The government has consulted on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to implement policy changes in response to the Building Better Building Beautiful Commission Living with Beauty report. Changes set out a greater emphasis on beauty and local distinctiveness and calls for poorly designed developments to be refused. Other amendments include greater reference to…
New plans (see planning applications 21/00695/LBA & 21/00692/VAR) have come forward for the conversion of the Old King Edward’s School into a hotel with ground floor restaurant and bar use, with associated material changes to the interior. These are the latest in a string of planning consents for the building’s change of use since 2010….
Bath Preservation Trust is inviting local residents to submit their images of the city, taken during one of the most extraordinary times in the city’s 2,000-year history. The project has been launched to document the experiences of local people and how the three periods of lockdown affected the streets and landscape in and around Bath….
Following an online public consultation in September 2020, a revised application (20/04760/EFUL) has been submitted for the redevelopment of the former Bath Press site, an early 20th century ‘Non-Designated Heritage Asset’ of local significance. A housing scheme was permitted in 2016. This was followed by the demolition of the Bath Press and stabilisation of the…
A planning application (20/03255/FUL) for the erection of a 23.4m monopole at Larkhall Sports Club was permitted by Planning Committee on 10th February. Councillors acknowledged the visual impact to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Green Belt, however a slimmed down monopole design was felt to be an improvement and less visually invasive. Councillors…
We are specifically concerned that unlike some of the recent changes to permitted development, this consultation proposes that a new permitted development right to change use from Commercial, Business and Service (Class E) to residential (C3) would apply in conservation areas. Diversity is critical to the vitality and vibrancy of historic towns and shopping streets….
An appeal against the planning authority’s decision to refuse the redevelopment of the Plumb Center site to provide mixed student accommodation and light industrial space (18/05047/FUL) has been allowed. BPT objected to the scheme on grounds of (student) housing type and scale within the vernacular residential context. You can see our previous objection in full…
Proposals have been consented for the relocation of Toppings bookshop and associated alterations to the Grade II listed Friends’ Meeting House on York Street. The historic has been vacant for a long time, and the Trust welcomed the prospect of bringing it back into use. We undertook a site visit and pre-application consultation with the…
A public consultation invited initial feedback to the Bath River Line green infrastructure project to rejuvenate the river corridor through Bath, from Newbridge to Batheaston. The project will consider improvements to towpaths, parks and open spaces, and public realm directly next to the river. Consultation included designs for Brassmill Lane Park, Kelston’s Field, Norfolk…
After more than thirteen outstanding years as Chief Executive of Bath Preservation Trust, and in the last year staying on to see the Trust through the toughest days of the COVID impact, Caroline Kay has decided to step down later this spring. Caroline has worked tirelessly for the Trust and she leaves the Trust in…
