Council fails in bid to protect historic Yeovil buildings

AN attempt to protect historic buildings - which were used as the forerunner to Yeovil’s most important employer AgustaWestland – has failed.

Notification of demolition of buildings at the rear of the bus garage on the Reckleford dual-carriageway was submitted to South Somerset District Council by the owner several months ago and planning permission was granted in November 2013.

The council, as the Local Planning Authority, has limited powers in resisting demolition notifications but the planning officer Simon Fox was aware that these buildings - formerly known as the Nautilus Works - were locally significant as the original site of the Petters Engineering company, a forerunner to Westlands.

Petters produced the UK’s first internal combustion engine motor car at the Nautilus works and at one stage 500 people were employed at the factory.  The buildings were also considered to be of architectural importance.

For these reasons, the council submitted a request to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to have the Nautilus Works buildings added to the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest.

English Heritage has carried out an assessment of the group of buildings - including the bus garage - on behalf of the Government and has concluded that the buildings are only of local historic importance and whilst architecturally interesting, are not sufficiently distinctive or intact to justify them being given protection.

A spokesman for the council has told Yeovil Press today (Wednesday, February 26, 2014) that the authority has been left disappointed at the judgement.

But added: “Our officers will work with any future developers to achieve a scheme of an appropriate quality for this prominent town centre site.”

A letter to the applicants – W. D. Stirling Ltd – sent be planning officer Mr Fox back in November 2013 said that despite the council giving planning permission for the buildings to be demolished, it had received a number of messages from people highlighting their industrial significance.

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