Rockwater Branksome plans approved at BCP Council meeting

The decision led one BCP councillor to comment that he saw no point in having conservation officers if their advice was ignored.

While planning officers were content to see the building modernised and recommended accepting the plans, the BCP conservation team said the changes would further degrade the historic building.

More than 200 residents had written to complain about increased noise, anti-social behaviour and additional pressure on limited parking places.

Read more: Rockwater Village site aims for opening date next year

Despite their concerns most councillors on the planning committee decided that the contemporary design features to be added to the building would not look out of place and would help save and enlarge a popular beach-stop location.

The company behind the project said it was preparing to spend £12million between the Branksome project and similar proposals at Sandbanks, yet to be submitted.

Differing figures were given for the likely increase in covers during the course of the meeting – residents and their planning consultant claiming they could more than double with others saying that it was likely to be a more modest increase, but in either case the meeting was told an increase in seating could be done without the need for planning consent.

The planning application asked for two extensions, either side of the building, to the rear and two outdoor dining areas, under parasols, to the front, with little other changes to the beachside frontage, apart from decorative additions.

In total just under 200square metres would be added to the existing 920square metres of usable space.

The core argument was whether the use of weathered timber and more modern glazing was acceptable on an historic building, dating back to the 1930s and originally used as a bathing pavilion.

Planning committee members were told that any worries about noise, anti-social behaviour and opening hours were not the concern of planning and would be dealt with, if problems arose, by the police, environmental health officers and licensing conditions – although Rockwater had agreed to a 11pm closing time.

Read more: Plans to turn Sandbanks and Branksome Chine cafes and kiosks into Rockwater Village

Planning consultant Mary Davidson, acting for residents in nearby roads, said the application and BCP planning response to it was fundamentally flawed, not conveying the extent of the increase being proposed and the intensification of the building’s use.

She said the existing 200 covers would rise to 395 without taking into account outdoor spaces.

Ms Davidson told councillors it would transform a business, which used to close at 6pm, into one which would be employing 120 people staying open until late and would be more suited to a commercial area in town, rather than a quiet beach.

She claimed there would be additional noise from the building – although an acoustic report from the company said if there was, it would be barely discernible from the background noise at the nearest home, even when the building was full, at night.

The company said that it had similar concerns with its development in Hove, but residents fears had come to nothing and the revamped building there was now accepted.

Several councillors claimed that earlier changes to the building, allowed by the previous Poole Borough Council, had already led to the loss of some of its historic features and little ‘harm’ in architectural terms would be done by the proposals.

Canford Cliffs councillor May Haines told the meeting that if the changes did not preserve the building it should not be allowed – and it was the advice of the council’s conservation team that the changes should not be allowed.

“This doesn’t preserve or enhance and would diminish a significant building,” she said, also reflecting residents concerns about noise, the risk of anti social behaviour and parking problems.

Said Cllr Steve Baron: “What’s the point of having a heritage officer if people don’t listen to them. I’m deeply uncomfortable with the situation.”

Committee vice chairman Cllr Toby Johnson said it was a good development for the area which would provide extra space for local people and visitors: “I quite like the contemporary style…I think it is an intensification, but that’s not really a bad thing… the benefits of changing it do outweigh the conservation concerns.”

The committee voted 9-3 for the development to go ahead.