Plans to expand Bath’s Christmas market to Milsom Street have been given the official go-ahead.

Visit Bath will place 24 chalets and two food stalls along Milsom Street for eighteen days this winter, and again in 2019. The move has been prompted by major renovation works planned in Abbey Churchyard, Kingston Parade and around Bath Abbey, as well as York Street and Swallow Street, meaning some stallholders will be displaced.

The Milsom Street plans include “robust” defences to stop terrorists using vehicles as weapons – and only ambulances, police cars and fire engines will be allowed through.

Recommending approval, Bath & North East Somerset Council planning officers said: “The event brings significant economic benefits to the city and any detrimental visual impact is temporary.

“The market results in a significant spend both at the market, and at nearby businesses such as shops, restaurants and visitor accommodation. These benefits are considered to outweigh the harm.”

The Bath Preservation Trust had questioned the logic of cluttering a primary shopping street and said the stalls would have been better placed in the “artisan” Walcot Street, where it said businesses are suffering footfall problems. It added: “It is clear Milsom Street needs no promotion as a shopping area but Walcot Street does.”

Bath Heritage Watchdog voiced concerns that “essential” disabled parking spaces were being lost, and said moving the bus stop for the park and ride service from Lansdown would impact on elderly and less mobile visitors.

The planning officers said additional parking spaces for blue badge holders will be provided in the Broad Street Car Park adjacent to Milsom Street and the park and ride stop will still be in a central location.

They said the spread of the market over a greater footprint will encourage visitors to more areas of the city contributing positively to the vitality of the area.

Across Bath, the Christmas market will feature 168 retailers, fifteen catering units and one temporary inside venue. Visit Bath’s application says an estimated 409,000 people visited the market over the eighteen-day period in 2017, bringing a £29.4 million boost to the city’s economy – up forty per cent on 2016.

The plans say: “As one of the South West’s largest open public access events, Bath Christmas market will be establishing a robust vehicle access plan.

“As the market footprint develops and expands into new areas of the city, considerations will be made to all areas of vulnerability. It is recognized that a vehicle offers a convenient delivery mechanism for a large explosive device as well as the vehicle itself being used as used as a weapon.”

Visit Bath will be using physical barriers and a city-wide radio link to share intelligence about “anything which may pose as a potential threat or issue elsewhere in the city”.

This year, the market will be open from Thursday, 22nd November until Sunday, 9th December. Giving time to set up and remove the chalets, Milsom Street will be closed will be closed to normal traffic from Monday, 19th November until Monday, 10th December.

Businesses and residents with permits will be allowed access when the market is closed. The chalets will positioned so the pavements, business doorways and window displays are clear, and there will be sufficient space for emergency vehicles to gain access.

Stallholders will be required to offer discounts at certain times to residents who have Discovery Cards, and they will be expected to decorate their chalets to a high-standard.

Visit Bath will work to “maintain a strong working relationship with local businesses and residents” throughout the event.