12 Lansdown Place East, Lansdown, Bath

Proposal
Removal of section of ground floor spine wall between front and rear rooms and installation of double paneled doors.
Our Response

12 Lansdown Place East forms part of a Grade II Georgian terrace, adjacent to the Grade I Lansdown Crescent. Consequently, this site forms an integral element of the Lansdown character area within the wider Bath conservation area and World Heritage site. Its material significance is enhanced by its intact survival of war damage where similar properties 4-9 Lansdown Place East were rebuilt “in facsimile”.

BPT strongly opposes this proposal which would result in the loss of historic fabric and a valuable fixture indicative of the building’s original socio-historic function. We do not consider that this harm has been demonstratively understood within this application. The alcove in the ground floor spine wall has been identified as a ‘butler’s alcove’ by the Georgian Group, and retains details such as cupboards inset within the alcove reveals and decorative plaster cornices. There is little evidence to suggest that these features of architectural interest are not historic. Architectural detailing and historic plan form would be unacceptably damaged by the insertion of double doors, and the significance of the listed building degraded. We consider the suggested occurrence of similar alterations throughout the ground floors of terraces along Lansdown Place East to be an inappropriate justification.

We have previously objected to similar proposed works at 11 Lansdown Place East in 2017; the arched niche was recognised to be a “special and distinct original feature of houses in this location, and is part of its architectural and historic significance”. We therefore maintain that the proposed insertion of double doors would result in a detrimental loss of historic fabric and undermine the extant readability of the building’s historic plan form.

This proposal would result in the loss of the historic plan form and fabric, and harm the significance of this Grade II listed building. We feel that the benefit of suggested works does not adequately justify the harm to the building’s significance. This application is contrary to the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Areas Act 1990), section 16 of the NPPF, and Core Strategy and Placemaking Plan Policies B1, B4, BD1, D1, D2, HE1, and CP6 and should therefore be refused

Application Number: 19/04051/LBA
Application Date: 13/09/2019
Closing Date: 10/10/2019
Address: 12 Lansdown Place East, Lansdown, Bath
Our Submission Status: Object