Quay edge railings at Inner Slipway, Military Road, Ramsgate

“The proposed development is the erection of white powder coated three bar railings along the remaining unprotected section of the western pier to provide a continuous barrier for pedestrians and vehicles. The proposed railings would be similar in design to the railings approved under applications reference F/TH/17/0964 and L/TH/19/0674.”

“Ramsgate Harbour is the only Royal harbour in the UK, sited within the Ramsgate Conservation Area, and contains numerous listed buildings and structures.”

“The areas subject to this application include part of the Western Pier. The Harbour cross walls, sluices, bollards, dry dock, basin gates, wing wall and Dundee steps are grade II* listed and the Inner basin wall, slipway, steps, West Pier, bollards, iron crane and fairleads are grade II listed. All of these individual listings include the Granite walls with the Granite coping stones that extend around the inner and outer marinas.”

“L/TH/19/0674 - Application for Listed Building Consent for the installation of quayside railings. Refused 22 August 2019. Allowed at appeal 01 July 2020”

“F/TH/17/0964. Quay Edge Military Road - Erection of railings to quay edge. Granted 14 December 2017.”

“The design and form of the railings, and the works required for their installation, is considered to result in less than substantial harm to the grade II listed structures, and therefore the NPPF requires that this harm must be weighed against the public benefits of the proposal. When considering the impact of a proposed development on the significance of a designated heritage asset, great weight should be given to the asset's conservation and as heritage assets are irreplaceable, any harm or loss should require clear and convincing justification.”

“The installation of railings around the remaining section of the inner harbour, cross wall and west pier is considered to have a clear public benefit due to the obvious change of character around the harbour, however the design and physical contact of the railings with the Grade II* listed structures does result in harm to the historical and architectural significance of the designated heritage assets.”

“Historic England - Historic England provides advice when our engagement can add most value. In this case we are not offering advice. This should not be interpreted as comment on the merits of the application. We suggest that you seek the views of your specialist conservation and archaeological advisers.”

“TDC Conservation Officer - NPPF Section 16, Paragraph 210 states, in determining applications, local planning authorities should take account of (a) the desirability of sustaining and enhancing the significance of heritage assets and putting them to viable uses consistent with their conservation as well as (b) the positive contribution that conservation of heritage assets can make to sustainable communities including their economic vitality; and…”

“The Granite coping stones are a key feature of the harbour being located on the edge of the quay and extending around both the inner and outer marinas. This application would require holes to be drilled into the listed granite coping stones to allow for the installation of the railings. The physical incursion into the historic granite coping stones would result in harm to their historic fabric by altering their structure and appearance.”

“Whilst the proposed railings would be similar in appearance to the railings installed as part of the previous applications they are still considered to have a utilitarian appearance that is out of keeping with the historic harbour and its listed features, the proposed railings would therefore detrimentally affect the significance of the designated heritage assets in terms of its visual appearance.”

“It was proposed by Councillor Rattigan and seconded by Councillor Britcher:”

“THAT the officer’s recommendation be adopted, namely:”

“That the application be APPROVED subject to the following conditions:”

“1 The works hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission. GROUND; In pursuance of Section 18 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (as amended by Section 51 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004).”