A waterfront home scheme has come under the planning spotlight after demolition work at a Dartmouth property went further than previously approved.
O’Brien Developments Ltd has applied to South Hams District Council for retrospective permission for the demolition of a dwelling, construction of a replacement dwelling and associated works at Gallants Quay, 32A South Town.
The application relates to a detached property on the River Dart, within Dartmouth Conservation Area and the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Planning documents say the late 20th century house was “poorly insulated” and fell short of modern technical and sustainable standards.
A covering letter from planning consultants Framptons, dated Thursday, February 5, says the application has been made on a “without prejudice” and “pragmatic” basis. It says previous permission allowed alterations and extensions, but further structural works were carried out after issues were found during construction.
The letter says: “The external appearance of the remodelled Gallants Quay is identical to the external appearance of the dwelling as approved by the Planning Inspector.”
It adds that the additional works arose after the existing structure was exposed, revealing “dilapidations not originally anticipated” or structural deficiencies requiring remedial design intervention.
A structural report by David Golightly Consulting Engineers Ltd, dated Wednesday, January 7, identified concerns including poor-quality blockwork, open mortar joints, low-strength Celcon blocks, ineffective damp-proof membrane and walls that were out of plumb.
The report says it was a “reasonable structural decision” to dismantle and rebuild poor-quality wall sections to ensure they were adequate for their intended purpose.
A heritage appraisal says Gallants Quay is believed to date from the 1980s and has “no heritage significance”, although the sea wall and some retaining walls and steps are described as heritage assets.
The same appraisal says the proposed changes would preserve the character and appearance of the Dartmouth and Kingswear Conservation Areas and would not harm neighbouring listed buildings or other heritage assets.
The Marine Management Organisation has told the council that any works below the mean high water springs mark may require a marine licence. It said it is for the applicant to establish whether the works fall within the marine area.
