Closures of UK Boatyards

[sb_henry]

Hello folks,

Please could you let me have details of any UK boatyards which have closed down in the last decade or so. In particular, I'm interested in cases where pressure from adjacent residential developments have ultimately led to the closure of a working boatyard.

This is part of a campaign to save an historic boatyard at Standard Quay, Faversham in Kent from residential development. Details are to be included in a dossier to be sent to our local Planning Committee, which is due to consider a planning application in the next couple of months.

Standard Quay is one of the (two) major centres for restoration and refurbishment of barges and other traditional vessels, many of which are based in London. In particular, its facilities and services are used by most of the historic Thames sailing barges based at St Katherine's Dock (e.g. Lady Daphne, Raybel, Adieu, Ironsides). The prospective closure of the boatyard at Standard Quay will have a direct impact on the ability of the owners to maintain these vessels.

Any information you can provide (e.g. name, location, date) will be much appreciated.

regards,
Justin Ford

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[wrr]

Coombes of Bosham, in Chichester Harbour, closed about five years ago. I heard that restrictions had been placed on working because of complaints about noise.

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[Peterduck]

This is not a local problem; I'm in Melbourne, southern Australia, and we have the same problem here. The foreshore here is owned by the State government and administered by the Parks Dept. Parks have just unilaterally tripled the rent for leases held by yacht clubs and boatyards, because they believe that they can get those sums from condominium developers. A developer has built a condo overlooking the yard of the yacht club to which I belong, and we are starting to get whinges about the noise. The yacht club has been here since the 1860's.
Peter.

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[Forbsie]

Phone Ken at Eel Pie Slipways in Twickenham on 020 8891 4481. He has had a lot of experience of being in close proximity to residential properties and, I think, a lot of pressure to cut down noise, etc.

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[Mirelle]

Webbs at Pin Mill have had a lot of hassle, but I don't know the full story and I have heard that Pin Mill (very inbred place, Pin Mill!) local politics were involved as well. One South Coast yard has closed for the reasons you give.

An architect friend who used to post here but who has decamped (Nigel Charlesworth) is an expert on this subject and points out (I hope I have this right) that the local authority MUST act on a noise complaint even where the house was built last week and the boatyard was there for a century i.e. the legal defence of coming to the nuisance does not apply in this case. he also drew my attention to the very much better way that the USA goes about this citing Annapolis as an example.

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[snowleopard]

seems to be a universal problem. i visited a marina/yard on the grand union canal which had a new housing development opposite. they must have had complaints because they had a big sign facing the new estate saying something to the effect of 'this is a long established working boatyard, if you don't want to see/hear it don't buy one of these houses'

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[ParaHandy]

i have fought a planning 'battle' where noise was the main consideration and that turned on what the planning permission described the purpose eg if light industrial there are codes of practice which determine how much noise is acceptable ...

i would imagine that somebody who builds domestic residences close to a shipyard and that yard had consent for medium to heavy industrial use, then if a complaint was received the onus is on the yard to ensure that noise pollution does not exceed that which is allowed (which would be quite noisy) ...

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[sb_henry]

Hello Para Handy,

Since I'm trying to compile a list of similar situations for submission to the planners, I would appreciate any more detail you can give on the circumstances of your planning battle, including location and name of the yard, the dates and outcome.

I have been told that the fact a boatyard may pre-date a new adjoining residential development will not protect it from a noise abatement order, i.e. that courts will give higher priority to the rights of householders when these conflict with local businesses. Mainly this will restrict noise made between normal working hours (8.30 am/5.30 pm on weekdays) and prohibit activities outside of these hours. As is the way of these things, much work is done after hours and at weekends. For what are usually economically marginal businesses, restrictions of this kind can be sufficient to tip the balance.

Thanks and regards,

Justin





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[ianwelsh]

The Pin Mill dispute was over a metal dry dock that was brought up onto the hard. A number of local residents objected to what they thought was appropriation of common land to extend the boatyard. It was also thought to be unsightly. Which it was. Mouldering old wooden barges are one thing, but this looked like a couple of rusty containers welded together. It is now further downriver in amongst the houseboats.
Wards are now restoring a metal barge and I find the loud echoing clangs of work underway on the boat a reassuring sound. It is good to know that PinMill's tradition as a boat building village is alive and well. This I'm sure is the opinion of the majority of residents, including those who objected to the dry dock.

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[Sniper]

Its actually the Webb brothers who are restoring the barge, which is the 'Melissa'. Some sort of resolution has been reached regarding the dry dock; Babergh DC have given it temporary planning permission in its current location.

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