Part of Highcliffe Castle wall to be demolished to make way for nine flats

PART of the historic Highcliffe Castle wall along Lymington Road is to be removed to enable the construction of nine flats.

BCP Council has given the go-ahead for the development, saying the loss of a section of the listed boundary is “outweighed by the public benefits" of new housing.

Applicant Mr R.A. Govier said part of the wall will be removed to provide access and some of it lowered beside the entrance to provide visibility.

The new entrance will be around the size of the present one at the site, which will in turn be blocked up using the removed material.

The boundary wall to the castle was built around 1830 during architect William Donthome’s remodelling of the historic building.

According to a statement by a planning officer, the wall was constructed of "very rare” Ware Hitch bricks.

Giving approval to the scheme, the council said that prior to any works on the wall a detailed method statement of the dismantling procedure must submitted for approval.

Two objections have been made, with one local resident saying: “The Grade II listed wall fronting Lymington Road is an important protected historical feature and should not be demolished in whole or part.”

Another objector agreed: “The wall on Lymington Road is listed and currently the site offers access to the road without removing the wall.

“What is the point of listing something as part of our heritage to then demolish it?"

The development comprises six two-bedroom apartments, two three-bedroom flats and one three-bedroom maisonette.

A council report said the properties will be of "traditional" design and provide "high quality apartments in a sought-after location”.

It also claimed the development will “improve and enhance the character of the area while complimenting the street scene within this part of Lymington Road”.

A planning officer said that the loss of the “historic fabric and new opening” did “raise some concerns”.

But they said that given other parts of the wall have been altered and that the developers have said they will rebuild part of it, “less than substantial harm" would be caused.

Highcliffe and Walkford Parish Council made no comment on the application.