Plans have been submitted to repair and restore a Grade II listed property on Foss Street, Dartmouth, following structural damage caused by vehicle impact.

The application concerns 19 and 19C Foss Street, a three-storey terraced building with a shop and art gallery, Studio Dix Neuf, on the ground floor and a home above. It is included on the national register of listed buildings (Historic England Entry No. 1197528), which means any works require listed building consent to ensure the historic character is preserved.

According to the design and access statement lodged with South Hams District Council, the collision damaged the shopfront, leaving cracks in the rendered façade and weakening a key timber post supporting the frontage. The door frame and base of the structure also suffered deterioration.

To address these problems, the application proposes carefully dismantling parts of the shopfront, including the existing windows, door and signage, which would then be reinstated after repairs are made. The decayed timber post is to be replaced with a steel column for strength, but this would be clad in timber and painted to match the original appearance, ensuring the visual character of the building is maintained.

A small section of low-level brickwork, also affected by the impact, would be demolished and rebuilt using salvaged bricks wherever possible. Cracks in the façade render would be patched, with any necessary work to the timber structure behind carried out at the same time.

Inside, the statement confirms that restoration will be limited to repairing the affected areas, with no significant alteration to the existing layout or fabric. Materials will be reused or replaced on a like-for-like basis, in line with conservation principles.

The application stresses that the overall appearance and scale of the building will remain unchanged. The aim, it says, is to “make good” the shopfront rather than introduce new features. No landscaping or changes to access are proposed.

Once completed, the repairs would secure the safety and stability of the property while protecting its historic character in Dartmouth’s town centre.

The public can view the application and submit comments through South Hams District Council’s planning portal before a decision is made.

You can learn more about planning applications that affect YOUR neighbourhood by visiting our Public Notice Portal. The reference for this planning application is 2974/25/LBC