• Business
  • Community
  • Crime
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • What’s On
  • Traffic & Travel
  • Weather
Bath Echo
  • Tuesday 16th August 2022
  • Subscribe
  • Opinion
  • Reviews
  • Letters
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Editions
Bath Echo

Bath, GB

  • Business
  • Community
  • Crime
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • What’s On
  • Traffic & Travel
  • Weather
Home
News Headlines
Business

Fresh plans unveiled for the Bath Press site with additional 40 homes

Friday 15th January 2021 Local Democracy Reporter Business, Politics

Share
Tweet
WhatsApp
Pin
Share

Fresh plans have been unveiled for a former printworks in Bath with 40 more homes than previously proposed.

Plans for the Bath Press site | Image © Aberdeen Standard Investments

Aberdeen Standard Investments’ last vision for the former Bath Press site was to build 244 homes that would have been available on the open market, plus some office space.

Work was due to be finished by the summer of 2019, but stalled due to viability issues.

A new application submitted this week proposes build-to-rent 256 flats and 30 houses and commercial floorspace with a wide range of potential uses.

Bath and North East Somerset Council expects 30 per cent of new homes in such a scheme to be affordable – but none of the proposed properties would be.

Aberdeen Standards Investments said other approved schemes had “set a precedent for non-delivery where it has been proven not viable to do so”.

It added: “Whilst the applicant regrets not being able to provide affordable housing on site …  their focus is to actually deliver the development on a site that has seen schemes stall for viability reasons previously.

“It is important to highlight that all previously approved schemes that proposed affordable housing haven’t been delivered and therefore have failed to deliver any housing at all.”

The Bath Press building dates back to the 1880s. It has been vacant since 2007.

Demolition work got underway in 2017, leaving a large pile of rubble, but the facade of the Bath Press building is being retained.

The new proposals say an historic chimney will have to be removed.

There are no changes to the built footprint, overarching design principles, or scale and massing from the previous scheme, although the underground car park has been removed.

There would be parking for 115 cars – again less than the council expects – and 520 bikes.

The previous scheme proposed nearly 1,500 square metres of office space.

The applicant is taking advantage of new planning rules, proposing 1,200 square metres of commercial space that could be used as a shop, café, restaurant, office or for healthcare uses.

The change will “ensure the space is attractive to all potential occupiers, rather than just those seeking office space, reducing the chance of vacancy”, and create up to 54 jobs.

The plans say: “The proposed scheme would deliver the significant benefits of providing a deliverable mixed-use scheme that would meet market demands on an under-utilised brownfield site.

“It proposes an appropriate mix of new, high-quality housing, together with flexible commercial floor space.”

Bath and North East Somerset Council will decide the fate of the application.

Stephen Sumner, Local Democracy Reporter

Share
Tweet
WhatsApp
Pin
Share
Next article RUH postpones elective operations as COVID-19 pressures increase
Previous article Father and daughter urge people to follow rules after intensive care treatment

Related Stories

Consultation launched on new First Homes national housing policy
Tuesday 16th August 2022

Consultation launched on new First Homes national housing policy

Green-fingered volunteers help renovate supported living garden
Tuesday 16th August 2022

Green-fingered volunteers help renovate supported living garden

Data reveals more than 36% of crimes in Avon and Somerset unsolved
Tuesday 16th August 2022

Data reveals more than 36% of crimes in Avon and Somerset unsolved

...
Followers
Follow
...
Followers
Follow
...
Followers
Follow

Top Stories

Consultation launched on new First Homes national housing policy

Consultation launched on new First Homes national housing policy

Tuesday 16th August 2022
Green-fingered volunteers help renovate supported living garden

Green-fingered volunteers help renovate supported living garden

Tuesday 16th August 2022
Data reveals more than 36% of crimes in Avon and Somerset unsolved

Data reveals more than 36% of crimes in Avon and Somerset unsolved

Tuesday 16th August 2022
Speakers aged 12 to 82 set to take part in this year’s TEDxBath event

Speakers aged 12 to 82 set to take part in this year’s TEDxBath event

Tuesday 16th August 2022
Uni celebrates hundreds of teaching graduates with honorary degrees

Uni celebrates hundreds of teaching graduates with honorary degrees

Monday 15th August 2022
  • Business
  • Community
  • Crime
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • What’s On
  • Traffic & Travel
  • Weather
  • Back to top
Created by Media Bath - Regulated by IMPRESS

About the Bath Echo | Your City, Your News

We're your local independent newspaper covering news and events across beautiful Bath and the close surrounding villages. We're here to help keep Bathonians in the know about what's going on in their city.

Useful Info

  • House Rules
  • Cookie Policy
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Complaints Policy
  • Social Media Policy
© Bath Echo 2022. All rights reserved.
Produced by Media Bath Limited
Posting....