Plans to "squash" two homes in around a beloved tree, turn an empty supermarket into space to store clothes, and preserve a historic cottage are among the schemes people are trying to get planning permission for in Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset.

Every week, the two neighbouring unitary authorities receive hundreds of planning applications and we have selected some of the most interesting proposals.

All planning applications are available for public inspection on the respective council's website. Most plans will be decided by council planning officers, but some of the most significant or contentious will go before the councils' planning committee.

Planning committees are made up of elected councillors but decisions should be decided based on the council's planning policies, not local politics — although it doesn't always turn out that way.

Two homes could be built by beloved tree

Plans to build two homes next to a beloved Maple tree in Nailsea have been panned by neighbours.

Developers want to build two homes on a small grassy area on Trendlewood Way in Nailsea, opposite Avening Close. A major development is already happening on the field behind and neighbours have criticised the move.

Submitting an objection on North Somerset Council's planning portal, one person wrote: "You'll be removing the last vestige of green space in this area impacting quality of life for current neighbours already dealing with significant development."

Another person warned: "I don't believe you can construct two properties without damaging roots. Squashing two properties with small gardens and parking creating more cars to park on the road is just going to cause bigger issues for the Trendlewood area."

A document submitted with the plans said: "Working space on site will be extremely tight so good planning will be necessary to ensure [the tree] does not become damaged by the process."

Fencing would be erected around the tree and the houses would be located outside of its roots protection area, it would be crossed by one of the driveways. The drive would be constructed without digging to avoid damage to the roots.

Both homes would be two-storey houses, with one having two bedrooms and the other three.

You can view and comment on the plans here: https://planning.n-somerset.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=S7Q0LJLPIBR00

Empty Bath supermarket could become clothes warehouse

A former Iceland in the centre of Bath used to store cool clothes instead of frozen food.

The supermarket next to Southgate in Bath closed down in April 2022 and the shop has sat vacant ever since. Now, the nearby Zara shop hopes to re-use the space as a stockroom so they can expand their shop floor.

A statement submitted with their planning application to Bath and North East Somerset Council said: "This storage space would be used as a stockroom for the existing retail unit. The existing back of house storage space within the Zara retail unit would be repurposed as retail floorspace, effectively creating a larger retail unit."

Black vinyl film with no branding would be applied to the inside of the shop's windows.

You can view and comment on the application here: https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/webforms/planning/details.html?refval=24%2F00574%2FFUL#details_Section

Plan to preserve historic Somerset cottage

Major plans to preserve a historic cottage could see it completely re-rendered.

Causeway House in Yatton dates back to the 1600s, as a humble cottage with just two rooms downstairs and two upstairs and possibly no glass in its windows. It has seen a number of extensions and alterations over the years but remains one of few buildings of its age in the area.

But now work needs to be done to preserve it. A statement submitted with a planning application to North Somerset Council said: "The render on the house and outbuilding is cracked and, in some places, missing. The paint is also badly weathered. The flat roof above one of the rear bay windows is loose and water has penetrated its wooden structure. Some of the gutters to the rear, particularly above the bay windows, has rusted through.

"All these issues are resulting in damp problems."

The statement said: "It is therefore important to conduct repairs to mitigate these risks and help preserve the property for the long term."

There is currently a cement based render on the house, but this could be totally removed with a natural hydraulic lime render — the historic practice for such old buildings — applied instead. The statement said: "This will restore an historical finish for long-term preservation, with no change to the external appearance."

The renovation will also replace a flat roof and update the gutters.

You can view and comment on the application here: https://planning.n-somerset.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=S863MWLPIPD00