Garden Flat, 14 New King Street, Kingsmead

14 New King Street forms part of a group of Grade II Georgian terraced houses within the Bath conservation area and World Heritage site. Whilst its vaults do not contribute to the aesthetic or above-ground architectural significance of the building, the vaults are crucial in terms of their contribution to the historic, evidential, and social understanding of how the building was originally used, and forms part of a normally invisible yet architecturally valuable part of Bath’s subterranean Georgian streetscape. Therefore, proposals must account for the appropriate care of these spaces, if adapting them to modern utility.

The newton cavity membrane system is considered suitable to allow the space to be adapted for the intended use. However the technical information submitted refers to a Waterproof Membrane Specification which suggests that a cementitious or polymer-based solution would be used.

These impermeable materials do not allow the permeable traditional building fabric to breath or moisture to pass through; thus, moisture is displaced or trapped and frequently this can lead to problems elsewhere. We trust that officers will ensure the appropriate approach to these vaults.