13 Stall Street, City Centre

13 Stall Street is an unlisted mid-19th century building situated within the core of the Bath conservation area and World Heritage Site. It is located on the corner of Stall Street and Abbeygate Street, with its rear elevation on Swallow Street functioning as a service access.

With regards to the proposed glazed back of house door on Abbeygate Street, this would form part of a functional streetscape used by pedestrians to access Abbey Green, and is therefore an aesthetically ‘active’ area. There already exists a design divide between functional shopfront and back of house accesses (see Marks & Spencer example of glazed ‘public’ entrance and solid ‘private’ entrance). We suggest that this established design principle could be mirrored, such as through the use of a solid wood door in a matching style to that adjacent.

We appreciate the proposed roof mounted screen is to conceal new plant equipment. However, considering the visibility of the Swallow Street elevation from Abbeygate Street, we suggest further details are submitted to the case officer regarding the screen’s proposed height, colour, and finish (matte or reflective) to ensure an appearance that is appropriately recessive and neutral to best mitigate any potential visual harm to the amenity value and character and appearance of the central conservation area.