16 Lansdown Place East, Lansdown, Bath

16 Lansdown Place East forms the westernmost end-of-terrace property along the Grade II Georgian terrace 1-16 Lansdown Place East, situated within the Bath Conservation Area and World Heritage Site. It forms part of the complementary planned setting on the south-western approach to the Grade I Lansdown Crescent which it closely abuts to the north, separated by Upper Lansdown Mews. The area remains hugely significant in its presentation of Georgian monumental architecture and town planning, and the designed visual homogeneity and harmony throughout both Lansdown Place East and Lansdown Crescent which contributes to Bath’s World Heritage OUV. Whilst the southern end of the terrace was significantly damaged due to Blitz bombing, requiring Nos. 4-9 to be rebuilt in facsimile, the northern end of the terrace is otherwise indicated to have been retained as originally constructed in the late 18th century; an interiors survey undertaken by BPT in 1994 documents the survival of historic internal features and decoration original to the building, as well as the addition of later 19th century joinery. No. 16 retains its fine 6-over-6 timber sash windows across the principal façade which positively reinforces its original architectural appearance and finish in keeping with the wider terrace (although Lansdown Place East does display some discrepancy in the scale and placement of its first floor windows, indicating a history of later alterations). The rear elevation has been subject to later change, in keeping with its more informal backland context, with the addition of a Victorian stack extension and insertion of Venetian windows.

BPT is generally supportive of the proposed external works to the building. The retention and refurbishment of the existing windows would enable the existing windows to be retained in good condition to the long-term benefit of the listed building. Like-for-like repairs would only be undertaken where the existing windows are in too poor a condition to be retained.

It’s noted that the second floor proposed plan specifies the careful removal of secondary glazing to repair the northern window – would the secondary glazing be retained and re-fitted post repairs? We encourage the retention or upgrade of any existing secondary glazing where possible to improve the thermal efficiency of the building, as well as highlighting the potential beyond this application for further retrofit measures such as secondary glazing to be used throughout the building.

From the application, it is unclear as to whether the layers of paint at ground floor level on the north elevation have already been removed, or if it is proposed to remove the paint layers as part of this application. BPT would be supportive of the paint removal and sensitive cleaning works to reinstate the natural Bath stone ashlar façade of the building and enhance the appearance of a listed building and the group value of its wider terraced setting. Where unsympathetic, non-porous paint may have been used, its removal would be further beneficial to enabling the Bath stone to ‘breathe’ and mitigate against moisture retention and damp issues.