16 Margaret’s Buildings, City Centre

16 Margaret’s Buildings is a Grade II c1770 shop with a C19th shopfront within the Bath conservation area and World Heritage site. It forms part of the contextual landscape of significant Grade I features such as The Circus and Brock Street.

BPT does not object to the internal changes proposed to 16 Margaret’s Buildings. We support the use of contemporary finishes such as the use of glass panel flooring to render elements of the space such as the basement more functional, whilst utilising a recommended ‘light touch’ approach. The D&A Statement highlights that the floor has been replaced within the last thirty years, and therefore there will be no significant loss of historic fabric.

We view the reinstatement of the original lightwell, and the replacement of roof lights with conservation alternatives, as a positive change that will enhance the use and appearance of a listed building whilst having a negligible effect on the conservation area.
However, the Trust requests more information regarding the removal of paint from the shopfront and consequent redecoration. It is unclear as to whether 16 Margaret’s Buildings will be decorated in a like-for-like style; we would require any proposed new designs with regards to colour palettes and frontage styles to best assess how this would affect the appearance of a listed building and a sensitive region of the conservation area and World Heritage site.

Furthermore, there is no mention of a Change of Use within any current application associated with this building. We would need to be provided with the intended Change of Use and associated justification before we could make a fully informed judgement. Therefore, this application is incomplete, and will need further suitable documentation added before it can be allowed to progress.