A controversial new wedding venue has breached planning rules by putting up a huge marquee – sparking noise concerns among anxious residents.

Owners of the 18th century Ripple Court Estate, near Deal, gained permission last year to hold ceremonies in a 60ft tent in the grounds of their historic home.

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

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

In a statement submitted to DDC by planning agent DHA Planning Ltd, the company states 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.”

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.

But 72-year-old Jonathan Cronk, who has lived nearby for more than three decades, feels the owners should not be trying to change their wedding permissions.

“I objected to the plans for the venue anyway,” said Mr Cronk, who has now submitted an objection comment on the latest application.

“If the marquee is up all year round this is only going to cause more noise problems for neighbours."

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.

At a DDC licensing meeting last month, where an extended alcohol licence was granted for the site, members were told how there is a noise management plan in place as "the last thing the owners want to do is disturb the residents of Ripple".

A Ripple Parish Council spokeswoman said it won’t comment until the latest planning application is discussed at its next meeting, but the authority previously objected to the plans for the venue.

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It raised concerns over noise coming from the marquee – which will host no more than 120 guests – and how “prevailing winds will blow the sound towards Ripple”.

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.

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

The owners of Ripple Court, who hope their site will become "one of Kent’s most prestigious wedding venues”, declined to comment when approached by KentOnline.