The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is proposing to spend as much as £2m on putting in roof high chicken netting.
Located on Hampton Road, the laboratory is a public sector analysis institution which develops and maintains the nationwide major measurement requirements.
The utility, submitted 20 September, proposes to put in roof high chicken netting to forestall the perching and nesting of pigeons on the buildings, while sustaining roof access for employees.
Aerial view of the lab with proposed netting. (Photo: Richmond Council)
Describing the pigeon difficulty, a Design and Access report states: “As properly because the droppings being dangerous to upkeep workers, the contamination of air near air flow in-takes poses a well being and security danger to all building customers.”
It provides the “chicken droppings pos[e] a excessive contamination danger to the building’s gray water harvesting system (rainwater assortment).”
According to the planning doc, there was an “ongoing downside” with the chicken on this building and quite a few various choices have been tried.
Proposed roof plan for netting. (Photo: Richmond Council)
Nearby Bushy Park, NPL has mentioned the difficulty with Royal Parks and concluded the netting color must be “simply seen to birds” and “the set up must be commonly checked to launch any trapped birds”.
A 50mm netting has been suggested after NPL’s consultations with a plethora of consultants over the design. According to the planning doc, the dimensions “importantly targets pigeons by stopping them from perching or gaining access to rooftop areas”.
It provides: “This netting measurement will allow smaller birds that aren’t problematic to not turn out to be trapped contained in the netted areas and bigger birds will likely be prevented from perching or gaining access to rooftop areas.”
Existing roof structure and design. (Photo: Richmond council)
The web site doesn’t include any nationwide heritage property however is straight away adjoining to Bushy House, a Grade II listed 18th century mansion.
The web site is abutted by the Grade I listed Bushy Park instantly to the south, and is adjoining to the northern border of the Bushy Park Conservation Area as designated by the Richmond borough.
In conclusion, the Heritage doc said the proposal wouldn’t negatively have an effect on the looks of the buildings or have a “detrimental impact” on Bushy Park conservation space.
It added the meant growth would have a “impartial impact” on the buildings throughout the Conservation space on account of its location and aesthetic, however indirectly affecting the grasde II listed Bushy House.
Detailing the proposed plans, the doc states: “On the B2 building it’s proposed to put in galvanised metal helps behind the parapet partitions to repair the netting up and over present rooftop plant and upkeep walkways.
“The rooftop to the B210 building is a single ply membrane and inexperienced roof which requires galvanised metal help posts laden on the roof with the netting masking the small plant space and atrium roof.
“The proposed metal posts, chrome steel wires and netting are to be put in to minimise any bodily hurt to the prevailing construction and aesthetic look of the buildings.
“[…]The scope of netting would come with the entire of the roof, a vertical part throughout the inner nook of the building that varieties an alcove (this has been considerably problematic previously from nesting and perching pigeons) and the east part of the roof.
Installing the netting would take three months, between December 2023 and February 2024.
The utility has been validated and a planning officer has been assigned, the choice is due 15 November 2023.
