Poole's historic old harbour office could become flats

Property developers Lambert Pressland have applied to convert the old harbour office in The Quay into a mix of commercial space and flats. 

Although only looking for prior approval, the developers would eventually seek to convert the first floor into housing for “no more than six people” and the ground floor into commercial space. 

Historic England says the original building was built in 1727 before the construction of the office which stands today in 1822.

Poole Quay, features the Customs House, Harbour Office, and the building of Poole Maritime Museum. Photo: Grahame Austin Collection.

The original plaque and sundial from the old building were reused for the new structure. 

It became Grade II listed in June 1954. 

The building sits on the edge of the second-largest natural harbour in the world and opposite the factory for luxury yacht maker Sunseeker.  

A planning statement by Pure Town Planning, on behalf of the developers, said water levels are “assumed” to rise by 3.06 metres in the future and sets out what would happen in an “extreme event”. 

It says: “The Environment Agency’s matrix suggests at this depth, there will be ‘danger to most’ pedestrians. It is likely that vehicular movement will also be challenging.

Poole Customs House and Quay circa 1869 postcard from a Dorset County Library photo. Postcard from the Allan Cook collection.

“With the flooding event being tidal, however, peak levels will be short-lived, dropping rapidly as the tide recedes.  

“It has been established that for short-term tidal events the upper floors, including the residential units, may be regarded as ‘safe havens’.” 

It adds the first floor where the flats are to be built are “risk-free but access will be difficult”. 

The documents add: “The property has recently been refurbished.  

“The building occupies an important position on the working Quayside of Poole, all access being from the Quay. 

“It is proposed to retain the commercial usage on the ground floor, but to introduce self-contained residential units on the first floor and second floor mezzanine.  

“Access to the upper floors will be via an existing (recently built) staircase and separate doorway. 

“The National Planning Policy Framework classification for this type of development is ‘more vulnerable’ and the lifetime is taken to be 100 years.  

“A Listed Building application is being prepared in parallel with a prior approval planning application. This flood risk assessment will be appropriate for both applications.” 

A decision has yet to be made on the application.