7 Bathwick Hill, Bathwick, Bath

7 Bathwick Hill is a Grade II early 19th century detached villa situated within the Bath conservation area and World Heritage Site. It forms part of the setting of a high concentration of Grade II villas and terraces following Bathwick Hill south-east, and marks an area of 19th century suburban development designed to purposefully embody a semi-rural, looser form of development with significant views out to the south and west. 7 Bathwick Hill is a two storey, slightly smaller example of Bathwick’s villa typology, with a balanced three bay façade and later, flanking additions of varying heights. The single storey garage to the right of the villa dates to the 1970s and is of no historic or material value.

We have some concerns regarding the apparent, ‘separated’ nature of the proposed ground floor extension, including bathroom facilities and a separate front door access via the glazed lobby. We feel this could be indicative of potential short-term or holiday lets, rather than functioning as ancillary to the primary residential use of the ground floor of the building. The subdivision of the site into multiple residential uses would be counter to the detached villa layout of the streetscape and would not be appropriate; we therefore strongly encourage a Condition to be attached to any forthcoming consent ensuring that the use of the extension remains interconnected with the domestic function of the villa building.

We remain opposed in-principle to the use of render on prominent or principle street-facing elevations, particularly within the setting of a listed building and the conservation area. The extensive use of render would have a sharp and bright appearance within Bath’s primarily natural Bath stone context, and would therefore would neither conserve nor enhance the appearance and character of the conservation area. BPT maintains that all elevations should be natural Bath stone ashlar, or could be painted in a colour to match the villa building.