Planned improvements to Pitzhanger Manor-House and Gallery will see the Grade 1 listed building restored to its former glory.

 

After discussions with residents' groups, a range of projects to support the building's conservation and development are now underway.

 

Ealing Council has appointed consultants Donald Insall Associates Ltd to carry out a quinquennial survey and deliver a comprehensive conservation plan for what is one of the borough's best loved buildings. The conservation plan will provide a strong basis for bids for external funding to allow Pitzhanger Manor-House and Gallery to be restored and further developed to enhance what is currently there.  The purpose of the plan is to draw together information about the site and assess its significance. This will include a definition of those issues which affect the site or have the potential to do so in the future.  The survey of the site's historic buildings, outbuildings and garden ornaments will detail what should be the repair priorities for the next five years. These priorities will then be reviewed at the end of that time.

 

It is expected that this work will be completed by summer 2006.

 

Councillor Jasbir Anand, cabinet member for leisure, sport and culture, said: "Pitzhanger Manor-House and Gallery and its surrounding historic park and garden is a prestigious local site that is dear to the heart of many of our residents. I am delighted that, with the help of residents, we are making significant progress with a range of projects which will not only restore the site to its former glory, but also enhance it so that a wider range of people can enjoy what it has to offer."

 

Residents have been assisting the council with its plans through a stakeholders' group. Membership of the group consists of representatives from Brentside High School (who have taken part in the gallery's educational programme), Descendents (a youth group who have exhibited in the gallery), Ealing Civic Society, the Ealing Green Conservation Panel, Walpole Park Residents' Association and a west-London architect with a keen interest in Soane buildings. They join the council's director of cultural services, the head of arts, registrars and community centres, the arts team, the borough architect, the borough conservation officer and the head of parks, countryside and events service.

 

The group meets regularly and the external stakeholders are actively involved in decisions regarding the appointment of consultants as well as plans for lighting and signage.

 

Sutton Vane Associates, the company responsible for lighting Southwark Cathedral, has been selected to design a lighting scheme for the exterior of the building. A scheme was trialled at Pitzhanger's Christmas event and was met with a largely positive response. A further presentation will be made to the stakeholder group in the near future.

 

The aim is for the lighting to be sensor driven, coming on in darkness and remaining on until midnight most evenings in order to highlight and raise the profile of the building locally. The final design will be sympathic to the beautiful architecture, highlighting key features and enhancing its qualities rather than flooding the building with light.

 

In April 2005, cabinet agreed to the allocation of £250,000 of section 106 monies to fund a range of projects at Pitzhanger Manor-House and Gallery. As the majority of the projects will entail alterations to the character of the listed buildings, their implementation will be subject to the council obtaining planning and listed building consent.

February 28, 2006