Representation by English Heritage (English Heritage)
- Date submitted
- 31 March 2021
- Submitted by
- Non-statutory organisations
On behalf of English Heritage I would like to register as an interested party in the forthcoming examination concerning the London Resort. Tilbury Fort is managed by English Heritage under licence from The Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England. The Fort is one of England’s best preserved examples of 17th-century military engineering, designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument (Number 1021092) and contains buildings Listed within Grade II* (Number 1375568) We are concerned the proposed development will negatively impact the setting of the fort, harm the surrounding ecology and lead to reduced commercial income at Tilbury Fort. The English Heritage Trust’s core objective is to conserve the 400 unique sites and monuments in our care– but in order to do this we must be financially sustainable, generating funds through commercial activities. At Tilbury Fort we are reliant on the visitor income brought in by visitors and ancillary commercial activities at the site – filming, and the three residential properties on the site. In a normal year the site welcomes around 15,000 visitors. These visitors understand the Fort’s purpose and design within the context of the surrounding landscape. As such the proposed development would reduce the quality of experience for visitors and impact on their engagement with the site. Any developments which make Tilbury Fort harder to market and less attractive to visitors will have a detrimental impact on the financial viability of the Fort, threatening its continued operation as a visitor attraction. A negative impact on the setting of the site both in terms of visual amenity and increased noise will also make it less likely that residents will make the Fort their home. As a coastal defence, the connecting views between fort and river were an important aspect of the fort’s historic design and remain a significant part of its setting. Development during the 20th century, and the recent construction of the new Port of Tilbury, have left the Fort increasingly hemmed in. Whilst the proposed development is on the other side of the river, there is no doubt that such a development will further erode the significance of that setting. The proposals fall within the scope of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) as follows; 12. Conserving and enhancing the historic setting. 12.129 planning authorities should identify and assess the particular significance of any heritage asset that may be affected by a proposal (including by development affecting the setting of a heritage asset). It is therefore our submission that the proposed developments will have major adverse impacts on the significance and viability of the site, and run counter to national policies and best practice guidelines for the conservation and sustainable management of the historic environment.