Sally Allen: Heritage 'crime' has rightly horrified

Those of you who read my last column identifying the horrors of destruction occurring at Singleton Gardens, will no doubt have also seen how it was picked up by other newspapers, Miles Davies of the BBC and the Daily Mail. Clearly showing that this mindless action has angered a lot of people, as they were, quite rightly horrified by the behaviour of the developer. 

This is clearly a story that will run and run, and the council have severely underestimated the passion and resentment felt by the public. This desecration of our heritage has gone on too long without the correct penalties being enforced. 

Mervyn Seal, the celebrated architect and chairman of the Torbay Heritage Trust, who has had a number of his designs considered heritage and architectural jewels and consequently have been given Grade II listed status by Historic England, has something to say on the subject.

“At Singleton Gardens in the Lincombes Conservation Area, lays this key empty gardener’s cottage of Heritage interest, as previously identified by the local planning authority. The planning proposal approved on the 22nd May 2024 was restricted to removing the modern flat roof extensions, preserving the main historic building with replacement fenestration, designed by Daniel Metcalfe. Significantly he is a member of the Institute for Historic Building Conservation an organisation which exists to establish the highest standards of conservation practice to support the effective protection and enhancement of the historic environment, with the art of restoring.

“The importance of the historic cottage relates to the expected rebirth of the Victorian historic walled garden which dates back 150 years. Considered a community asset and desired to be reopened for local people to use as in the past, a valued green space. 

“This serious heritage crime is defined by Historic England and Torbay Council as 'Any offence which harms the value of heritage assets and their settings' as occurred indisputably, at Singleton.”

Finally, Mr Seal commented: “Torbay Council process is the prime responsibility for taking enforcement steps for a breach of historic building, conservation area and planning controls. They need to bring prosecutions, serve enforcement notices to rebuild this illegally removed Historic building. 

“Prosecutions can provide a valuable deterrent to future wilful damage and local planning authorities are encouraged to bring a prosecution as essential at Singleton. Especially as a good case can be sustained to rebuild, there is no case for any compromise.”

Surely rebuilding at your own expense what you have destroyed without permission, should be a given and is by law enforceable.

This situation is not unique to Torbay of course. As an example, The Carlton Tavern is a pub in the Kilburn neighbourhood of London, originally completed in 1921. It was illegally demolished in 2015 by Tel Aviv-based developer CLTX, after it failed to obtain the necessary planning permission. Westminster City Council subsequently ordered the pub to be rebuilt.

Another example is The Crooked House, Britain's wonkiest pub. The owners have been ordered to rebuild it after it was controversially destroyed when it caught fire on 5 August 2023 in a suspected arson attack - it was demolished two days later. Legal proceedings are still continuing.

I believe that we must stand-up for our heritage. The saddest thing to me is that our local planning department doesn’t seem to have an eye for creating new housing and buildings with any thought of reflecting the great beauty surrounding them. 

Look at the shocking state of the new builds at Palace Gardens, they look like two-storey prefabs and are so close together you can shake hands with your neighbours. 

Clearly no privacy – and yet they are on the market for between £830,000 - £870,000. This is less than they started at, but still way too high and, in my opinion, over-priced for these abominations. You would have more privacy in a high-rise block of flats!

I just don’t understand why it has to be like this. We never seem to learn from the mistakes of the past. Across the country in the 1960s they ripped out vast numbers of terraced houses and with it the underbelly of society. 

In most cases the residents were very proud of their 2 up 2 down houses, even with outside privies. They would normally have different coloured painted doors and women used to proudly polish their brass doorsteps. Children played in the street and there was a strong community. 

The high-rise soulless blocks of flats heralded in a major rise in suicides and loneliness. If Palace Gardens is meant to reflect these old terrace houses, fine, but clearly the price is therefore way, way too high.

We probably have one of the most beautiful coastlines in Europe coupled with the most gorgeous rural scenery and yet the planners seem Hell bent on making everything look ugly. 

Everyone who knows me, knows how keen I am to have the Pavilion restored to its former glory. Added to this, to breathe more life into the town during the precious tourist months, we have to up our game. 

Nobody comes here to look at the beauty of a Travel Lodge or Premier Inn. If you travel overseas most people like to take in the history of the towns they visit, which obviously includes the buildings. 

We have had some glorious buildings in Torquay which have all been destroyed, please don’t destroy anymore. Please let’s restore the gems we have left.

In the meantime, I look forward to the next council elections currently pencilled in for Thursday 6 May 2027, but who knows with all the proposed devolution going on.