COUNCILLORS have backed a proposed expansion of Frenchay Village Museum – against the advice of planning officers.
South Gloucestershire Council’s development management committee voted 7-0, with two abstentions, to approve a listed building application to demolish the existing single-storey extension and garage and build a single-storey rear and a two-storey side extension, with disabled toilets, onto the museum at Begbrook Park.
The council’s conservation officer said the plans would cause “substantial harm” to the historic importance of the former lodge, and recommended refusal.
But councillors gave the go-ahead after the council’s cabinet member for planning argued that the objection on conservation grounds was “total nonsense”.
Two ward councillors, Winterbourne Parish Council and 19 residents also supported the plans.
Planning permission was given in 2022 but because the building is the former estate lodge of nearby Grade II-listed Frenchay Park House, listed building consent was also required, and refused by officers last year.
Frenchay Tuckett Society, which runs the local history museum, made some changes to the designs, which members accepted in late October, despite officers’ recommendation to refuse. A fresh planning application is now needed because of the changes made to the scheme.
Society chair Hugh Whatley said that over the last 10 years, 450 homes had been built between the museum and the main listed building, on the former Frenchay Hospital site.
Cabinet member for planning Chris Willmore said she had referred the application to the committee “because the current position is a total nonsense”.
She said that for reasons unknown, the original planning application and listed building application became disconnected and received different decisions.
Cllr Willmore said: “There was a time when it would have been fantastic to keep the lodge as it is, but that ship sailed when planning consent was given for 450 houses.”
Ward councillor Raj Sood (Lib Dem, Frenchay & Downend) said: “This derelict building was brought to life by Frenchay Tuckett Society 25 years ago and I support their desire to extend it.”
Fellow ward councillor Liz Brennan (Con, Frenchay & Downend) said: “The application proposes removing an eyesore of a modern pebble-dash flat-roof garage and replacing it with an extension to the lodge.
“I want to emphasise the considerable community benefits that the museum brings to our residents and the wider area.”
Council development manager Marie Bath said: “This extension is too big and has the wrong materials.”
She said it would “result in a loss of historic character compared to the scale of the original building”.
But committee member Tony Williams (Lib Dem, Severn Vale) said “the benefits that would come from this far outweigh any harm”.
By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service