Lulu Café, 1 Hot Bath Street, City Centre, Bath

1 Hot Bath Street (also listed as 22 Westgate Buildings) is a Grade II late 18th terraced house, now with a shop at ground floor, situated within the commercial core of the Bath conservation area and World Heritage Site. It occupies the corner junction between James Street West and Hot Bath Street with a chamfered dual frontage in Bath stone ashlar. The ground floor shopfront, indicated to be mid-19th century origin, is similarly chamfered and wraps around the corner of the building; it is a well-detailed example of a traditional timber shopfront with framing pilasters and a corniced fascia. The building was indicated to have been in established use as a shop in the 1887-1902 Goad Insurance Plans of Bath. The first floor features an attractive example of multiple layers of ghost signage which has been retained in fairly good condition and is indicative of the building’s commercial history.

The commercial shopfront character and appearance of the core of the Bath conservation area and World Heritage Site is characterised by its retained vernacular appearance, use of traditional materials and construction methods, and bespoke design approach. Consequently, shop frontages are expected to adhere to planning guidance regarding the appropriate use of materials, colours, and a lack of illuminated signage, in keeping with the wider historic character of the city conservation area and World Heritage Site.

We acknowledge the cited demand for louvres of an increased size to replace the existing louvres in the stall riser. However, the existing louvres have been rendered less obtrusive by being painted to match the established colour of the shopfront. We maintain that in this location, the use of a standardised louvre type or finish would not appropriately reflect or reinforce the appearance or special interest of the listed building. A sample of the proposed “stainless steel weather louvre” does not appear to have been submitted for consideration.

Where installation is considered acceptable, we strongly recommend that the proposed louvres are painted or finished in a matching colour to the shopfront to allow these to seamlessly blend in and minimise potential visual harm.