4 Lansdown Place East Lansdown

Object: The Trust objects to the opening out of the curved arch niche to the proposed dining room. Whilst the niche has been altered with the addition of a doorway, it still reads largely as the historical arched niche original to this room and as such is a feature of special architectural and aesthetic interest which is distinct and unique to this short row of houses. This original plan form with the closed niche in the dining room should be retained and remain legible despite the current fashion for open plan kitchen/dining. The fact that the building was bomb damaged and some elements rebuilt is not relevant given it is clear that the niche arch is a surviving original feature. We refer to the unauthorised removal of the niche wall at No.11 and the subsequent appeal which failed (the wall has since been rebuilt).
The proposed scheme would neither preserve nor enhance the special interest of the listed building and would therefore detract from the special qualities of the WHS. The scheme would be contrary to the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, Section 16 (Conserving and Enhancing the Historic Environment) of the NPPF, policies B1, B4, and CP6 of the B&NES Core Strategy and policies CP6, D2, HE1, D9, B.4, of the Placemaking Plan. We would therefore recommend the application be amended to omit this element or refused.