An extensive range of three-storey stone buildings in one of Bath’s major roads had been in use as a furnishings store over many decades. The store took up almost the full floorplate of the site of the ground floor where structural alterations had removed many walls. Only from the two upper floors it had been Bath’s earliest workhouse.
The operator was keen to relocate to more modern edge-of-town premises. We saw his desired conversion to residential use as an opportunity to recover the former stone paved courtyard, now no longer evidenced at all in the heart of the store. A study of maps showed, prior to a post war road widening, the building’s gothic-style main frontage had been substantially obscured by a three-storey frontage block, now a car park open to the street.
Our analysis and design studies concluded restoring these two courtyards to front and to rear would be a positive enhancement of the setting and the significance of this listed building, both adding to the character of the city’s Conservation Area by restoring long-lost finer urban grain. But the local Conservation Officer disagreed, judging the subdivision of the interiors of the former Workhouse a loss that could not be supported.
When the Conservation Officer report was issued, we felt it failed to put before planning committee members the pros and cons of both points of view, so a balanced understanding of issues was before them. So, we elected to speak on our client’s behalf at planning committee to correct this deficit. Members recognised the presentation case had not done justice to the issues and supported the proposals against the officer’s advice. The conversion sold well on completion and has served to show that this city street was worthy of investment.
Since then, the Council has itself invested in public realm works and new tree planting in this challenged street. Many of the once neglected independent shops have been refurbished, bringing much more activity to these characterful frontages. Both the functional and spatial history of this early Workhouse are now on view, enriching the Bath Conservation Area through the recovery of former historic spaces as well achieving as a fully utilised building once more.