Plans to restore New Quay’s historic Pier Building after a fire earlier this year are being recommended for approval.
At its development management committee meeting on November 11, Ceredigion County Council will consider a listed building consent application for restoration work at the Pier Building, South John Street, after a fire earlier this year.
The Grade II-listed former harbour warehouse, now occupied by New Quay Yacht Club, suffered fire and smoke damage in January.
The proposals “follow a like-for-like repair approach and also enhanced fire protection measurements in order to achieve 60-minute fire compartmentation between floors”.
The proposal also includes “remedial works to restore the character of the building by replacing modern flooring with more historically appropriate material”.
A supporting statement accompanying the application says the early 19th century building, constructed in association with the expansion of the harbour and maritime trade, “forms an important surviving component of the town’s historic waterfront infrastructure”.
It says the building “has undergone a series of incremental alterations and adaptations during the 20th and 21st centuries in order to accommodate its continued recreational and community use”.
The scheme aims “to retain and conserve historic fabric wherever reasonably practicable, ensuring that any necessary interventions are proportionate, compatible and informed by an understanding of the building’s significance”.
Of the building itself, it says: “The building’s architectural interest derives not from ornamentation or refinement, but from its surviving industrial form, materials, functional expression and strong visual relationship with the pier and harbour setting.
“Particularly notable are the surviving painted harbour tariff boards fixed to the southern wall. These late 19th to early 20th century enamel signs detail harbour dues and charges associated with goods landed at New Quay and are identified by both Cadw and Heneb as rare and significant survivals of their type.”
After an inspection, the report says the building “was found to remain structurally intact overall and continues to retain its principal historic form and character despite the recent fire incident”.
It adds that “certain modern finishes and later non-historic fabric affected by fire or smoke damage had already been removed prior to the preparation of this report”.
The report concluded: “The proposed works ensure an appropriate balance between reinstating essential fire‑and moisture‑resisting elements and safeguarding the building’s historic character”.
It added: “While the reintroduction of fire‑and moisture‑resisting elements will result in a minor reduction in evidential value, this is outweighed by the need to safeguard the building for ongoing use.”
An officer’s report recommending approval says the proposals would retain historic fabric wherever practicable, provide fire protection and improve the affected interiors with more sympathetic timber floorboards.
The report says the work would not change the building’s external appearance, would preserve its architectural and historic interest and would protect the character of New Quay Conservation Area.
Image: Google Street Maps
