4 Darlington Place, Bathwick, Bath

4 Darlington Place forms part of a Grade II section of early 19th century terraced dwellings, situated within the Bath conservation area and World Heritage Site. The building forms part of the grouped value and setting of other individually Grade II listed terraced dwellings along Darlington Place. Whilst there is a greater diversity of height, architectural detailing, and material additions and extensions to the southern end of the terrace, 1-7 Darlington Place remain unified in their strong visual uniformity and balance, and use of defining features such as a two storey ‘stack’ on the principal elevation as part of the main access to each dwelling. The rear elevation is set above Sydney Buildings on a steep east-west slope towards the Kennet & Avon Canal, and as such form a grand and commanding presence within the streetscape with direct pedestrian access onto Sydney Building’s Grade II high pavement. There is greater diversity in later alterations along the west elevation with a number of conservatory-style ground floor extensions present along the terrace; changes to the lower floors are largely concealed by the terrace’s elevated position, and deep setback from the road within long strip plot gardens.

We note that the proposed intersection of the new conservatory extension with the main building would ‘cut through’ the keystone detailing over the ground floor sash window and door reveal. We query whether there could be an opportunity to minimise impact on historic detailing, potentially by pushing the pitched roof connection further up to sit below the sill band, or by restricting fixings to the mortar joints rather than the stonework.

We recommend that further information is submitted regarding the proposed works to the boundary wall. From the proposed drawings, it appears that these would be built up in height to the north and south, but there appears to be a marginal increase in the wall thickness and the addition of a new stone coping. We therefore maintain that further details regarding the proposed works methodology and material finish should be included as part of this application.