Significant buildings in Hunstanton have been brutally demolished to make way for characterless blocks of flats

In his weekly Turnstone column, John Maiden pulls no punches when discussing planning in his town...

Further to last week's column, I now realise that Turnstone failed to mention the fact that some of my nieces spent the night before their December 30 dip in the sea, at the historic Golden Lion Hotel. This majestic building, which dates back to the birth of New Hunstanton in the second half of the 19th Century, has retained its external Victorian Gothic character and appearance, while other equally significant buildings have been brutally demolished to make way for characterless blocks of flats. Harlequin House replacing the Sandringham Hotel is just one example of this uncaring treatment of the built environment.

Even the once spacious grounds of The Golden Lion have been compromised by the creation of the Northgate shopping precinct. Much more intrusive is the proximity of the Cliff Court apartment block, destroying views from rooms at the rear of the building, such as the ones occupied by members of the Maiden clan.

In my humble opinion, the root cause of Hunstanton's decline into architectural mediocracy may be traced back to the misplaced praise heaped upon the architects of Hunstanton Secondary Modern School, when it opened its doors in 1954. The latest threat, to all that remains of the character and appearance of Hunstanton's unique conservation area, is planning application 23/00775/FM. This is to add a further four floors to a retail outlet on the promenade, just north of the Waterside Bar, to provide a five-storey, beachside hotel.

To their credit, planning officers seem to have learned from past mistakes and remembered to consult Historic England, along with other statutory consultees, before advising members of the borough planning committee to refuse this latest attempt to spoil views 'into and out of' our historic conservation area. This includes The Green, which is subject to a legally binding covenant, imposed by Bernard le Strange in 1955 for the benefit of the inhabitants and visitors of Hunstanton.