75 Poplar Close, Moorlands, Bath

Poplar Close is a suburban, post-war housing estate situated within the Bath World Heritage Site and the indicative townscape context of the conservation area. The area is of a medium density, with some examples of four storey accommodation blocks mixed with two storey terraced dwellings. This perceived density is reduced by the beneficial incorporation of landscaping throughout the site; dwellings are set back from the roadside with front gardens, grassed verges, and tree planting. Green areas allow for pedestrian access between streets. The estate forms part of the wider ‘Garden City’ movement implemented in residential developments along the southern residential periphery in Bath through the 20th century, and the retention of generous green spaces throughout the estate are of notable visual and residential amenity.

BPT has previously opposed the proposed introduction of further hard landscaping in this area (see 19/00794/FUL & 19/00260/FUL) due to considered harm to the attractive green character of this garden suburb as follows:

“The distinct and appealing character of this post war suburban street is for grassy front gardens with pathways leading to front doors. There are no other parking bays punched into these green front gardens. There appears to be ample unrestricted parking on the street. We feel it would be a great shame if the unaltered rhythm and attractiveness of this garden suburb arrangement was harmed by the installation of a hard landscaped bay.”

We note potential for this to establish a harmful precedent for similar proposals which could erode the green, landscaped quality of this and other ‘Garden City’ developments around Bath.

Proposals were previously refused on grounds that “development would have demonstrable harm on the visual amenity of the locality and to the appearance of this block of terraced dwellings.” We maintain that the current proposals would have the same visual impact, and as such this application should be refused on the same grounds.