Plans are being made to transform the “eyesore” leaky roof of a historic Plymouth waterfront building into an “alfresco” style beer garden with safety measure to stop tombstoners leaping off into the sea.
Architects at Green Form Design have lodged a pre-application planning submission for . The building, which dates from 1688, was formerly used by the Royal Plymouth Corinthian Yacht Club until it was .
The yacht club , and now plans are being drawn for its former home, located within The Barbican Conservation Area and built into the rock face.
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The building has been used by troublesome into the sea.
Architects said the aim of the proposed development is to improve access into all floor levels of the building. The roof of the building, which is only about 1m above pavement level, is described as an “eyesore” and “rather tired in appearance” in a report submitted to Plymouth City Council planners.
The report, by Plymouth-based Green Form Design said: “It (the roof) leaks in places and is cluttered with raised rooflights, chimney pots and servicing equipment most of which are no longer in use.
“Rather than just replace with new, it is proposed to use this roof space area as an 'alfresco' style beer garden, similar to other bars and restaurants on the Barbican and The Hoe.
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“These have worked extremely well with the public and are very popular during fine summer weather and with public attraction events.”
A planning application has already been submitted for the provision of a new entrance on the North West corner of the site next to the existing entrance gateway on Madeira Road, and the architects propose to utilise this structure and extend it slightly to house a new entrance onto the roof.
This will also provide a new stairwell down into the building, as well as a bar at roof level, the report said. It also said that to compliment the beer garden it is considered to provide high quality parasols in the form of pergolas.
It gave an example of a product in the Gibus Pergola Med Zenit range, which is considered to be an “attractive robust and yet lightweight structure”.
This new structure would protrude above the roof by about 2.4m but would appear temporary and lightweight, so as not to harm the setting of the historic features around the site, the report said.
To ensure public safety it is further proposed to provide a full perimeter glass balustrading to eliminate tombstoning from the premises. It is also proposed that the existing turret-like structure is removed, which “shall enhance the views out to sea”.
The lower ground floor also has some proposed works “in the form of alteration of existing walls to create better functioning spaces”.
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The extreme lower floor provided toilets and showers for yacht club members, when taking their boats out to sea. It is proposed to now improve these facilities by providing new toilets and showers along with a bar and external pergola seating and deck chairs.
The report concludes that: “The Core Strategy Vision for the Hoe/Barbican area has been to consolidate and develop the area as an attractive and sustainable mixed-use quarter creating a unique, high quality environment that will attract investment and new residents.
“High-quality residential blocks have been created with restaurants on the ground floor along with alfresco style external seating areas.
“It is considered that our proposals including the al fresco style roof garden idea, will not harm the conservation and historic setting. Instead it will bring new life to a tired redundant roof and building to create a much useful space for the citizens of Plymouth.
Built in the 17th Century as part of the Royal Citadel, the Corinthian has its own access to the water, and was used as a club house from 1896 until it was put on the market with a guide price of £750,000.