Former Ministry Of Defence Ensleigh, Granville Road, Lansdown

The proposed site for this application is located adjacent to Lansdown Road, outside of the Ensleigh residential development. Whilst the Ensleigh site is not within the Bath conservation area, the bank on which the proposed signage will be mounted sits within the conservation area boundary, and forms part of the overall World Heritage site and its setting. The signs will be located opposite the Grade II Lansdown Cemetery associated with Beckford’s Tower, a Grade I late Georgian tower built for the use of William Beckford.

In principle, BPT does not object to the intended design or materials of the signs. However, we feel that the roadside in this area is already excessively cluttered with advertising for the site, leading to a messy appearance that is of detriment to this portion of the conservation area, particularly when considering its largely green, rural character. We do not feel that the need for additional signage is justified when considering the density of existing advertising around both Beckford Drive and Granville Road, as well as along the entirety of Lansdown Road.

Therefore, in accordance with the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, section 12 and 16 of the NPPF, and Policies B1, BD1, CP6, D9, D10, and HE1 of the Core Strategy and Placemaking Plan, we feel that the addition of more signage along this popular and well-used route into Bath city centre would be a detriment to the character of the conservation area, and would further perpetuate the negative, cluttered appearance of the roadside. This application should be reconsidered accordingly to improve the appearance of Ensleigh’s roadside frontage.