Hi-fi company Richer Sounds in planning row
A hi-fi firm says security fears led it to jump the gun on planning permission for a new store in Bath.
A heritage campaign group in the city is calling on planners to take enforcement action against hi-fi and TV store chain Richer Sounds, which has opened without formal planning consent.
The store opened in the former Porter Butt pub in London Road in mid-August, despite not having listed building consent or permission to put up signs.
Before the firm moved in, the building had been occupied by squatters.
The company has defended its decision to open, saying the threat of break-ins had prompted it to make alterations. It said all its actions had been done following talks with council planners.
But the Bath Heritage Watchdog group, which monitors changes to the city's listed buildings, wants Bath and North East Somerset Council to take a harder line with the retailer.
The organisation said on its website: "The last we heard ... was that the work taking place was essential repairs, authorised by conservation officers, to replace rotted timbers in floors and roof supports which currently make the building dangerous. Opening a retail outlet without planning permission is not what is usually regarded as essential repairs.
"Unless enforcement action is taken over this particular abuse of planning legislation, it will set a precedent for any other premises in B&NES. Attempting to enforce any similar situations in the future will leave the council open to accusations of favouritism or bias."
A spokeswoman for Richer Sounds, which said the company enjoyed "good working relationships" with planning authorities across the country, claimed the firm's hand had been forced by a series of attempted break-ins at the building.
"Squatters illegally occupied the premises earlier in the year and we subsequently had four break-in attempts following their eviction," she said. "After careful consideration and taking advice, Richer Sounds took the view that the property was under constant risk while standing vacant and so we undertook superficial repairs and redecoration to enable us to begin trading.
"We have held lengthy discussions with local authority officers on the works that have required consent, pending formal agreement.
"Richer Sounds has strived to protect this site against vandalism and disrepair and has done so with a constant and respectful dialogue with local conservation and planning, amending designs where necessary."
A spokesman for B&NES said a listed building application for the site was currently under consideration "following extensive negotiations" while an advertisement consent application had been submitted but was awaiting validation.
"No enforcement action will be taken while the necessary applications are under consideration, as the council has to be seen to be giving the applicant a fair chance to regularise the works," he said.
"Only in the event of permissions not being granted would enforcement action proceed."
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by johnwiththewind, Weston
Saturday, September 04 2010, 4:52PM
“Actually, Mark, the Bath Heritage Watchdog isn't two men and a dog in a pub, it's a load of self-opinionated, unelected nosey parkers who would like to keep the riff-raff out of Bath to keep property prices up, and think they have some sort of divine right to know better than the rest of us about anything and everything.”
by George, Chippenham
Saturday, September 04 2010, 8:36AM
“I agree with comments that the old Porter Butt is better being used than lying empty.
But tell me why refitting and carrying out building works on a listed property without planning permission is "nothing" Ian?”
by Ian, Bath
Friday, September 03 2010, 4:18PM
“Nice to see BHW cotinuing their tradition of moaning over nothing”
by Ian, Bath
Friday, September 03 2010, 4:17PM
“Nice to see that the Bath Heritage Watchdog still hasn't found anything better to do with it's time. Also a Richer Sounds in Bath? brilliant.”
by Chris, Nr Bath
Friday, September 03 2010, 1:34PM
“Why can't we just learn to ignore these self appointed nimbies like BHW and Friends of the Rec?
Well done Richer Sounds for cleaning up an eyesore, employing some people and putting some commerce into Bath!”
by rogerh, Bath
Thursday, September 02 2010, 10:09PM
“One law for the rich(er)...”
by Vernon, Bay Tree Road
Thursday, September 02 2010, 7:12PM
“"Unless enforcement action is taken over this particular abuse of planning legislation, it will set a precedent for any other premises in B&NES. Attempting to enforce any similar situations in the future will leave the council open to accusations of favouritism or bias." says BHW.
"Only in the event of permissions not being granted would enforcement action proceed." says a B&NES spokesman.
If BHW had said nothing, the public would have been none the wiser, but now we know that we can take a chance if we are confident that permission will be granted for a project. Thanks BHW.
I thought the Chronicle article about Richer Sounds opening in the August 19 edition was good too, even if the squatters did delay the opening by one month. I take it that B&NES would still be considering the plans now even if they had opened one month earlier.
Best wishes to Richer Sounds and I like the Courage golden cockerel which reminds us of the shops former life as the Porter Butt. That is heritage indeed.”
by George, Chippenham
Thursday, September 02 2010, 6:41PM
“Richer Sounds "had four break-in attempts" - the key word here being "attempts".
That the erstwhile burglars/lawbreakers weren't successful means that any excuse given on the grounds of "security concerns" is deliberately diverting, as existing security must have been more than adequate.
Not a made up objection to opening an outlet that has no permission then, Marco, Tim, Darren, but one that highlights a basic disregard for planning guidelines.
Unfortunately BHW saying "it will set a precedent for any other premises in B&NES" takes no account of the fact that the precedent has already been set in an abject failure to enforce planning regulations in Woolley Valley.
Today Woolley and the Porter Butt - in a decade a Bath no-one recognises as a World Heritage Site.”
by Darren, Bath
Thursday, September 02 2010, 4:30PM
“Tell you what, let's just leave it as a rotting boarded up old pub on a main road into Bath?? I mean are the BHW in the real world?”
by Tim, Newbridge
Thursday, September 02 2010, 3:44PM
“If they had demolished the frontage the heritage campaigners might have a point, but a bit of reversable painting can't amount to more a technical breach at the very least.”