Prior Park College, Ralph Allen Drive, Lyncombe, Bath

We welcome the opportunity to activate and soften an underused and somewhat neglected space within the setting of the Grade I Prior Park College. The inclusion of cleaning and repair works where appropriate, such as to ongoing water damage and staining to the retaining Bath stone wall, would be beneficial, although we are supportive of efforts to address ongoing issues with standing water and poor drainage to address the cause of damage rather than just the symptoms.

We note that there appear to be some aspects of proposals that are as yet incomplete, such as the lack of a relevant planting plan.

When considering improvements to shared amenity spaces, we encourage that a standardised design and material approach is compiled in the form of a localised design guide or pattern book, specific to special qualities of a group of high-value Grade I buildings and their landscape context. The creation of a guide would be able to inform the selection of features such as benches, planters, bins, floor surfaces, lighting, etc. as part of ongoing and future management of the site, to ensure a coherent and standardised treatment within the building’s setting.