19 Gay Street, City Centre, Bath

19 Gay Street forms part of a Grade I mid-18th century terrace of townhouses by John Wood the Younger, situated within the Bath conservation area and World Heritage Site. It forms the indicative setting of a high concentration of Grade I and Grade II segments of 18th century terrace up Gay Street. It remains a significant aspect of Bath’s monumental architecture and Georgian Town Planning OUV that provides direct views between the Grade I The Circus and the Grade I Queen Square.

The D&A Statement describe part of the proposed works as “the removal of the existing timber roof structure and insulation, which is not fit for purpose and structurally unsound”, with only the structure of front mansard slope and dormer windows to remain in-situ. We query the potentially extensive and materially invasive scale of works, and suggest that further structural details are provided, such as an appropriate survey by an accredited professional, to justify the extent of works and associated likely loss of historic fabric. Currently, this application does not provide an adequate level of detail proportionate to the proposed scale of works and the associated significance of a Grade I building.

The principle of the replacement of asbestos slates with natural Spanish slate is considered acceptable.