Weymouth restaurant told new windows and doors could be removed
Dorset Council refuses planning, but they've already been fitted
BETTER – or worse?
Dorset Council and the town’s Civic Society think that these swish new windows and doors at this Weymouth harbourside eatery no longer fit in with the conservations area… and may have to be removed.
Dorset Council planners have refused permission for the new fashionable doors and windows at the Quayside Bar and Kitchen on Custom House Quay.
The business believed they were doing nothing wrong in replacing the old windows and doors, classing it as maintenance, but only later were told they needed planning consent after finishing the work at the end of February.
This week Dorset Council refused permission for the changes which could lead to enforcement action unless a compromise can be found.
Weymouth Civic Society did not object to the changes but said that it would expect people to wait for planning approval before carrying out any work:
“While not listed, it is an important building in the harbourside scene and within the Conservation Area. The dark frames, wider openings on the ground floor and loss of glazing bars, all contrasting with the light tone of the walls, contribute to a very altered character, which seems to us to fit less well to its setting,” said its spokesman.
The business says the windows and doors were replaced because they were failing structurally in places and it was thought best to replace all at once so that the new units all matched.
A planning agent for the company has argued that while the building has been slightly altered in appearance it has not caused substantial harm to the building, or the wider area, although council officers say the addition of French doors does alter the appearance enough to reject the changes.
Quayside Bar and Kitchen’s Mike Allen says he would rather board up the business than see the new fittings removed.
He says that since the £50,000 refit he has received only praise for the new look – and bookings have been hitting the roof, with visitors tempted in by the revamp, the restaurant often at capacity.
“They’re no different than many other buildings. Dorset Council are stuck in the Dark Ages and as soon as it goes to appeal I’m sure someone out of this county will make a sensible decision that they can stay,” he said.
Meanwhile directly opposite, on the other side of the harbour, changes to The Old Rooms Inn have also been refused by Dorset Council.
The Cove Row pub had requested a number of external cosmetic changes as part of a refurbishment of the Grade 2 listed building.
These included new planters, re-cladding an existing fence with new feather edge boards, altering and adapting the existing bar servery, creating a new door opening, the removal of an existing modern screen and installing a new fixed seat.
Said the application from the pub chain Greene King :
“The design philosophy of the proposal is to interfere with the authentic charm that already exists as little as possible but recognises the need for the development to enhance the existing space by developing the internal areas.”
Although Weymouth town council had supported the changes Dorset Council’s conservation team were not happy with some aspects – “Feather edge boarding is not appropriate, and a neater boarding/cladding solution should be found. Insufficient detail has been provided in respect of the lamp fixing. The proposed size is large and likely to look oversized above the door. The proposed mounting (scaffold poles) for the festoon lighting would not be appropriate for the listed building and a higher quality solution should be provided.”
In rejecting the application the council decided that although there would be ‘less than substantial harm’ to the conservation area the changes would not be outweighed by the benefits.
The council say that the brewery was offered the chance to submit amended plans to overcome the objection, but did not do so.