‘Final hurdle’ for owners of historic Felixstowe beach huts proposed to return to Spa Pavilion location

Next week could be the final chapter in a Suffolk beach huts saga that has gone on for more than two years.

The owners of 14 ‘in limbo’ beach huts are due to have their planning application for the huts’ reinstatement to the area of Felixstowe Spa Pavilion decided on Tuesday.

Beach hut owners have been campaigning for the return of what are believed to be Britain’s oldest beach huts to their historic location.

The 14 huts were part of a group of 44, located at the historic seaside setting by the Spa.

They all lost their spot after East Suffolk Council terminated their site licences, but while new sites were secured for 30 of the huts, 14 were left with nowhere to go.

These 14 beach huts are currently in storage at a car park – described as ‘beach hut prison’ by campaigners.

The planning officer has recommended approval, subject to conditions, of the proposal for the reinstatement of 14 beach huts, previously sited on the prom, and the installation of associated wooden platforms located on the beach between the shelter and Spa Pavilion.

Beach hut owner and author Ruth Dugdall told SuffolkNews: “December 19th is our final hurdle, and the day that we hope all of our dogged persistence pays off.

“If we win - and get planning approval - it’s not just a win for us, but for Felixstowe and an important piece of its seaside history.”

The planning officer’s report said a total of 20 third-party responses were received, all of which were in support of the proposal.

One organisation in support of the application is the Council for British Archaeology, a consultee, which commented that before their relocation the Spa Pavilion beach huts would be considered as ‘nondesignated heritage assets’.

“Assessment of the structures has revealed that at least seven appear to conform to the original historic design of Felixstowe’s beach huts and are likely to date from the 1890s,” the comment reads. “These timber structures, at 130 years old, are remarkable survivals from Felixstowe’s heyday at the turn of the last century.

“It has been established by Dr Kathryn Ferry, a prominent seaside historian, that Felixstowe Spa is the first site for beach huts in Britain. This makes them an important part of Felixstowe’s heritage.”

The beach hut owners have suggested a heritage colour scheme and signage for the beach huts.

Felixstowe Beach Hut & Chalet Association, which supports the planning application, said in consultation comments: “This is a valuable heritage asset for Felixstowe where England’s first beach huts were sited and it would be a travesty not to embrace this and and tantamount to cultural vandalism.”

The association urged ESC ‘to finally bring this unfortunate process to an end by accepting this application’.

It said: “Put our beach huts, along with their families, who have been hut owners for generations, back where they belong. We believe that our beach huts are a national treasure as the oldest beach huts in England.”

The 44 beach huts were moved onto the prom from the beach a few years ago as a temporary measure due to coastal erosion and owners were then shocked to find out they were to be evicted.

East Suffolk Asset Management, as a consultee, says ESC as landowner – which is separate to the council as local planning authority – had previously considered this location at the Spa for beach huts on manmade platforms and discounted it on a number of grounds including amenity, safety and cost.

It said taking background into account - including beach erosion caused by storms – the council, as landlord, ‘has serious concerns with this proposal which does not address the issues that resulted in the removal of the huts from the beach in the first instance’.

The planning officer’s report said the applicant had advised that the beach huts would be moved to the prom during the winter months.

Overall, subject to conditions, there were no concerns from a coastal management perspective, the report said.

The report concluded: “The proposal for the reinstatement of 14 beach huts within proximity to the Spa Pavilion has the potential to enhance and better reveal the significance of the historic character of the Conservation Area whilst taking into account the requirements of changes to the coastal landscape.

“The beach huts are seen as ‘iconic features’ of the seaside resort and as such an embodiment of Felixstowe’s historical identity, a character identified as central to the special historic interest of the Conservation Area.”

It is understood that the beach hut owners will pay for the platforms and any maintenance.

A planning application to relocate the 14 beach huts to the seafront at Martello Park in Felixstowe is currently on hold, beach hut owner Ruth said.