News / planning
Dome dilemma for disinclined developers
A dome that has been called “an iconic Bristol landmark” is at the centre of a long drawn-out planning dispute.
The ogee dome at the former General Hospital was part of the building overlooking Bathurst Basin when it opened in 1858 but was destroyed in a German bombing raid in 1940.
The roof remained dome-free until 2017 when a new version was constructed as part of the former hospital being turned into luxury flats.
is needed now More than ever
The new General Hospital building overlooking Bathurst Basin opened in 1858 and closed in 2012 – photo: Bristol Archives
The General Hospital as seen in 2014 with the dome still missing – photo: Google
The General comprises of flats situated in and around the Grade II listed buildings of the former Bristol General Hospital – photo: Martin Booth
In their original planning application, Essex-headquartered City & Country were given permission to recreate the dome “exactly as it was in the 1853 design”.
The dome on top of the octagonal tower in the south west corner of the building even features in the logo of the General development, which has an on-site concierge and where flats have been sold for more than £1m.
The developers, however, altered the dome’s dimensions and its windows, as well as using a synthetic cladding material instead of the approved zinc.
A case study on the installation of the dome reveals that it is coated in a glass tissue reinforced polyester fleece-backed PVC single ply roofing membrane.
Following a planning appeal in 2018, City & Country were not told to correct the dome’s dimensions but were required to use zinc cladding as had originally been stipulated.
City & Country asked for more time to complete the recladding in 2022 and 2023 but were refused, and in 2024 they decided to seek retrospective planning permission to clad with the synthetic material they had already used.
This latest application was then refused and City & Country have now lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate.
Damage is clearly visible on the dome’s outer membrane – photo: Martin Booth
In the Redcliffe West Residents’ Association submission to the planning inspector to dismiss City & Country’s latest appeal, they point out that “the plastic membrane material wrinkles and undulates in warmer weather and direct sunlight”.
Damage to the dome is clearly visible when looking up at the tower from ground level.
Friends of Bathurst Basin have also asked the Planning Inspectorate to dismiss the appeal, saying that City & Country “benefitted from the sale of additional residences following the decision to reconstruct the war-damaged roof and ogee dome”.
The friends group added that the developers “have an obligation to retain the quality of the original structure”.
The former General Hospital’s ogee dome has been called “an iconic Bristol landmark” – photo: Martin Booth
City & Country design & planning director, Simon Vernon-Harcourt, told Bristol24/7: “We are reviewing the planning appeal decision for the dome at The General.
“The original dome was lost in the Second World War, and prior to our works, there was instead a low pitch asphalt roof in its place.
“The Planning Inspector has accepted that it is appropriate for modern materials to be used in the reconstruction of lost historic features generally, but has requested that zinc or another comparable metal is used instead.
“We believe that the material used for the finish of the new dome is suitable, as it helps tell the history of the General.
“However, we will now review the decision in detail and work out the next steps.
“We will ensure that works to the dome will coincide with regular maintenance of the historic building to minimise disturbance to the residents.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
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