8:36am Thursday 28th August 2008
By Jonathan Portlock and Chris Wickham
Historic Royal Palaces, the charity that looks after Hampton Court Palace, has appealed to Elmbridge planners to throw out the revised application for the Jolly Boatman site next to the palace.
In July, developers Gladedale Group submitted updated designs for the area to be converted into a hotel, with a refurbished station building and a new care home for the Royal Star and Garter charity, which provides accommodation for ex-servicemen and women.
But in a letter to Elmbridge Council, John Barnes, the charity’s conservation and learning director, said: “As guardians of Hampton Court Palace, we have very serious concerns regarding the proposed development of this site and its potential impact on the setting of the palace, its gardens and park, and the surrounding area.
“Our concerns have in no way been alleviated by the second application. We strongly urge the council to refuse consent for the development proposed in these applications.”
The charity’s principal concern is the detrimental visual impact they claimed the proposed development would have on the setting of Hampton Court Palace.
It said the bulk and height of the proposed hotel and its proximity to the River Thames and to the palace would be particularly damaging and the development would be contrary to relevant policies.
Historic Palaces also said the second application was substantially the same as the original.
The proposal seemed to move a step closer this week when the organisation which protects the country’s historic environment backed the plans.
English Heritage announced it was withdrawing its objections to the redevelopment of the area and said the designs “represent the most appropriate response to the site”.
Gladedale also received the support of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (Cabe), the Government’s urban design adviser.
In a letter to the council, Cabe said: “The scheme has the potential to be an extremely pleasant place to visit and live.”
Meanwhile, the Royal British Legion put forward a grant of £2.05m to Royal Star and Garter Homes to support a dementia care wing at the planned new care home.
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