Builder in Bath.

Working in Bath isn't like working anywhere else in the South West. World Heritage Site status, B&NES planners, listed Georgian terraces, Bath stone everywhere — the rules are stricter and the materials are specific. We've been doing it for years.

Local context Council: B&NES (Bath & NE Somerset)
Coverage: BA1 + BA2
Drive from Trowbridge: 25 mins
Conservation: most of the city
Common: Bath stone listed terraces

Bath stone-matched extension in Lansdown

Lansdown · BA1

§ How we work in Bath

The honest truth about building in a World Heritage city.

Most of central Bath is in the World Heritage Site. Almost every property within the BA1 ring is in a conservation area, with a meaningful percentage Grade II or Grade II* listed. That changes everything: which materials you can use, which alterations you can make, how long planning takes, and how much detail B&NES want to see.

It's also why builders without conservation experience tend to come unstuck in Bath. We've worked extensively in Lansdown, Bathwick, Widcombe, Bear Flat, Larkhall, Combe Down and Twerton — period property work, listed terraces, Georgian extensions, stone matching, lime-mortar repointing.

If your property is listed or in a conservation area, we'll be honest at the quote stage about what's likely to get past the Conservation Officer and what isn't. Better to know early than spend £4k on drawings that get refused.

§ Bath specifics

What we know about building here.

B&NES planning

Stricter than Wiltshire. Conservation Officers care about scale, rooflines, materials and sight lines from public viewpoints. Allow 10–14 weeks for full planning, longer if Listed Building Consent is needed.

Bath stone matching

For visible elevations on listed or conservation-area properties, we source matched Bath stone from local quarries (Hartham Park, Stoke Hill). Reclaimed stone from a similar period is often preferred. Lime mortar, never cement.

Listed terraces

Most listed work in Bath is Georgian or Regency terrace stock. Common projects: full refurbishment, sash window replacement (matched profile only), basement excavation, internal reconfiguration with LBC. Not for the faint-hearted.

Steep sites & retaining walls

The hills around Bath mean a high proportion of properties have sloping gardens. Retaining walls in Bath stone, terracing, and complex drainage are common. We've built retaining walls up to 2.4m in residential settings.

§ Recent Bath projects