Appraisal

Nos. 54 & 56, Neal Street

Nos. 54-56, Neal Street comprises an interesting 4/5 storey housing block of 1930s 'Swedish Modern' architectural character, unique in the conservation area, faced in light purple-brown hand-made brick with painted rendered panels.

Very sadly, the original, subdivided, Crittall casement windows serving the upper floors have been lost and replaced with inferior framing sections. The shopfronts – one to each side of the centrally aligned entrance to the flats above – retain their original, rendered surrounds to the modern, fully glazed shop-windows. However, regrettably, these have been spoilt by being painted in mid-grey and red respectively, with that on the left hand side further altered with rendered decoration. The fascias carry internally-illuminated applied lettering on the left hand side and externally illuminated applied lettering on the right hand side.

Although contrasting in scale and character to many of the older buildings nearby, the building is of particular architectural interest and townscape value, contributing positively to the character, appearance and significance of the Seven Dials Conservation Area.

Consideration should be given to reinstating a co-ordinated repainting of the render in cream/white to harmonise the composition.