140 North Road, Combe Down, Bath

140 North Road is a Grade II early 19th century house, now 140 and 140a North Road, situated within the Combe Down character area of the Bath conservation area and World Heritage Site. It forms part of an eclectic terrace of individually listed Grade II houses. As a whole, the terrace is modest in scale and design at two storeys with a relatively standardised 2 and 3 bay façade in Bath stone ashlar; in this respect, 140 North Road is comparatively unusual with a triple aspect corner frontage.

It is proposed that the rear extension would be constructed using “coursed ashlar Bath stone walling blocks”. However, based on the image provided as a material reference within the D&A Statement, this appears to refer to ashlar cast stone walling blocks (produced by Haddonstone). We maintain that the use of reconstituted stone is not desirable due to the material and aesthetic contrast between the colour and finish of this type of stone against the more subdued and weathered palette of Bath stone that forms part of the special architectural interest of the listed building. Further, reconstituted stone tends not to weather in the same way and retains an over-bright colour and appearance which would result in a jarring visual contrast to the main building.

We therefore maintain that the use of a natural stone within this context would be preferable and more appropriately sustain the special interest of the listed building.