Improving visitor facilities at Morston Quay

Frequently Asked Questions

• When will the new toilet facilities be built?

  The timeline for this project is still to be confirmed. We are very aware of the complex and sensitive environment in which this project will be carried out. The timing of the project will be informed by the needs of those who use Morston Quay, by statutory consultees, and by our contractor, once appointed.

• Why are new toilet facilities needed at Morston Quay?

  The existing temporary facilities are not adequate to meet the demand when the site is at its busiest. This can lead to dissatisfaction amongst some visitors and detract from their overall experience of visiting Morston Quay, particularly among visitors who come for the seal boat trips as this is typically when the site is at its busiest. Moreover, planning permission for the portacabins that house the current toilets was for a temporary period and we now need to provide a permanent solution for the provision of toilets on this site. This affords us an opportunity to create better and more accessible toilet facilities for all visitors, and to incorporate suitable facilities for people with accessibility and health needs.

• Why did the National Trust withdraw its original planning application?

  Although we had done some engagement, it was clear that many people had views on the original proposals we had put forward. We therefore decided to withdraw our planning application to reflect and consider these comments. We have now revised our plans. The facilities we are proposing are still needed, but hopefully more people feel that we’ve taken their views into consideration.

• How big is the new toilet building and how does it compare to the previous plans?

  The dimensions for the proposed new toilet building are 17.3 m (length) x 5.84 m (width) with a maximum roof heigh of 3.6 m. This is 8.3 m shorter in length than the plan in our original planning application. The proposed floorspace of the new building is 78.8 m2 compared to 125.6 m2 in our original planning application – a reduction in size of 37%.

• How have you sought to minimise the impact of the new toilets and other changes on the site and the landscape within which it sits?

  The building remains sited adjacent to the large green hedge on the eastern boundary of the site which will provide screening and minimise the visual impact from the east. We have also reduced the length and footprint of the building considerably but have retained the green roof originally proposed. We also now propose to match the exterior cladding of the existing Lookout Building. The amendments to the car park will ensure that it retains the look and feel of the existing car park as far as possible. We will not be marking out standard car parking spaces on the reworked existing coarse aggregate surface and will ensure the materials currently present are used as much as practicable.

• Will there be marked spaces within the car park?

  Only the accessible parking bays will be marked out, as there is a requirement to do this – but we are looking at more subtle ways to mark these spaces. We will not have painted bay lines or symbols on the coarse aggregate car park surface.

• Will there be any changes to the Lookout Building?

  There are no plans to change the Lookout Building, which we know is much loved by our visitors and the local community. We want to improve access to the Lookout Building by putting in place an accessible, wheelchair-friendly path that connects it to the new toilets and accessible parking areas.

• Will the National Trust be increasing its commercial activity on site?

  No. These facilities will not generate an income for the National Trust. This project is about improving our toilet facilities and ensuring this popular coastal location is accessible to anyone who wants to visit Morston Quay.

• What is happening to the original brick toilet building?

  The original small brick toilet building, located behind the current portacabins, will be retained. We will restore the building to enable it to be used as a storage space. We propose to clad the building in black timber to reflect both the new toilet block and the existing Lookout Building.

• Couldn’t the original brick toilet building be used to house the new toilet facilities?

  No. The space within the original brick toilet building is already partially taken up with Anglian Water sewerage plant. It simply isn’t large enough to provide the number of toilets needed and to provide the accessible facilities we want to offer.