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. The Grade II* mid-18th century building has been vacant since 1986 and is currently on the national Heritage at Risk register.
We have continued to advocate for this fine building to be brought back into a use appropriate to its significance to secure its upkeep and survival. In 2013, we previously encouraged the refurbishment of the building for public use, but had some concerns about the proposed scale of bar use on the ground floor. We have submitted our response reiterating the need to bring this significant local building back into public use; however, we maintain some concerns regarding the proposed scale of bar use on the ground floor and the treatment of internal historic fabric as part of the proposed conversion works.
BPT is eager to see this building brought back into public use with much-needed maintenance and repair to ensure the continued material health and integrity of a Grade II* building. Unfortunately the building has remained vacant despite a chain of consents dating back to 2010 for a proposed change of use. The building is in desperate need of essential repair and maintenance works; should consent be granted, we urge that this is acted upon and works go ahead to ensure the repair and stabilisation of this important local building.
You can read our consultation response in full here.
We published an open letter about the future of the Old King Edward’s School in November 2020; you can read it here.
(Image Credit Casper Farrell @BrilliantBath)