LPA:
Bath and North East Somerset Council
Key issues:
Listed Building; Re-development; Brownfield Site; Leisure and Tourism.
Overview:
We worked with the architects firm Buchanan Partnership, in securing consent for a mixed-use scheme on a Grade II listed pub in Temple Cloud, Somerset.
The pub had struggled to remain viable and had closed several times. However, our client was keen to retain the existing Temple Inn as a public house. Therefore its business activities needed to be diversified. A multifaceted scheme was proposed to include; the construction of a new building to provide visitor accommodation; the erection of new family dwellings; the conversion of an outbuilding and the provision of new car parking areas.
Issues:
This was a large scale regeneration and development of a brownfield site which centred on one Grade II listed building and had a second listed building within close proximity.
We also had to negotiate a recently adopted Local Plan which designated Temple Cloud as a ‘R1 Rural Settlement’. Due to the site’s close proximity to the A37, concerns about the impact of noise from the road also had to be addressed.
Solutions:
We provided wide ranging planning consultancy support with initial feasibility advice, supporting planning documentation, ran public consultation events integrating relevant feedback into the emerging plans and ensured there was a regular and positive dialogue with the case officer. We submitted both planning and listed building consent applications.
Our robust planning statement detailed how the proposed development coincided with guidance on sustainable development at national level as outlined in the NPPF, whilst complimenting local policy (ET4) in terms of scale and design so that the scheme would blend well with the existing character of the village.
Highway safety issues were satisfactorily resolved and the scheme passed the ‘Three Tests’ set out in the Habitat Regulations.
A Section 106 was also drafted to allow for financial contributions towards highway works, education and allotments.
Outcome:
Bath and North East Somerset Council concluded that:
The proposed development is considered to be an acceptable mixed use scheme providing housing and employment on a brownfield site as well as bringing a public house back into use. The impact on the Listed building is considered to cause less than substantial harm and the setting is considered to be improved.
The scheme was unanimously supported by councillors at the committee meeting.