Tiny museum secures permission for expansion
A TINY Bristol museum has been granted permission to expand after councillors went against planning officers’ advice. South Gloucestershire Council development management committee was recommended to reject Frenchay Village Museum’s proposed two-storey extension and one-storey side extension because the “substantial scale and inappropriate design” would harm the historic former lodge and its setting.
But members voted 6-3 to approve the plans after seeing for themselves at a site visit just how near the tourist attraction is to hundreds of new homes at the former Frenchay Hospital. Officers told the meeting they were not opposed to an extension but the black vertical cladding material was not appropriate and there was “insufficient substantial public benefit” to outweigh the harm caused to the heritage asset and the conservation area.
The museum, at Begbrook Park, is classed as a “curtilage listed building” of the nearby Grade II-listed Frenchay Park House. Applicants the Frenchay Tuckett Society said the property needed to expand because of a lack of suitable storage for artefacts or a toilet.
Winterbourne parish councillor Hugh Whatley told the committee on Thursday, March 3, the museum was staffed by volunteers but ongoing help was required. He said: “It has an international reputation. The museum has amassed an impressive collection of nearly 1,000 objects and artefacts.
“Space and environmental constraints prevent the proper conservation and display of many items. Cramped spaces inhibit outreach – a school class group can’t be accommodated in one go.”
South Gloucestershire Council cabinet member and Frenchay & Downend ward Cllr Ben Burton said: “Residents of Frenchay would find it absurd that this authority could approve the building of hundreds of new homes in the grounds of the old Frenchay Hospital site but would then refuse this modest and locally supported application on heritage grounds.
“There is significant public benefit to this proposal.
“The community has demonstrated astonishing commitment to the restoration of the existing building and the development of a relatively small but significant museum.”