Being welcoming and getting on with everyone is a core value for us at the Gardens Trust. So it’s unusual for us to speak out publicly about our neighbours.
The large Castle Bromwich Conservation Area is a rather rare combination of important historic buildings and natural landscapes. The 60 acres is of national significance especially surrounded, as we are, by a highly industrialised cityscape. All of us who live and work within the Conservation Area have, to greater or lesser degree, a responsibility to look after our little bit of the history as well as looking out for the long term survival of the whole.
With 20 years experience within the wider heritage sector, I know personally how hard it is to ensure financial viability for the nation’s heritage. Historic England always advises that buildings and landscapes be put ‘to appropriate and viable use where possible’ in order to sustain the historic environment. A hotel is often a very successful way of ensuring listed buildings remain intact.
We think that this can certainly work for Castle Bromwich Hall and have always tried to work together with the owners and staff for the betterment of the whole.
The ‘temporary’ marquee
marquee in context
Having remained discreet, in public, about the marquee built by the hotel 6 years ago, without planning permission, we now feel it is time to speak out against the latest planning application.
Our general objection, in tandem with all the national and regional heritage organisations, remains the same now as it was in 2019 when the marquee, a ‘temporary structure’, was first built. The marquee is a visually inappropriate structure for the surrounding 18th century landscape and, positioned directly next to the Gardens’ public access, is doubly intrusive.
In addition to the general objection, we feel the operational management of the area has fallen far below acceptable limits. In our submission on the Council’s planning portal we also cite the increase in vermin, the lack of adequate sewage expansion (for which we often suffer as we are ‘down the line’ of the piping), the failure of management to prevent fireworks being set off close to a Grade1 building (!!) and the failure to keep noise levels and interruption within acceptable and legal limits.
Indeed, we were very surprised to read that the planning application asserts that the west side of the marquee is adjacent to 500m of parkland and therefore noise spill is not a consideration. This would seem to totally ignore the presence and experience of the Gardens’ 21,000 visitors.
We still fully support the Hall owners’ efforts to run a profitable business to improve the sustainability of the historic building. However, this can only be valid if the rules, by which the rest of us also have to comply, are respected and worked to.
View south across Castle Hills Drive
We cannot see how the marquee, nor the way the events are run on site contribute to the longer term viability of the whole.
We are very aware of the growing disquiet among local residents about other unpleasant and dangerous behaviour locally. It is in the interests of everyone, within and adjacent to the Conservation Area, that the Hall, Gardens, Church and Parkland are seen, and experienced, as blessings not curses. Working together, and within the shared rules, is essential.
I am disappointed to hear of this new Marque Castle Bromwich Hall Hotel want to erect. This will be a blight on this beautiful building. I enjoy the peace, nature and open space of Castle bromwich Hall gardens. I do not wish to see a monstrosity of another huge marquee, which will undoubtedly create a large number of people to decend up on it both day and night. Shattering my peaceful place. It is in the best interests of the gardens historical past,and the people who use the gardens. That I oppose the marquee. Let’s keep what little wildlife we have left, and stop disturbing their habitat by noise pollution ect.
Thanks for your comment Diane, and we echo the sentiment that it is a blight. Just to be clear – the planning application they are applying for is for the Marquee that is already up- it has NEVER had permission! It has been an illegal building for the last 6 years! I dread to think whether they have had insurance on an illegal building: I fear for the people who have used it if they werent adequatley insured.
What is sad and makes us angry, is that the owners are prepared to do things whether or not they have had permission. All of us here want to do things properly for the whole of the Conservation Area but we cant see how that attitude helps.
This Marquee that to my knowledge has been up since 2020 when I visited for afternoon tea and a huge wedding was on and from that day to this the Marquee is a permanent and. Ever taken down it is an eyesore does not fit in with the age of either the Hall or Gardens the walk from the entrance of the gardens along the walkway that goes passed this you also get piles of chairs beer barrels etc an eyesore as well as the building to anyone walking round the gardens on various occasions I have visited the gardens music from this venue spoils the peace and tranquility of the gardens the music is very loud the gardens are as they were originally intended a place of quite peace and calm yes avents at both locations are ones that have to consider both parties.
Solihull Council planning department have in reality known of the existence of this Marquee since 2019 so should have dealt with the fact that it did not have planning permission to operate this aforementioned venue.
The gardens are for most of us a peaceful safe and restful place to be
I hope that another or even this monstrous building is solid to remain to blight these historical buildings and gardens