A wedding venue’s controversial marquee has been compared to a “circus big top” amid an ongoing planning row.

The country’s leading conservation body has also raised concerns about it being permanently located at the 18th-century stately home Ripple Court near Deal.

Owners of the grand estate gained permission last year to hold ceremonies in a 60ft tent in the grounds of their historic home.

The approval of the plans was met with a condition that the marquee must be taken down between October 1 and April 30.

However, last month husband-and-wife team Peter Robertson and Francesca Reed, who bought the site in 2020, revealed they want Dover District Council (DDC) to remove the condition so they can keep the structure up all year round.

Historic England has now objected to the plans alongside residents who feel keeping the large tent erected all year round is unsuitable and would impact the Grade II*-listed building and gardens.

Barbara Smyth, who is a neighbour of the estate, says the marquee can be seen from a public road.

“It can be seen very clearly from the junction of the A258 along the length of Ripple Road to the railway bridge,” she said.

“It stands high above any vegetation and looks like a circus big top destroying the look of the natural countryside.

“The lack of winter foliage was one of the reasons it was considered necessary to make the marquee temporary to avoid the above.”

In a statement submitted to DDC by planning agent DHA Planning Ltd, the company stated erecting the marquee has helped secure the first bookings for the venue, which is due to host its first ceremonies later this year.

“The marquee in question is now in place, with the applicants realising they needed to erect it in order to provide the opportunity for marketing photos to be taken and for prospective wedding parties to view the facility firsthand,” it said.

“The marquee continues to be read in that context as a temporary structure, and even during winter months, the surrounding mature vegetation continues to perform a screening role.

“The applicant recognises that the presence of the marquee is in breach of a planning condition so is seeking to regularise that position.”

But Historic England believes the permanent presence of the marquee would cause “harm” to the site and has objected to the plans.

In planning documents, the public body which is responsible for protecting historic sites, said: “The construction of any large structure within the walled garden would cause harm to the significance of the heritage assets on-site through changes to their setting.

“Altering the largely undeveloped and enclosed character of the modest and functional kitchen garden would hamper our understanding of its original use and the hierarchical relationship between the buildings and the landscape.

“Given its scale and appearance, visible above the garden walls, the marquee would constitute an incongruous feature within the historic rural setting, and more so during winter months due to diminution of the natural screening around the site.”

Mr Robertson and Ms Reed snapped up Ripple Court after it was marketed for £2.75m by agents Strutt and Parker, which described it as “one of east Kent’s most important country houses”.

They say running weddings at the site – which will host up to 30 ceremonies a year – will help fund the upkeep of their historic home, which they say needs constant attention.

The couple is aiming to make the venue one of the “most prestigious” in Kent.

DHA Planning says the “permanent presence of the marquee would not affect the number of weddings which can be held,” and “it is expected” that ceremonies will continue to run between May and September.

If DDC approves the removal of the planning condition, a toilet block and catering marquee could stay up all year, as well as the main wedding marquee.

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

DDC imposed the condition last year to preserve the character and setting of the site off Wingleton Lane, which spans across 12 acres.

In a statement issued this week, Mr Robertson and Ms Reed said: “Historic England plays a pivotal role in preserving historic buildings such as ours.

“Our objective is always to ensure that couples visiting Ripple Court Estate enjoy it in its full historical setting and in the best way possible.

“We intend to engage further with Historic England to find a way to preserve the historical setting while ensuring the wedding venue can fully deliver the jobs and economic benefits which are important for the local area.”