South Pier historic listing elevated to Grade II *
28/6/10The Secretary of State on the advice of English Heritage has formally upgraded the listing of Penzance’s historic South Pier. The pier has been elevated from Grade II to Grade II*, recognising it as one of the most important historic harbours in the country.
The report accompanying the listing describes the South Pier “as amongst the best preserved of early Cornish harbours” and notes that “compared with the majority of highly graded harbours, the historical significance of Penzance is particularly high”.
The listing makes special note of the fact that the “evolution of the pier is clearly visible in the fabric of the seaward side”; this is the part of the pier that would be buried in concrete and infill by the Route Partnership and Cornwall Council if their plans for a new freight and passenger terminal on Battery Rocks beach were to go ahead. The development would also see large parts of the parapet wall demolished to allow lorry access to the terminals.
Government guidance on planning in respect of listed buildings (PPG 15, para. 3.17) makes it clear that “There are many outstanding buildings for which it is in practice almost inconceivable that consent for demolition would ever be granted. The demolition of any Grade I or Grade II* building should be wholly exceptional and should require the strongest justification.”
The existence of viable alternatives to the Cornwall Council scheme means that there can be no justification for causing serious harm to such an important historic structure. The listing report makes it clear that in the stone of the South Pier is the whole history of the town and port of Penzance. The pier is a local and national treasure and must be protected from inappropriate development and carefully restored and maintained so that future generations can enjoy and learn from the ambition, skill and ingenuity of our forbears.
It is clear that if the importance of the South Pier had been properly assessed before the Route Partnership and Cornwall Council had developed their scheme, then they could not possibly have chosen to locate the terminals on Battery Rocks beach. It is regrettable that they chose to delay the necessary Historic Building Analysis until after the scheme had already been developed. That mistake on their part must not now be used as an excuse for allowing the scheme to go ahead.
In the light of this welcomed development the Friends of Penzance Harbour renew their call to the Secretary of State to reject the request for Listed Building Consent that he currently has before him.
English Heritage Listing Report : download pdf | view pdf