Press release from Bath and North East Somerset Green Group: Ward councillors for Lambridge have received multiple concerns from residents relating to the building work on Bailbrook Lane at the former Old Nursery Site regarding the approved planning application 21/05069/FUL.
Following a prolonged period, construction of the large private dwelling on the eastern edges of Bath, next to the grade II-listed tin church, is now well underway. Concerns have been raised that aspects of the development are in contravention of the approved planning.
Councillor Saskia Heijltjes said, “Our repeated calls for Planning Enforcement to look at the Old Nursery Site in Bailbrook Lane has now secured a site visit with a professional land surveyor. Officers have reviewed the information provided by informants, and it is suspected that the developer hasn’t simply built taller in terms of adding an extra floor or extra courses of bricks (the exposed levels currently visible are intended to be backfilled in the final stages of construction), but that the ground level/foundation may be too high following insufficient excavation works into the hillside. This could mean that the building height is technically correct if measured from the current ground level, but the overall scale of the development is actually non-compliant when correctly measured from fixed datum point. Once the surveyor has taken their measurements and provided their findings, Planning Enforcement will be able to confirm the exact nature of the breach.”
The councillors understand that the Council has now been in touch with the developer and advised them that they could be required to reverse any unauthorised works and that, if they continue to build-out, they do so at their own risk.
Councillor Joanna Wright said; “We know that many residents feel frustrated by the pace of action to deal with this planning issue. As Greens we have repeatedly sought better funding within the Council for the Planning Enforcement team who we know have a workload that is beyond capacity. Yet the Lib Dems have failed to engage with us and voted down our realistic budget amendments that we have put forward. Often planning applications require proper follow up yet the backlog at B&NES dates back to 2024. This Lib Dem Administration needs to get better at supporting Planning Enforcement.”