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12
Feb
Planners give verdict on changes to Harrogate Wetherspoon
JD Wetherspoon’s bid to make internal changes to the historic building it occupies in Harrogate has been rejected.
The pub is part of the Royal Baths, a grade two listed building constructed in 1897 as a hydrotherapy centre in the spa town.
JD Wetherspoon applied to North Yorkshire Council for listed building consent to install new handrails to the stairs and new balustrade to the balconies, as reported here.
But the council has now refused the application.
Its decision notice, published this week, said:
The proposed handrails and metal and glazed balustrade would have a harmful impact to the character and original design intent of the Winter Gardens staircase and associated design scheme.
The proposed would neither preserve nor enhance the character of significance of the interior of the Winter Gardens. The harm is not outweighed by public benefit.
The Winter Gardens, which was part of the Royal Baths complex, is the name given to the Wetherspoon building.
Harrogate Civic Society told the council the Royal Baths and the entrance to the Winter Gardens was “a very important, valued and historic building in Harrogate”.
It said “the desire or necessity for these additions to the Winter Gardens stone entrance staircase has been well over a century coming” and that the proposed handrails would “match that already in situ” and would not damage “the historic aesthetic of the handsome stone stairway”.
But the heritage group added:
The balustrading though is an inelegant obtrusion above the grand stone balustrading. We appreciate that it is of a simple design and uses glazed panels to allow the quality of the original building to be viewed, but it is nevertheless a distraction from the style and design of the building in general.
It added the balustrading would “protrude uncomfortably above the fine original stonework” and suggested the pub company considers an alternative.
It must now decide whether to resubmit fresh plans.
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