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Dumfries House Bridge

Dec 24, 2015

Craig Thomas
Planning & Economic Development
East Ayrshire Council
Johnnie Walker Bond
15 Strand Street
Kilmarnock
KA1 1HU

22 December 2015

Ref: 15/0882/PP

Dear Mr Thomas,

DUMFRIES HOUSE
Erection of New Steel Footbridge

Thank you for consulting The Garden History Society in Scotland (GHSS) about the above proposal. In May this year GHSS merged with the Garden History Society in Scotland Conservation Trust to create a new independent Scottish Charitable body, Scotland’s Gardens and Landscape Heritage (SGLH). Further details about SGLH can be found on their website www.sglh.org and we would be grateful if future consultations could be directed to conservation@sglh.org

GHSS had a long involvement with the Dumfries House designed landscape a Nationally important landscape included by Historic Environment Scotland in The Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland. In the past the Society offered many comments about restoration proposals and new development within the landscape undertaken since the acquisition of Dumfries House and Estate by The Great Steward of Scotland’s Dumfries House Trust. Whilst welcoming much of the new development and restoration, and also accepting that designed landscapes are dynamic and must be allowed to evolve to meet modern needs, GHSS did, on occasions, question some of the new development being inserted into the landscape. Whilst accepting that the development was always of a high quality, concerns were expressed about the impact on the overall integrity of the designed landscape and its historic layout much of which dates from the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

SGLH is of similar opinion about the current proposals. Whilst not wishing to object to the proposal would question whether this latest development is appropriate for the historic landscape and whether the individual developments being introduced into the landscape are being guided by an overall Conservation Management Plan.

On balance SGLH has no comment to make on the application at this stage. However would emphasise that this does not in any way signify either approval or disapproval of the proposals.

SGLH would be grateful to remain included in any future consultations impacting on the Dumfries House designed landscape and to be advised about the outcome of the current application due course.

Yours sincerely,

Alison Allighan BSc (Hons), MSc, CSFHS, CMLI
Scotland’s Garden and Landscape Heritage Conservation Consultant