One of the most distinctive buildings on Ramsgate’s cliff
tops is Granville House this was designed by Edward Welby Pugin the son of
Augustus Pugin and was a hotel from 1869 to 1946 after which it was converted
into 48 apartments.
Various additions and modifications were made to the
building during this period and all of these were done in the same gothic
revival style used by Edward Welby Pugin.
During the second world war part of the building was
destroyed by a bomb.
Then in 1982 another large chunk was demolished.
I suppose there is a balance here between what is most
dangerous and destructive to our historic architecture the world war in the
1940s or the local council in the 1980s where a significant proportion of councillors were
estate agents or involved in property development.
So looking at the map and wondering where the responsibility
lies for demolishing parts of a significant listed building the green bit was
down to Adolf Hitler and while the red bit down to TDC granting consent to
demolish part of a listed building.
Anyway between the demolition and 2004 various planning
applications to build the usual plastic windowed tacky high density flats on the
site, some were passed at planning but as often happens the money couldn’t be
found and now all of the planning consents have expired.
Then in 2004 the part demolished by Hitler was rebuilt in
the same gothic revival style used by Edward Welby Pugin.
Nothing much happened after this apart from the remaining
land changing hands and developers going bust until the site was sold by the
Receivers in 2012.
The building site was bought by Jason Hough for £160,000 who
submitted an application (L/TH/12/1019) in January 2013, to build 10 one-bedroomed
flats and 28 two-bedroomed flats. Although recommended by the TDC case officer,
Councillors voted against I guess there aren’t so many councillors who are
estate agents these days.
The developers case for getting planning permission granted
seems to have been if you can get it for an ugly 80s structure in the 80s why
can’t you get it for an ugly 80s structure now.
I think the real point he has missed is that having
demolished half a gothic revival building and then rebuilt a quarter of it in
gothic revival style, the only thing that makes sense is to rebuild the
remaining quarter in gothic revival style.
Here are a few pictures taken from these plans, as you see they don't seem to have understood the gothic revival style yet, so I will be objecting to this application on the grounds that gothic revival plus new build gothic revival is fine but gothic revival plus new build gothic revival plus new build 1990s style isn’t it's just a mess.
Firstly - shocking about the demolition in 2004. This is an architecturally important building. Secondly, I just dont get how this is not built in the same style as the rest of the building, but clearly to a modern build standard. I know there is a trend to indicate when buildings are constructed in terms of style, but this feels wrong to me. Why cant the developers have a sympathetic eye to development? Is it too much too ask?
ReplyDeleteDuncan I think the key here is to write to the council planning.services@thanet.gov.uk objecting to the plans on the basis that once additions to the building have been made in gothic revival style subsequent additions should also be made in the style.
DeleteBasically it is down to us residents to object and if enough do this then it wont be built in the modern style and eventually the developer will come up with plans in the gothic revival style.
Although this would a bit more expensive it would make more expensive apartments.
Disgusting, I will be writing to object on grounds that it is not sympathetic. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
ReplyDeleteA perfect example of how to make an eyesore out of an eyesore. I, too, will be objecting.
ReplyDelete