Red light for plans to extend modern house

Plans to make an “unashamedly modern” house set to replace Bath’s historic Waterworks Cottage even bigger than previously planned have been thrown out by the council.

Owners Jeremy and Sarah Flavell secured planning permission in July to replace the historic cottage (inset) on Chalcombe Way with two modern homes. The couple had already secured the right to knock down the cottage without the need for prior approval in 2022.

But a bid to get planning permission to change one of the new homes from having three bedrooms to four was turned down by the Bath and North East Somerset Council ‘s planning committee last week, where it was the penultimate item in a marathon six-hour meeting.

The footprint of the house would have been extended by 70cm to the south and 80cm to the east to allow space for the new bedroom. But objector David Metcalfe said that most people already found the planned buildings “large and intrusive”. He added: “In these circumstances, any increase in the mass of the building – however minor in the eyes of the applicant – should be confused.”

The council’s planning officers recommended the plans to expand the house be approved, but councillors voted 9-1 to go against the recommendation and reject the application.

Waterworks Cottage overlooks Chalcombe Valley and dates back to the 1850s when it was probably built as worker’s accommodation for the workers at the nearby waterworks. Although it is not listed, it has been a non-designated heritage asset locally since 2017. The demolition of the cottage has been a major point of controversy.