39 High Street, Upper Weston

39 High Street is an unlisted mid-19th century detached commercial building, previously part of a semi-detached pair, situated within the Upper Weston area of the Bath conservation area and World Heritage Site. It is a rare survivor of Upper Weston’s Victorian high street, although with significant Edwardian alterations to the frontage such as the insertion of a stone mullioned window and the removal of its pitched roof profile, and therefore can be considered to be of local social, historic, and evidential value.

In principle, the Trust supports the improvement of existing residential accommodation within Bath. We encourage the reactivation of the ground floor commercial unit and feel this would preserve and enhance the streetscape within the conservation area.

This proposal could potentially be a high quality, contemporary addition to the Upper Weston high street. We are supportive of the use of a contemporary yet recessive extension that function as an ‘honest’ addition rather than attempting to replicate how the building originally looked.

We feel this proposal in principle constitutes a high quality design that appropriately draws on the building’s history and its local context. However, the success of the scheme will be in the execution of construction, materials and detail. We suggest that further detailed sections and material specifications are submitted to the case officer to ensure a high standard of appearance and clarify some aspects of the design, such as the rear stair access to the upper floor maisonette.