What We Do
The Bath Preservation Trust was set up in 1934 to safeguard the historic city of Bath. Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the only complete city in the UK afforded World Heritage Status. The purposes of the Trust are:
- to encourage and support the conservation, evolution and enhancement of Bath and its environs within a framework appropriate both to its historic setting and its sustainable future, and
- to provide educational resources which focus on the architectural and historic importance of the city.
The Trust receives no statutory funding and is supported by around 1400 members who share a passion for the city and its environs.The Trust also runs or helps to run four of the best museums in Bath.
The Trust campaigns tirelessly on behalf of the city of Bath and its historic environment. One of our mainstays is the Architecture and Planning Committee, a group of unpaid people assisted by the Trust’s own Conservation Officer who offer their time and considerable expertise to try to ensure that the city’s unique environment gets the best possible deal, this includes support for high quality new developments provided they are harmonious with the character of the city.
Applications for development and alterations to historic buildings are monitored and examined in detail every fortnight. The Committee welcomes involvement in the development process as early as possible.
Some issues attract much public attention and cause big headlines in the city. Others which are just as important threaten to slip by unnoticed, whether due to their complexity, their perceived lack of sexiness, or sometimes simply a lack of public awareness. The Trust aims to give its attention to all these issues and to work alongside the Council, architects, developers and other interested parties to achieve the best possible outcome, while remaining aware of the challenges of living modern life in an ancient historic environment.
For details of individual ongoing campaigns, please visit the Campaigns section.
In addition to campagining the Trust works with the Council in developing policies and practices to enhance the City’s status as a World Heritage Site. Much time is devoted to the development and review of the Council’s planning policies.