Plans to change the use of a historic Bath pub which has been standing empty for two years have been submitted to Bath & North East Somerset Council.
The former Chapter One brewpub on the London Road | Photo © IanRedding / Shutterstock.com
The application has been lodged by Saraj Property Limited for Chapter One brewpub at 1a Piccadilly Place.
The property is on the London Road at the junction with Hanover Street.
The proposals, which seek listed building consent, involve changing the use of part of the ground floor from a pub to commercial use and a one-bed flat, and converting the first-floor three-bed apartment into a four-bed house in multiple occupation (HMO) for eight people.
Chapter One closed on New Year’s Eve 2022 after trading for more than six years.
It is understood that the Grade II listed building dates from around 1796 and historically was The Hanover Hotel before later becoming The Britannia pub.
The application proposes a “viable new use” for the building and notes that for a variety of reasons, it does not have a “credible or economically sustainable future” as a pub.
Those reasons include its condition, the facilities it’s capable of offering as there is no outside space or commercial kitchen, the absence of any records of past trade history, external factors impacting on the trade performance of local community pubs, and the scale and nature of local competition.
The scheme will retain 85.5 square metres of commercial use which it is said will maintain a “vibrant” street frontage.
Regarding the proposed HMO accommodation, the application states that criteria checks found there would be no ‘sandwiching’ of a residential property by HMOs and the ‘concentration test’ is also met as HMO properties within a 100-metre radius do not equate to 10% or more of households.
It is also stated that the proposals will cause less than substantial harm to the listed building: “The proposals are put forward as a sensitive and thoughtful evolution of the property to make sense and maximise the use of the building in the least impactful way.”
No car parking facilities are available but the site is said to be in a highly sustainable location and secure storage for six bikes would be provided.
The planning reference is 24/04619/FUL. The deadline for comments to the council is 30th January and the council expects to make a decision in February.
