A city centre shop is being temporarily propped up after “serious structural movement” was found.
Dr. Martens on Union Street in Bath | Image © Google Street View / Google 2024
In an application seeking listed building consent, the acrow props in the shop space of Dr. Martens at 20 Union Street are said to be “a very short-term solution, and a permanent repair is needed to maintain the integrity and fire safety of the building”.
The plan is to replace the timber beams above the shop as they are “overloaded and heavily decayed, resulting in serious structural movement”.
A structural report says the damage is due to a long-term water leak going unnoticed but in any event the timber beams are “inadequate” for the existing loads.
Due to water then getting in during the recent Storm Bert, and a blocked pipe at basement level, damage occurred to all levels, particularly at the shop floor and in the basement, which was flooded up to 10cm.
The report says an inspection “highlighted the same issue whereby water was entering the building behind hidden false walls that due to the severity of the storm caused greater immediate damage in addition to that caused over a long period”.
Since then there have been further investigations and Bath & North East Somerset Council is now being asked to approve plans to replace the beams and carry out repair work at the Grade II listed building.
It is proposed that internal hoardings will be used to close the rear of the shop safely from the front, which will continue to be in use during the work.
The planning reference is 24/04600/LBA and any comments on the proposals must be sent to the council by 17th January.
