield Area Enhancement Strategy
51

08 09 10 11 12
13
14
15
16
52
West Smithfield Area Enhancement Strategy
Local Views
Landmark Buildings
Churches
08
09
10
11
13
12
15
14
16

Protected Sight lines
Area Views
Local Views
Landmark Buildings
Churches
Figure 33 Views CComposite
Diagram
3.8 Existing Views
The study area sits within the zone of protected sight lines which preserve the long distance views
of the city from Alexandra palace and Primrose Hill towards St. Paul’s Cathedral and is managed
by planning policies in the Local development Framework Core Strategy 2011 and the Mayors
London Plan 2011. The Protected Views Supplementary Planning Document 2012 provides
more detailed guidance. Close to the study area are two landmark buildings that are considered
features in the city’s skyline, The Barbican Towers and The Old Bailey. Two city churches with
skyline presence are also in and near the study area, the church of St Sepulchre and St Paul’s
Cathedral.
From within the site looking out there is a strong sense of place and orientation with glimpse views
of The Barbican, The old Bailey and St Paul’s. From within the site views are sequential and
unfolding rather than direct with distant views often framed by buildings.
Opportunities & Challenges
• Any new developments and proposals should respect and maintain the protected views.
• Existing area views should be enhanced through rationalization of street furniture and
strengthened through streetscape design.
West Smithfield Area Enhancement Strategy
53

54
West Smithfield Area Enhancement Strategy
Figure 34 Paths
Figure 37 Districts
Figure 35 Edges
Figure 38 Landmarks
Figure 36 Nodes

Figure 39 Composite - ‘Kevin Lynch’ Analysis
3.9 Kevin Lynch Analysis
Kevin Lynch identifi es fi ve elements which determine the ease of navigation through an area.
These are paths, edges, districts, nodes and landmarks. Lynch’s elements of pedestrian legibility
(paths, edges, districts, landmarks and nodes) when placed successfully, increase human ability
to see and remember patterns, and it is these patterns that make navigation easier.
These have been identifi ed for the West Smithfi eld study area and can summarized as follows;
Paths: There is a complex network of routes within the study area. The main linking routes to
the key nodes of St Paul’s Cathedral and the Old Bailey via little Britain/King Edward Street and
Giltspur Street are unfolding. There is a direct and dominant east-west route across the site (long
Lane/West Smithfi eld).
Edges: The building developments on the site boundary to the north (Smithfi eld Market) and east
(Aldersgate Street) are a perceived barrier to movement were as the southern boundary is more
open and permeable.
Districts: The area is clearly divided into districts with specifi c identities defi ned by architectural
character and scale.
Nodes: The main centre of activity in the study area is the Rotunda space around which the
buildings are focused. There are a number of smaller nodes which take the form of courtyard and
pocket spaces.
Landmarks: There are a number of key identifi able external reference points namely St Paul’s
Cathedral and the Old Bailey.
Opportunities & Challenges
• The study area is impenetrable from the east and north with large building fl oor plates
reducing permeability for both pedestrians, cyclists and vehicle users. Future developments
on the edges should be encouraged to accommodate routes through into West Smithfi eld
within their designs.
• The area has a number of districts with notably different characteristics and it has a complex
urban grain which is hard for visitors to mentally map. The challenge is to try and make the
area more navigable by knitting it together through unity of design, streetscape materials and
streetscape elements, in combination with a clear way fi nding strategy.
West Smithfield Area Enhancement Strategy
55

56
3.10 Existing Tree Planting
There are over one hundred trees within the study area. The majority of the tree stock within the
study area is located within a conservation area, in gardens and open spaces rather than in streets.
The main groupings are the trees in churchyards at St Bartholomew the Great and St Sepulchre’s
Church without Newgate, Barts hospital quadrangle, Bartholomew Close and along Giltspur Road,
In Postman’s’ Park a group of 11 trees have Tree Preservation Orders. The largest grouping of
trees is in the Rotunda area. The species mix within the West Smith Field area comprises Horse
Chestnut, Yew, Cherry and Lime but is predominantly London Plane.
The City of London Tree Strategy Supplementary Panning Document 2011 promotes the planting
of new trees in public realm schemes and green corridors to enhance the environment, air quality
and biodiversity. Trees in the city are a key part of the green infrastructure which also provides a
number of social and economic benefi ts. The planting of native tree species is encouraged.
Trees within the study area are as follows;
01 Tilia spp. ( Lime)
02 Tilia and Quercus spp. ( Lime and Evergreen Oak)
03 Prunus spp. ( Cherry)
04 Tilia spp. (Lime)
05 Group; Platanus hispanica, Betula and Crataegus spp. ( Plane,Birch and Hawthorn)
06 Group; Platanus hispanica, Pterocarya and Prunus ( Plane, Wing Nut, Cherry)
07 Platanus hispanica and Prunus/Cherry ( Plane and Cherry)
08 Fraxinus ( Ash)
09 Platanus hispanica ( Plane)
10 Group; Alnus, Fraxinus and Buddleia spp. ( Alder, Ash and Butterfly Bush)
11 Group; Taxus (Yew) and Platanus hispanica ( Plane)
12 Eucaluptus ( Gum)
13 Tilia spp. ( Lime)
14 Group; Platanus hispanica ( Plane)
15 Platanus hispanica ( Plane)
16 Betula spp. ( Birch)
17 Tilia spp. ( Lime)
18 Aesculus spp.( Chestnut)
19 Group ; Platanus hispanica, Acer spp.and Sorbus spp. ( Plane, Maples,Whitebeam)
20 Group ; Platanus hispanica ( Plane)
21 Tilia spp. ( Lime)
22 Group; Prunus ( Cherry)
23 Line; Sorbus spp. ( Whitebeam)
Opportunities & Challenges
• New tree planting should respect historic landmarks and buildings within the study area to
ensure that important views or facades are not obstructed.
• There is limited street tree planting within the study area and so more street trees should
be introduced into its streescapes. The challenge is to identify locations where trees can
be successfully integrated, with adequate space for establishment, without confl ict with
archaeological remains and utilities/sub surface infrastructure.
West Smithfield Area Enhancement Strategy
Trees within study area and conservation areas
Trees within study area and protected by Tree Preservation Orders
Trees within study area outwith a conservation Area
Trees outwith the study area
01
04
02
05
03
07
06
23
09
08
09
11
22
12
10
15
21
17
13
14
16
19
18
20
Figure 40 Existing Tree Planting