Floor strengthening works at Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham

“DESCRIPTION OF SITE AND PROPOSAL 1.1 The Pittville Pump Room, built 1825 – 1830, is a Grade I listed building, built in the Greek revival style. It represents a local landmark noted as a nationally significant building. It formed part of a wider plan of the Joseph Pitt (1759 – 1842) to develop a new spa well and spa town in Pittville. It is located in Pittville Park and is within Central Cheltenham Conservation.”

“22/00340/LBC 22nd April 2022 GRANT Various repairs works 22/01439/FUL 21st October 2022 REF Temporary change of use of land for up to two years for the siting of an orangery structure to be used as a cafe and the siting of ancillary toilets and storage facility 23/00372/FUL 16th June 2023 PER Temporary change of use of land for up to 20 months for the siting of an orangery structure to be used as a cafe and the siting of ancillary toilets and storage facility (Revised…”

“26/00736/DISCON 10th June 2026 DISCHA Discharge condition 5.(Oak Floor Boards) of Listed Building Consent 25/00954/LBC.”

“The scope of works covers the final construction of the floor strengthening work. As per the previous LBC application, the works were essential to enable future high-level surveys and conservation work using a MEWP, thus avoid scaffolding areas of the interior as previously undertaken to date. New timber joist were fixed throughout the main hall to the original timber joists, either to one or both sides of each joist.”

“CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 6.1 With the exception of timber defects, the existing substructure has been retained, with minimal intervention for the replacement of like for like timber where necessary. The replacements are clear, later additions which do not affect the legibility of the building. The retrospective works are considered justified to enable conservation of the high-level original fabric of the building via MEWP access.”

“Under Listed Building Consent (25/00954/LBC) full consultation was undertaken (no comments were received). As the works under the floor boards within this application did not affect the special character or appearance of the listed building and as the works were retrospective, no consultation was undertaken.”

“In response to Members’ questions, officers confirmed that: - Strengthening work has taken place to the apse but not to the same degree as in the main hall. The main hall will now be able to take the load of the cherry picker to allow the ceiling to be accessed. The apse will not be able to take that load so work in that area will need to be carried out using scaffolding towers. This will not limit the use of the apse for functions.”

“Councillor Oliver put forward a motion to accept the officer’s recommendation to grant the listed building consent.”

“Voted UNANIMOUSLY for the motion to grant.”

“The matter then went to the vote on the motion to grant in line with the officer recommendation:”