Change of use of former brass mill to residential use.
Kelston Mills, Near Bath
At a glance
- Site consisting of historic brass mill on the bank of the River Avon
- Site accommodates numerous listed structures relating to its historic use, with further listed buildings in the near vicinity
- Located within the Green Belt and AONB and in a highly prominent position on the bank of the river Avon
- Obtained lawful development certificate and subsequent planning permission for the site to be used as a residential property
The Brief
The client sought advice on the potential to regularise and subsequently extend the residential use of the site, including the erection of a new garage.
The Result
With the site accommodating numerous listed buildings (and with many other listed buildings nearby), not to mention the location within the Green Belt and AONB, the site is very sensitive in planning terms. However, the presence of an existing caravan at the site, which had been occupied continuously for more than 10 years, provided an opportunity to regularise a small part of the site as being in lawful residential use. This was secured by successfully obtaining a lawful development certificate from the Council. With part of the site now established as being in lawful residential use, the next stage of the project was to formalise and further extend the residential use to include the wider mill site to provide a larger garden area and a new garage. This required the submission of a full planning application. The very sensitive nature of the site meant the application was subject to significant scrutiny by the planning and conservation officers at the Council. The application was further complicated by the recent adoption of a policy requiring the delivery of biodiversity net gain in all new developments in Bath and North East Somerset. To address these issues, the GTH planning team provided robust evidence to satisfy the officers that the residential use of the site would enable the protection and long term maintenance of listed structures at the site and deliver biodiversity net gain. Full planning permission was subsequently granted by Bath and North East Somerset Council. Following the grant of permission the client provided the following testimony: 'I now write to thank you most sincerely for all your efforts on our behalf in bringing our Planning process to a successful outcome. Your persistence and expertise have been exemplary. You have argued our case with eloquence and authority. We would not hesitate to revert to you and your firm should we need assistance with any future planning matters.'
How Can We Help?
If you are wishing to sell or develop your residential, agricultural or commercial land and buildings, you can rely on the expertise of our development land, planning and architecture & design teams.
