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Lewes and Eastbourne
Councils

Agenda item

Eastbourne Pier, Grand Parade. Application ID: 141413.

Minutes:

Listed building consent is sought for works to the Grade II* listed building, namely; 1) Dismantling the steel super structure [Arcade] and removal from site 2) Removal all fire-damaged cast iron furniture (balustrades, lighting columns and wind-breaks) and timber waling beam support sections, in all areas affected by the fire. Refurbish and replace where required, replacement balustrade posts and panels in steel / alloy 3) Replace all lattice girders and deck beams, test cast iron piles for cracking or heat defects. Repair, strengthen or replace where necessary – DEVONSHIRE.

 

The committee was advised that the public consultation period had not yet expired and therefore the recommendation on page 98 of the report was correct, not as stated on page 93 of the report.

 

At their meeting on 18 November 2014 the Conservation Advisory Group had no objections to the proposals and very much looked forward to the next stage of the project.

 

The Specialist Advisor (Conservation) advised that the scheme of recording in accordance with Level 3-4 of the EH guidance should be adopted and implemented in this demolition programme.

 

The committee was advised that English Heritage had commented on the proposals as follows: the nineteenth century pier was grade II* listed, although only parts of the substructure were original. Following the severe fire damage on 31 July 2014, the 1925 pavilion (referred to in the application documents as ‘the Arcade’) with a relatively intact interior was completely destroyed. 

 

Structural surveys had now been carried out, indicating that many of the original Eugenius Birch cast iron piles appeared to be in sound condition, but that later steel girders, beams and cross-bracings  of the substructure had suffered damage to a lesser or greater degree, and needed to be replaced.  The timber deck in its entirety was lost within the affected area and much of the cast iron balustrading and its integral lighting columns had also been damaged.

 

This application sought to dismantle the steel frame of the Arcade, remove and replace as necessary the modern girders and beams, replace timber decking, refurbish were possible cast iron balustrading, lighting and columns, and faithfully replicate these details elsewhere.

 

The National Planning Policy Framework required that in determining applications, any harm to or loss of significance to designated heritage assets required clear and convincing justification (Para.132).  Here, the fire had undoubtedly resulted in very severe harm to the significance of Eastbourne Pier. 

 

English Heritage was persuaded however that there was no reasonable possibility of repairing the very warped and damaged 1925 Arcade building, and that little additional harm to the significance of the Pier would arise as a result of its being dismantled. 

 

Further there were clear public benefits associated with re-opening the Pier and beginning a process of repair and reconstruction.

 

In agreement with the Local Planning Authority, English Heritage therefore accepted the loss, subject to a detailed recording exercise, which the Applicant had been ably undertaking since the early days following the fire.  The removal of the Arcade would facilitate further investigation of the caps to the nineteenth century cast iron piles, and English Heritage recommended that method statements for any repairs to these elements were also sought by condition, or a further application for Listed Building Consent invited, as required.

 

As agreed previously and used elsewhere on the Pier, a steel/alloy replica of balustrading and lighting columns that were not capable of repair was acceptable to English Heritage, and Eastbourne Borough Council may also wish to control this through conditions as necessary.

 

English Heritage was pleased with the response to the fire and considered that removal of the damaged structure that was beyond repair was both justified and necessary.  Once this stage of the work was underway English Heritage remained willing to engage with the Council and the Applicant at the earliest opportunity to help set the parameters for what was likely to be acceptable with regard to a replacement building to bring this celebrated structure back into full and active use.

 

English Heritage recommended that this application be determined in accordance with national and local policy guidance, and on the basis of the Council’s expert conservation advice.

 

RESOLVED: (Unanimous) Thatdelegated authority be given to the Senior Specialist Advisor (Planning) to approve listed building consent  subject to no objections being received from statutory consultees, and subject to the following conditions: 1) Time for commencement 2)Approved drawings 3) A recording condition, the findings of which to be submitted to the LPA following completion of the works. (Item 1) 4) A repairs condition to accommodate the investigative works required to the screw piles following the dismantling and removal of the Arcade structure. (Item 3) 5) Prior to any demolition work commencing a method statement shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority, the method statement will highlight a safe working compound, access arrangement for the removal of the demolished material, parking, external illumination and turning areas on the Public Highway. The details as approved shall be implemented at the site and be retained as such thereafter 6) Prior to any demolition work commencing at the site details of the working hours/operating times shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The working hours/operating times shall be adhered to unless previously agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

 

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