WINTER GARDENS Fort Crescent, Margate, Kent, CT9 1HX Data via plota.co.uk

F/TH/26/0411 - Full Planning Permission Approved

Proposal

Change of use of Winter Gardens from theatre to mixed use incorporating theatre, drama school, nursery, restaurant/bar and cafe (sui generis use), together with erection of two storey rear extension to north elevation with roof terrace, and access from upper promenade level (including lobby extension and external staircases); erection of single-storey front extension to south elevation; erection of single storey detached office building to north; alterations to fenestration and refurbishment works; and hard and soft landscaping and associated works, including new steps and ramps to north, plant equipment, parking, boundary treatment, and partial demolition of existing structures. Data via plota.co.uk

Track application Save this application and get an email when its status or decision changes. Alerts nearby Get email alerts for new planning applications near this address.

View original council record ↗Last checked 7 Nov 2026, 06:19

Street View

Application progress

✓

Received

17 Apr 2026

✓

Validated

8 May 2026

✓

Consultation

17 Jul 2026

✓

Approved

18 Sept 2026

Approved on 18 Sept 2026 · Planning Committee Decision · Last checked 1 Oct 2026

Planning committee

Decided by Thanet Planning Committee on 16 Sept 2026.

Approved

As officers recommended.

Officers advised approval because the mixed-use scheme would support the building’s future while its benefits outweighed heritage and parking harm.
Residents objected over traffic, parking, noise, safeguarding, light, waste, infrastructure and the area’s character.
The committee approved the application by 11 votes to 0, with 1 abstention, subject to conditions and an added air-quality condition.

Read how the committee decided The proposed uses and extensions, site history, officer assessment, objections, speakers, debate, vote and conditions. Includes the meeting recording, from 0:27:29 where this application was taken

Source: Plota analysis of Thanet's committee minutes of 16 Sept 2026.

Documents 204

Decision & officer reports 2

PDF Decision notice Decision · 18 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF Committee Report Report/Statement · 17 Sept 2026 View ↗

Statements & assessments 47

Plans & drawings 128

Application forms 2

PDF APPLICATION FORM - WITHOUT PERSONAL DATA Application Form · 17 Apr 2026 View ↗ PDF APPLICATION FORM - WITHOUT PERSONAL DATA Application Forms/Certificates · 17 Apr 2026 View ↗

Consultation & comments 18

Site constraints 8

Grade II listed: Winter Gardens

List entry 1392676 · 18 m away · 9 more listed buildings within 150 m (9 Grade II)

Listed building consent is needed for work that affects the special interest of a listed building, inside or out, on top of planning permission. Setting can be a consideration for buildings nearby; there is no fixed radius.

Show the other 9 with distances

89 m12-32, Fort CrescentGrade II
107 m33-36, Fort CrescentGrade II
113 m1-8, Fort CrescentGrade II
131 mParagon CourtGrade II
137 m1 and 2, Albion PlaceGrade II
139 mRose in June Public HouseGrade II
145 mBritannia Hotel Public HouseGrade II
145 m20-24, Trinity SquareGrade II
147 m47 and 48, Trinity SquareGrade II

Historic England ↗

Margate Conservation Area conservation area

Demolition needs planning permission and permitted development is restricted.

The council must give weight to preserving or enhancing the area's character and appearance. Not every council has published its boundaries as open data.

Article 4 direction

Margate ED. Named permitted development rights are withdrawn here.

An Article 4 direction withdraws particular permitted development rights, so work that would normally need no application needs one here. Not every council has published its directions.

Special area of conservation 31 m away: Thanet Coast

Work nearby can need a habitats assessment.

Harm to a protected site is only accepted where there is no alternative and an overriding public interest.

SSSI 31 m away: Thanet Coast SSSI

Natural England may need consulting, depending on what is proposed.

Sites of special scientific interest are the best wildlife and geological sites in the country. Development likely to harm one is rarely permitted.

Habitat network: Network Enhancement Zone 2

Where habitat is joined up enough to work as a network. Context, not a constraint on its own.

Ramsgate to Whitstable 23 m away

Matters where it crosses or adjoins the site; the route and its margin are protected.

Also on the record

Inside the Margate built-up area.

Not affected

Outside flood zones 2 and 3 · Not green belt · No scheduled monument at the site

Checked on 2 November 2026. Historic England, the Environment Agency, Natural England and council datasets, Open Government Licence. A boundary can run through a site and the council holds the definitive record: confirm with the council before relying on this.

Building

Floor area3,379 m² (36,371 sq ft)

Energy ratingF (asset rating 140)

UseGeneral Assembly and Leisure, Night Clubs, and Theatres

HeatingHeating and Natural Ventilation

From the energy performance certificate lodged in March 2023, the latest held for this property. The building may have changed since. View the certificate

Work with planning data?

Every application in Thanet - and every UK council - as a live feed, an API, or a bulk CSV export.

About Plota's data service

Nearby new applications

6 Nov 2026Pending

25 Madeira Road, Margate, Kent, CT9 2QH

Erection of single-storey side and rear extensions, erection of 1No. side and re...

FH/TH/26/1133

29 Oct 2026Pending

Flat 1, 60 Edgar Road, Margate, Kent, CT9 2EQ

Installation of replacement of single glazed UPVC windows with double glazed UPV...

F/TH/26/0013

28 Oct 2026Pending

24 - 26 Union Crescent, Margate, Kent, CT9 1NU

Application for approval of Condition 3 (Windows and Doors) attached to Planning...

CON/TH/26/1102

28 Oct 2026Pending

Suite 1 And 2, 6 - 7 Cecil Square, Margate, Kent, CT9 1BD

Change of use of basement from offices to 1No two bed self contained flat

F/TH/26/1088

26 Oct 2026Pending

17 Madeira Road, Margate, Kent, CT9 2QH

M/TPO/3(1952) - 1No Sycamore (T2) - To remove dying stem with large wound at the...

TPO/TH/26/0955

26 Oct 2026Pending

Suite 1 And 2, 6 - 7 Cecil Square, Margate, Kent, CT9 1BD

Application for Listed Building Consent for internal layout alterations, install...

L/TH/26/1087

Important details

Council: Thanet
Application type: Full Planning Permission
Postcode: CT9 1HX
Received: 17 Apr 2026
Validated: 8 May 2026
Ward: Margate Central
Parish: No Civil Parish
Case officer: Show
Target decision: 18 Sept 2026
Decision: Grant Permission
Decision date: 18 Sept 2026
Decision level: Planning Committee Decision
Applicant: Show
Agent: Lee Evans Partnership LLP

How this decision compares

Decided in 133 days from validation, 58 days slower than Thanet's median of 75 for changes of use. Approved, as 96% of changes of use here are.

This one133d

Council75d

UK56d

31%decided within 8 weeks

96%approved

16%go to committee

Plota live figures for changes of use decided by Thanet in the last twelve months, from validation. Thanet decision record →

Public comments

No public comments yet.

233 neighbours consulted · Last counted 3 Sept 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Neighbours: 17 Aug 2026
Consultation: 17 Jul 2026
Comments by: 7 Aug 2026
Site or press notice: 29 May 2026
Committee: 16 Sept 2026
Statutory expiry: 18 Sept 2026
Env. assessment: No

Historical activity at this location

27 previous applications on record - archival context, not part of the live application.

This property

Previous applications at this address

2023 Approved

Application for Listed Building Consent for the temporary installation of security screen…

L/TH/23/0079 12 Oct 2023

2023 Approved

Temporary installation of metal security screens to external openings and metal fencing t…

F/TH/23/0080 12 Oct 2023

Within ~100m

Nearby activity

2024 Withdrawn

30 Fort Crescent MARGATE Kent CT9 1HX

Application for Listed Building Consent for internal alterations to facilitate the change…

L/TH/24/0047 27 Aug 2025

2024 Withdrawn

30 Fort Crescent MARGATE Kent CT9 1HX

Application for Listed Building Consent for internal alterations to facilitate the change…

L/TH/24/0047 27 Aug 2025

2024 Refused

30 Fort Crescent MARGATE Kent CT9 1HX

Change of use from a single dwellinghouse to 2No 1-bed flats (Retrospective application)

F/TH/24/0046 12 Aug 2025

2024 Refused

30 Fort Crescent MARGATE Kent CT9 1HX

Change of use from a single dwellinghouse to 2No 1-bed flats (Retrospective application)

F/TH/24/0046 12 Aug 2025

2025 Approved

57 Trinity Square Margate Kent CT9 1HT

Application for Listed Building Consent for the installation of metal gate to front eleva…

L/TH/25/0412 17 Jun 2025

2025 Approved

57 Trinity Square Margate Kent CT9 1HT

Application for Listed Building Consent for the installation of metal gate to front eleva…

L/TH/25/0412 17 Jun 2025

2024 Approved

27 Fort Crescent MARGATE Kent CT9 1HX

Application for listed building consent for internal alterations

L/TH/24/0498 1 Aug 2024

2024 Approved

27 Fort Crescent MARGATE Kent CT9 1HX

Application for listed building consent for internal alterations

L/TH/24/0498 1 Aug 2024

2024 Approved

66 Trinity Square MARGATE Kent CT9 1HT

Replacement of existing single glazed timber sash casement windows for single glazed timb…

F/TH/24/0170 5 Apr 2024

2024 Approved

66 Trinity Square MARGATE Kent CT9 1HT

Replacement of existing single glazed timber sash casement windows for single glazed timb…

F/TH/24/0170 5 Apr 2024

2024

30 - 31 Trinity Square MARGATE Kent CT9 1HU

Erection of a two storey 2-bed dwelling following demolition of existing store and timber…

F/TH/24/0314 19 Mar 2024

2024

30 - 31 Trinity Square MARGATE Kent CT9 1HU

Erection of a two storey 2-bed dwelling following demolition of existing store and timber…

F/TH/24/0314 19 Mar 2024

2023 Approved

30 - 31 Trinity Square MARGATE Kent CT9 1HU

Change of use of existing workshop to residential (Class C3) (retrospective) and refurbis…

F/TH/23/1485 12 Mar 2024

2021 Approved

64 Trinity Square MARGATE Kent CT9 1HT

Application for Listed Building Consent for internal and external works including partial…

L/TH/21/0704 22 Nov 2022

2022

4 Temeraire Court Fort Crescent MARGATE Kent CT9 1HB

Application for Listed Building Consent for 5 windows to have the new sash windows remove…

L/TH/22/0486 31 Mar 2022

2021 Approved

21 Fort Crescent MARGATE Kent CT9 1HX

Application for Listed Building consent for the replacement of worn roof slates with natu…

L/TH/21/1745 6 Jan 2022

2021

Flat 7 12 - 14 Fort Crescent MARGATE Kent CT9 1HX

Application for Listed Building Consent for the installation of timber sash windows repla…

L/TH/21/1691 29 Oct 2021

2021

Flat 7 12 - 14 Fort Crescent MARGATE Kent CT9 1HX

Installation of timber sash windows replacing existing timber sash windows

FH/TH/21/1690 29 Oct 2021

2021 Approved

6 Temeraire Court Fort Crescent MARGATE Kent CT9 1HB

Application for Listed Building Consent for the removal of iron steps and replaced with s…

L/TH/21/1282 18 Oct 2021

2020 Approved

30 Fort Crescent MARGATE Kent CT9 1HX

Variation of condition 4 of planning permission L/TH/20/0253 for the erection of railings…

L/TH/20/1637 14 Jan 2021

2016 Approved

Flats 1-5 21 Fort Crescent MARGATE Kent CT9 1HX

Application for Listed Building consent for internal and external alterations including r…

L/TH/16/0885 9 Nov 2016

2016 Refused

27 Fort Crescent MARGATE Kent CT9 1HX

Retrospective application for Listed Building consent for internal alterations

L/TH/16/1077 28 Sep 2016

2016 Approved

54A Trinity Square MARGATE Kent CT9 1HT

Application for Listed Building Consent for the erection of replacement access steps and…

L/TH/16/0603 21 Jul 2016

2016 Withdrawn

54A Trinity Square MARGATE Kent CT9 1HT

Erection of replacement access steps and railings to front elevation

F/TH/16/0602 21 Jul 2016

2016 Approved

54 Trinity Square MARGATE Kent CT9 1HT

Application for Listed building consent for replacement roof structure, re-covering of ro…

L/TH/16/0049 22 Apr 2016

Thanet

Planning Authority Score

4.5/10

Below average

#175 of 296 councils

Relevant to this application:

Change of use

Thanet ranks #171 out of 296 councils for householder decision speed. Householder applications are slightly more likely to be approved here (94%) than the national average (90%).

These figures are council-wide context, not a prediction for this application. View full council performance

Thanet decision statistics

Based on MHCLG data, the year to March 2026

91%

Overall approval rate

Above avg (87%) #103 of 296

94%

Householder approved

Above avg (90%) #122 of 296

62%

Decided in 8 weeks

Below avg (63%) #171 of 296

45%

Extended time limit

Above avg (41%) #196 of 296

79%

Minor dwellings approved

105 decided (1-9 homes)

85%

Major dwellings approved

27 decided (10+ homes)

90%

Change of use approved

50 decided

751

Total decisions

67 refused in the year to March 2026

Energy performance: Energy performance certificates from the Energy Performance of Buildings Register, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright 2026.

WINTER GARDENS Fort Crescent, Margate, Kent, CT9 1HX Data via plota.co.uk

Proposal

Application progress

Planning committee

Documents 204

Decision & officer reports 2

Statements & assessments 47

Plans & drawings 128

Application forms 2

Consultation & comments 18

Other documents 7

Site constraints 8

Building

Nearby new applications

Important details

How this decision compares

Public comments

Consultation & key dates

Previous applications at this address

Nearby activity