Another fine plot sold at auction yesterday, this time it’s the land at the back of the Granville here in Ramsgate.

Although this post is supposed to be about the red bordered bit in the map below, first a bit of a history - or is it geography - lesson. I publish two books about The Granville written by Benedict Kelly so if you really want a proper Granville history lesson here are the links http://michaelsbookshop.com/catalogue/the_granville_hotel___the_story_of_the_granville_hotel_ramsgate_1869_2012.htm and http://michaelsbookshop.com/catalogue/the_granville_hotel___revisited.htm 

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.

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,  getting planning permission for an ugly 80s structure 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.    

Permission (ref F/TH/14/0083) was granted by Thanet District Council on 16th May 2014 for “Erection of a part 4, part 5 and part 6 storey building comprising 10 x one bedroom flats and 28 x two bedroom flats, fronting Truro Road and D’Este Road, with a raised terrace in the internal courtyard and associated car parking comprising 17 spaces.

Here are a few pictures taken from these plans, as you see they don't seem to have understood the gothic revival style. my take being gothic revival plus new build is fine but gothic revival plus new build gothic revival plus new build 1990s style isn’t it's just a mess.

Anyway it was a nice little earner from £160,000 in Jan 2014 to yesterday when it sold at auction for £480,000 this just goes to show what a planning consent can be worth.


 While we are on the subject you may be wondering about the blue bit on the map, this is the derelict bar a dinning room, links to photos of this and the inside of the tower view from the top and so on.

http://www.michaelsbookshop.com/gt

http://www.michaelsbookshop.com/gt/id2.htm

http://www.michaelsbookshop.com/gt/id3.htm

http://www.michaelsbookshop.com/granville

http://www.michaelsbookshop.com/granville/id3.htm

http://www.michaelsbookshop.com/granville/id4.htm

http://www.michaelsbookshop.com/granville/id5.htm

http://www.michaelsbookshop.com/gt/id5.htm