Russell & Bromley, 16 – 17 Old Bond Street, City Centre, Bath

As part of the application, it is proposed to address ongoing issues with water ingress through the rear mansard dormers which has resulted in consequent water damage to the lathe and plaster ceiling in office no. 7. BPT is supportive of remedial works where these would target the source of the ongoing issue, rather than just addressing areas of associated damage. This would help to ensure the longer-term integrity of the building and minimise the risk of ongoing water damage to historic fabric.

However, we note that insufficient detail has been provided regarding the means of repair to the dormer. It would be beneficial to clarify this aspect of works with the case officer to establish that a longer-term and more robust repair solution has been considered which would be compatible with the material qualities of a listed building. The issue with water ingress may be indicative of a broader underlying issue such as the failure of the dormer flashing, leaking through the dormer roof, or a poorly performing parapet gutter, which should be addressed as soon as possible, implementing a ‘stitch in time’ approach.