61 St John’s Road, Bathwick, Bath

61 St John’s Road forms part of an unlisted early to mid-20th century semi-detached residential dwelling, forming part of a wider contemporary streetscape of similar semi-detached housing, situated within the Bath City-Wide Conservation Area and World Heritage Site. The property as existing retains the use of single-glazed timber sash windows, though there are examples of uPVC elsewhere within this streetscape context.

BPT is supportive in principle of the opportunity for energy retrofit of Bath’s existing housing stock and we welcome the opportunity for the thermal upgrade of the building, including the proposed replacement of the existing single glazed windows.

We regret that we are unable to support the use of uPVC sash windows within the conservation area, where this would be of detriment to the traditional material palette and appearance of the area, and the wider townscape setting of the conservation area.

Where we continue to campaign for the retrofit of Bath’s existing buildings, we therefore recognise the need to carefully consider the planning balance between the resulting public benefits of the proposed glazing upgrades, including the improved thermal efficiency of the building, reduced heating costs for residents, and contributions towards the council’s net zero objectives, and the perpetuation of an inappropriate material within Bath’s townscape and resulting detriment to local character. We question whether a compromise could be struck, such as the consideration of timber or composite timber double glazing.