OBJECTORS against the Longboat Caf� development clinging to the hope the building could soon be protected – banning any change - will this week be disappointed to learn the boathouse has already been too altered to save.

OBJECTORS against the Longboat Caf� development clinging to the hope the building could soon be protected - banning any change - will this week be disappointed to learn the boathouse has already been 'too altered' to save.

A report released by English Heritage shows the government-funded body will not be recommending the seafront caf� becomes a listed building.

Many objectors against a proposal to turn the Longboat Caf� into a glass-fronted restaurant had been pinning their hopes on English Nature stepping in to protect the building from development.

Coastguard Cottages, and the former coastguard station, also failed to make the grade - because 'the group as a whole has been too altered to qualify for listing'.

A property at Coastguard Road, including Rocket Cart House, Wash House, a boundary wall, coal sheds and steps linking to the Longboat Cafe have all been listed.

The English Heritage report said the Longboat Caf�'s 'heavily altered' premises from boathouse to caf� had a 'significant impact' on any claims the building was of architectural interest.

The report said of the proposed listings: "While there are strong grounds to assigning special interest at Budleigh Salterton, a judgment is needed as to whether the importance of the ensemble outweighs the damaging alterations that have taken place here.

"A measure of intactness is important for listing to be appropriate.

"All the buildings have undergone alteration, but some have been more altered than others. The former boathouse (Longboat Cafe) in particular has undergone extensive and irreversible change, which seriously undermines its claims to inclusion.

"Some of this change is recent: much of it is of many years' standing, however.

"While the boathouse (Longboat Cafe) is an interesting component, on balance it is too altered for inclusion within the recommendation."

English Nature said its decision to Grade II list 20-38 Coastguard Road was because:

* The ensemble is a clear reminder of the significant role played by the coastguard service in maritime history.

* It is an unusually complete group of coastguard buildings, including officer's house, a terrace of coastguard cottages, wash house and rocket cart house, and associated outbuildings, boundary wall and steps, with a clear functional relationship.

* This is an unusually complete ensemble, with a rare survival of the Rocket Cart House

* Have your say on this story at www.exmouthjournal.co.uk

Ends