The Planning for the Future White Paper (published in August) sets out a number of controversial changes to the planning system including; stripped back local plans, zonal planning, top down housing targets, more permitted developments, scrapping Section 106 agreements and replacing with a national infrastructure levy which can fund affordable housing, design codes and new…
Bath Preservation Trust has today announced an emergency grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund which provides four months of financial support to allow for the opening of some of the Trust’s museum activity. At the same time the Trust is in consultation with staff about a restructure to reduce significantly the cost base of…
BPT has submitted our response to the application at the Deadmill Lane site. Our objection can be read here, or via the BATHNES planning portal (see application 20/00491/OUT). Whilst the Trust is supportive of the principle of affordable housing, we could not support the proposal on grounds of principle of inappropriate development, significant harm to the open…
It has been drawn to our attention that people have been suggesting at hustings that Bath Preservation Trust (BPT) is ‘anti’ environmental measures to increase energy efficiency to properties. These people (including potentially prospective Councillors) are misinformed. Seven years ago, two years before the Council managed to produce its own sustainable homes retrofitting guidance, BPT…
Have you an architectural design project or idea you’d like to discuss with an impartial expert? Ask an Architect is an excellent design advice service offered by the Royal Institute of British Architects in partnership with Bath Preservation Trust to support design projects in the city of Bath and our next sessions are on 27 April. Visitors are…
The Trust has very recently responded in detail to the Local Plan Issues and Options Consultation which considers options relating to the establishment of new strategic policies and amend existing policies for the region. In particular, we’ve been pleased to see proposed new policy options relating to housing and purpose built student accommodation, but we…
The Trust was delighted to hear today that both the Sydney Gardens and the Cleveland Pools restoration projects have been awarded significant Heritage Lottery funding. We have been involved as stakeholders in both projects and have been hopeful that both important historic sites would receive the money they need to regenerate and revitalise these neglected…
Today we have announced that we do not intend to proceed further with our Judicial Review of Bath Cricket Club’s proposed student housing development. Instead we will be initiating a ‘fighting fund’. The Trust initiated the Judicial Review because it believed the Council Development Management Committee erred in law in their decision making. In particular…
Bath and North East Somerset Council has now issued a decision notice granting planning permission for the Cricket Club student housing development. As you will be aware, BPT believes the decision by B&NES Development Management Committee (against officer recommendation) was flawed (read our response) and will be taking legal advice about proceeding with a Judicial…
Beckford’s Garden is a relatively intact section of historic garden terraces and walls that encircle what was William Beckford’s nursery garden just north of his house on Lansdown Crescent. The terraces themselves were used by Beckford to access the Embattled Gateway, a castellated folly which served as the entrance to Beckford’s created Picturesque landscape. Following…
