Letter from English Heritage to Shepway District Council

Mr Ben Geering Direct Dial: 01483 252075
Shepway District Council Direct Fax: 01483 252001
Civic Centre
Castle Hill Avenue
FOLKESTONE
Kent
CT20 2QY
Our ref: P00076068

Dear Mr Geering

Notifications under Circular 01/2001 & GDPO 1995
SMITH INDUSTRIES, MILITARY ROAD, HYTHE, SHEPWAY, KENT, CT21 5BH
Application No Y09/0627/SH

We have received amended proposals for the above scheme. We do not wish to comment in detail, but offer the following general observations.

English Heritage Advice

The substantive issue for English Heritage were set out in my letter of 20 July 2009 in response to the consultation on the original application. These related to the impacts of the proposed development on the setting of the adjacent listed building (Hay House, grade II, to the north-east and Military Terrace, also grade II, to the south east of the site), and on the setting of the Royal Military Canal scheduled ancient monument. That letter set out the harmful impacts on the significances of these heritage assets arising from the development, but also made suggestions as to how the scheme may be amended to ameliorate the impacts and possibly allow the scheme to be made acceptable in terms of the effect on the assets.

Unfortunately, the amended plans have not substantially addressed these effects and the harm to the registered assets, as previously explained, remains.

The amended proposals show minor and insignificant changes from the earlier scheme; there are minimal alterations to the main boundary arrangements but these do not improve the relationship of the site to the Military Terrace listed cottages or to the Canal. The new supermarket building will remain over-dominant and intrusive in the setting of these assets, in particular in the setting of the Canal, and in creating a hard edge to Military Road will detract greatly from the experience and enjoyment of the Canal and the towpath.

Military Terrace will also be overwhelmed by the supermarket structure and the domestic scale of this part of Military Road will be diminished by the intrusion of the large monolithic structure so close to the road. The listed cottages will experience a significant increase in heavy goods traffic in close proximity as pantecnicons access the site from the Military Road junction with Sir John Moore Avenue, a relatively narrow entrance, with potential effects on the structures of these buildings arising from vibration and even impact.

I note that no detailed and conclusive studies of the vibration effects of these heavy vehicle movements so close the listed buildings has been carried out; indeed, the need for this is summarily dismissed by then applicant in his letter accompanying the revised plans.

I have no option but to maintain and reiterate the objections of English Heritage to this proposal for the reasons above and as set out in my original letter. I trust you will report this position in full to your committee.

Recommendation

We would urge you to address the above issues, and recommend that the application should be determined in accordance with national and local policy guidance, and on the basis of your specialist conservation advice. It is not necessary for us to be consulted again. However, if you would like further advice, please contact us to explain your request.

Yours sincerely

Alan Byrne
Historic Areas and Planning Advisor

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