Bath & North East Somerset Council’s planning team has granted retrospective permission for work on two Grade II listed properties at Upper Weston that are in local authority ownership.
Wellington Buildings in Weston village
The application relating to 9 and 10 Wellington Buildings sought retrospective listed building consent “for works completed without permission, in relation to but not in accordance with or additional” to an application permitted in 2016.
The retrospective application involved:
- Ceiling and wall plaster repairs
- Part re-rendering of rear walls
- Replacement rainwater goods and vents
- Retention of en-suite bathrooms
- Retention of doors
- Re-pointing of stonework.
The council had received five letters of objection, highlighting points including that “the works are a criminal offence on these buildings” and: “This is not only unlawful but a serious breach of trust. Those responsible must be held accountable, and the council has a duty to ensure that such actions are not overlooked or quietly ignored.
“Works had been carried out without consent, and it was decided not to notify any cabinet member or to rectify the work.”
It was also said that “the council must not appear to treat itself more leniently than it would a private developer”.
It was pointed out: “The council should not simply sweep the issue under the carpet, it should be properly addressed to ensure it doesn’t happen again. This application should be withdrawn and sent to English Heritage.
“The original specification and final account should be reviewed by an independent body.”
In a report analysing the application, council planning officers decided: “The proposals would be an acceptable alteration to the listed building to address previous works and they would preserve its significance as a designated heritage asset.”
They said photos of the building’s interior and exterior from prior to the commencement of the previous listed building application works had been provided “and demonstrate the near total loss of fabric from the interior of the building resulting in an interior with little fabric significance”.
In response to the objections raising concerns with the process for determining the application, the planning officers said in their report: “The Local Planning Authority is required to assess applications independently and in accordance with legislation and national policy. There is no alternative process for council application.”
The report also corrected an error as part of the application which said the buildings had permission to be HMOs.
This week, the Echo invited the council to comment on the controversy of the retrospective application.
