Marina loses appeal over pontoon plans
PLANS for an extension to Limehouse Marina in east London have been dismissed on appeal.
British Waterways Marinas Ltd (BWML) had challenged a decision by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets to refuse planning permission for five new pontoon moorings. Four of these were proposed for leisure use with a fifth, plus an informal dockside space, to provide 24-hour visitor moorings.
According to the report, Limehouse Basin is a vital ‘port of refuge’ for departing and visiting craft from further down the tidal Thames and the Continent, due to providing the only lock in central London with an adequate tidal window for vessels travelling downstream from the non-tidal Thames and other moorings and basins.
A more regimented system of pontoons would reduce mooring flexibility and capacity among the following: temporary visitor boats, including some preparing to transit to and from the River Thames and boat club rally groups and other convoy groups, in the event that the majority of moorings were unavailable due to prior booking by other leisure boaters.
Planning inspector William Cooper concluded that the additional moorings would have adverse impacts on the character and appearance of the Limehouse Basin and obstruct views of the ‘shimmer and reflectiveness’ of the water.
Relocation of the pump-out facilities would also complicate manoeuvring and contribute to congestion, particularly during the peak spring and summer period.