29 Upper Oldfield Park

29 Upper Oldfield Park is an unlisted Victorian villa situated within the Bath conservation area and World Heritage site. The area is characterised by its mid-density volume, consisting of Victorian and Edwardian villas placed centrally within generous private gardens. The streetscape remains distinctly verdant despite its urban setting, and the ashlar boundary walls of private dwellings remain a feature of merit within the conservation area.

BPT opposes the movement of the front gate position, due to the centralisation of the gateway being out of character with the historic layout of this portion of the conservation area. Typically, access to the area’s Victorian/Edwardian housing stock is maintained to the side, marked with stone piers; therefore, to centralise the stone piers would be to interrupt the historic and architectural rhythm visible from the public realm with detriment to the character of the conservation area.

Therefore, we feel that this application neither preserves nor enhances the character of the conservation area, and is contrary to the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, section 16 of the NPPF, and Policies B1, BD1, CP6, D1, D2, D3, and HE1 of the Core Strategy and Placemaking Plan. We would recommend that this application is withdrawn.