Museum gallery alterations at Museum Of Barnstaple And North Devon, Barnstaple

“The Museum is located at the north east end of the Grade I listed Barnstaple Long Bridge, on the edge of the commercial core of Barnstaple and within the Conservation Area of Barnstaple. The building sits on a prominent site with the River Taw to the south west, the Long Bridge to the north west/south west, The Square and town centre beyond to the north and The Square to the north east and Taw Vale to the east.”

“The building is two storey red brick with stone dressings and a slate hipped roof with decorative dormers of varying scale on each elevation. There is an adjoining smaller scale brick building to the northwest of the main building that is presumed to have been a coach- house. The building presents formal fairly distinctive decorative elevations to the north-east, south-east and south-west, but a more informal elevation on the north- west side.”

“Reference Number Proposal Decision Decision Date 46316 LISTED BUILDING CONSENT FOR RESTORATION OF CLOCK TOWER at THE ALBERT MEMORIAL CLOCK TOWER, THE SQUARE, BARNSTAPLE, DEVON, EX328LN LB (EXECUTIO N WORKS) APPROVAL 2 May 2008 45278 LISTED BUILDING APPLICATION TO REPOSITION STONE PLINTHS, DECORATIVE FISH LIGHTING UNITS & GATES at THE MUSEUM OF NORTH DEVON, THE SQUARE, BARNSTAPLE, EX328LN FINALLY DISPOSED OF 31 December 2012 57937 LISTED BUILDING CONSENT FOR INTERNAL &…”

“Reference Number Proposal Decision Decision Date INCLUDING ALTERATIONS TO EXISTING BUILDING, DEMOLITION OF COVERED SERVICE YARD & PARTIAL DEMOLITION OF BOUNDARY WALL ADJACENT TO THE LONG BRIDGE)) AND APPROVAL OF DETAILS IN RESPECT OF DISCHARGE OF CONDITION 4 (BRICKWORK) AND CONDITION 5 (ROOF TRUSS) ATTACHED TO LISTED BUILDING CONSENT 64445 (LISTED BUILDING APPLICATION TO VARY CONDITIONS 2 (APPROVED PLANS) & 4 (BRICKWORK) ATTACHED TO LISTED BUILDING CONSENT 62192 (TWO STOREY…”

“The existing floor is historic, as evidenced by the materials. I accept that it is not known exactly when it was inserted. Its removal will cause a degree of harm to the significance of the listed building. Balanced against this, however, are the benefits. The floor structure has been assessed as inadequate, even for the stored items which it currently supports, so it will need to be strengthened.”

“We are therefore in a position whereby the Local Planning Authority need to weigh the harm caused to the listed building against the public benefits of the scheme as per the requirements of the NPPF at paragraph 215. This will be considered in the conclusion below.”

“Reply Received: 18/07/2025 The Barnstaple Town Council, Planning and Transportation Committee on Wednesday 16th July 2025 made the following recommendation: RESOLVED to approve the application (NC)”

“The Committee considered a report by the Lead Planning Officer (North) (circulated previously) regarding planning application 80349.”

“That an informative note could be added to the decision notice regarding retaining floor joists and flooring where possible.”

“RESOLVED (unanimous) that the application be APPROVED as recommended by the Lead Planning Officer (North) and that an informative note be added to the decision notice regarding retaining floor joists and flooring where possible.”

“This Listed Building Consent is granted subject to the condition that the works to which it relates must be begun not later than the expiration of three years beginning with the date on which the Consent is granted.”

“A photographic record of each stage of the floor removal hereby approved shall be undertaken and an annotated and scaled plan prepared showing the floor in-situ and both records shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to the first use of the room to which it relates.”