By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
There are concerns a Victorian pumping station could “rot into a ruin” after Gedling Borough Council confirmed it will be taking action over illegal building works.
Bestwood Pumping Station, located to the north of Arnold on the A60, was built between 1871 and 1874 and is Grade-II listed.
The site was purchased by a developer in 2019 for £1.5m, and millions of pounds were invested in converting the derelict site into a wedding venue and restaurant called ‘Lakeside’.
However inspections from council officers uncovered a series of unlawful building works.
It is understood the applicant will be looking to reopen soon.
The car park area had been extended without planning permission, while a BBQ structure, prosecco bar, Santa’s Grotto and a bandstand were also installed without relevant permission.
Protected gas lamps, dating back to 1871, had also been removed and were missing.
However, these have since been located by council officers.
During a Gedling Borough Council Planning Committee meeting on the evening of January 10, councillors unanimously agreed that enforcement action should be taken.
The chairman of the committee said: “The recommendations are that the head of development and place, in conjunction with the head of governance and customer services, be authorised to take all relevant planning enforcement action, including the service of any necessary enforcement notices and issuance of proceedings through the courts, if required, to ensure the restoration of the listed buildings to their former condition, the removal of the unauthorised development and the removal of the unlawful advertisements.”
Cllr Martin Smith (Con), who represents Newstead Abbey, said while the standard of unauthorised work had been high, it does not excuse the undertaking of the work without permission.
“I am delighted to now see the gaslights have been relocated,” he said.
“I think it needs acknowledging there has been a lot of work put in to this by officers to identify all these breaches and I think they certainly need thanking for that.”
Permission was only granted for listed building consent for refurbishing the pumping station building, the council says.
A retrospective planning application had been submitted in a bid to gain permission for some of the breaches of planning control, however this was refused in March last year.
While Cllr Marje Paling (Lab), for Coppice ward, and Cllr Ruth Strong (Lab), Plains ward, agreed with enforcement action, they feared it may cause the site to fall to ruin.
Cllr Strong added: “I fully support the enforcement action that really needs doing, ignoring such regulations should not be allowed to pass unnoticed.
“But like Cllr Paling I am concerned about the future and whether further negotiation with the owners of the site would be possible to ensure the commercial continuation of this site.
“It would be a shame for it to rot into a ruin.”
The Local Democracy Reporting Service made attempts to contact Lakeside by email and telephone, however the phone line no longer works.
