®Planning appeal decision
Ratcliffe Wharf Stairs, Narrow Street, London , E14 8DQ
Planning appeal 3315564 at Ratcliffe Wharf Stairs, Narrow Street, London , E14 8DQ (London Borough of Tower Hamlets) was dismissed on 18 October 2023 by Inspector Bowyer J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether or not the proposal would preserve a Grade II listed building, Ratcliffe Cross Stairs, and any of the features of special architectural or historic interest that it possesses and the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the Narrow Street Conservation Area.
raise threshold of existing concrete steps to upgrade flood defence function - install new guard rails to higher sides of stair as additional safety measure (lower risk of falls onto foreshore from a height) - install new metal gate with timed openings as similar along street.’ Appeal B: APP/E5900/Y/23/3315565 Ratcliffe Wharf Stairs, Narrow Street, London E14 8DQ
- Authority
- London Borough of Tower Hamlets
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- utilities-energy · Other minor developments
- Inspector
- Bowyer J
- Postcode
- E14 8DQ
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether or not the proposal would preserve a Grade II listed building, Ratcliffe Cross Stairs, and any of the features of special architectural or historic interest that it possesses and the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the Narrow Street Conservation Area
- The effect of the proposal on connectivity and pedestrian accessibility
- The effect of the proposal on flood risk
What decided it
The proposed gate would restrict public access to the foreshore and diminish the historic value of the listed building as a route to the water, causing less than substantial harm that was not outweighed by the unsubstantiated or insufficient public benefits of the proposal.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy D.DH2Policy SI 16Policy D.ES4Policy HC1Policy S.DH1Policy S.DH3
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision
More decisions in London Borough of Tower Hamlets
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2023
- Notice varied and upheld30 September 20263368399232 Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1BJ
- Notice varied and upheld30 September 2026336172248A White Horse Road, London, E1 0ND
- Dismissed30 September 202660110097 Douro Street, London, E3 2TS
- Dismissed29 September 20266010662Pavement O/S, 43-47 Bethnal Green Road, London, E1 6LA
- Dismissed29 September 20266010661Pavement O/S, 43-47 Bethnal Green Road, London, E1 6LA
The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.