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World-famous artist Tracey Emin’s bid to transform a derelict seafront pavilion featuring a rooftop seating terrace has sparked a flurry of concerns from neighbours.
The ‘My Bed’ artist snapped up the abandoned Westbrook Loggia, near Margate, in 2023 and wants to convert it into a bathers’ club and restaurant.
How Tracey Emin’s transformation of the Westbrook Loggia could look. Picture: Waugh Thistleton Architects
Plans submitted by the Tracey Emin Foundation also propose refurbishing the existing public toilets and creating a sauna, changing room, and shower facilities.
The organisation also wants to build a community event space and artist studio.
But the erection of a wind shelter and seating on the roof of the building has attracted some local opposition on Thanet District Council’s planning portal.
“I suffer with COPD stage 2 and need to breathe in sea air and keep away from smoke; otherwise it will progress to stage 4, and I will die,” Clare Hastings commented, who says she lives opposite and has a balcony.
“If Tracey is allowed to put tables and chairs on the roof and give access to the general public, there will be smokers and vapers on the roof which will affect me immensely.
“Also, there will be a significant increase in noise and disturbance.”
Artist Tracey Emin purchased the Westbrook Pavilion, commonly known as the Loggia. Picture: Thanet District Council
Jessica Ali does not support the plans as it will block her sea view.
“If the plans and design could be adjusted to not affect the south view, then I would be fully in favour,” she said.
Cllr John Edwards raised concerns about anti-social behaviour.
“I am overall in favour of the development, but I see the roof causing problems in the future, and as the ward councillor I must look after the residents,” he said.
Clara Anderson Bergdahl says the regeneration of the pavilion is “overall a very positive thing”.
But she said: “As a resident of the street, my only concern is that of the rooftop shelter and seating area bringing with it significantly increased noise and disturbance due to the open-air aspect of the proposal.
Tracey Emin wants to convert the Westbrook Loggia near Margate with plans to create a swimming pool and restaurant. Picture: Waugh Thistleton Architects
“I hope it’s going to be a popular facility; however, with that comes the concern of a daily and significant impact regarding noise and disturbance and a negative effect on our family life.
“I hope this can be taken into consideration when reviewing the proposal.”
But others support the planning application, with Alice Herrick saying it would be a “great addition to Westbrook”.
“The locals and visitors will benefit from having a cafe and restaurant overlooking the beach and sunset,” she said.
“It is a friendly neighbourhood and will provide a focus and meeting place all year round.
“I am also excited about the gallery space and believe the building will be sensitively redesigned to reflect the cultural shift towards an arts audience in Margate.”
Beverley Aitken says she lives 200 yards from the site and uses Westbrook beach all year round.
“It will provide much-needed facilities for all beach users, not least a cafe, and at best warm showers for winter swimmers and other sea users,” she said.
“It will provide a much-needed community space and a restaurant for use particularly on those lovely warm evenings.
“At present the only facilities are toilets that are not open all year round.”
The applicants state the Westbrook Pavilion is a “severely dilapidated building that has fallen from its former glory as an Edwardian-era bathing pavilion”.
They say a wind shelter will be introduced at roof level to “protect the staircase”.
Westbrook Loggia near Margate was built in 1910
Plans state the central bay will be refined and replaced with a patio, creating a sheltered public space beneath the upper balcony, while existing windows will be retained and repaired.
“The towers will be enhanced with new ground floor arches to accommodate a coffee and ice cream hatch, drawing on historic precedents, while new first floor windows will provide light and views for the café in a more restrained scale,” documents state.
“Above, contemporary belvederes inspired by the original design will be reinstated using modern materials.
“The wings will be rationalised by replacing the current ad hoc additions with a more ordered composition that reflects the original pavilion, introducing aligned glazing and rendered columns to echo the historic colonnades.
“Finally, the public WCs will be upgraded and retained, with external detailing that reflects the building’s arched architectural language and incorporates features such as fanlight windows and beach-front showers.”
Views on the scheme need to be formally lodged with TDC by tomorrow (Tuesday).
The derelict Westbrook Loggia near Margate
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It is thought that the building, also known as Westbrook Bay Pavilion, was constructed in 1910 and was originally an Edwardian bathing house.
Before it shut down, it hosted a cafe and a beach shop.
Ms Emin grew up in Margate and returned to the town in 2017.
Speaking to KentOnline about the pavilion in 2023, she said: “I’m so happy and excited. Margate is going to have a bathers’ club that we can use all year round.
“It will take a couple of years to get it renovated and up and running.
“I want to make it beautiful and grand again.”