New deal helps protects river access for Bath’s Sea Cadets on St John’s Road

Members of the Bath Sea Cadets are getting ready to move into their new headquarters, based in the heart of Bath, on St John’s Road along the River Avon.

Works began on the new facilities, at the end of last year ready for occupation in Autumn 2017.

As a registered charity the Sea Cadets have limited funds and little surplus for investment in upgrading premises. When their facilities fell into a terminal state of disrepair the organisation looked into several options to help preserve its future.

To enable the desperately needed refurbishment, the Sea Cadets made the decision to sell their premises to Iesis Group.

Since taking ownership of the site the Iesis Group has gained permission and started work on upgrading the Sea Cadet’s facilities on the ground floor and creating 18 student beds on the upper floors.

Iesis Group has also agreed to purchase a neighbouring strip of land on a subject to planning basis, that will allow for additional storage and continued free access to the river.

Iesis has submitted a new planning application to Bath and North East Somerset Council for this additional area of land to create a three-storey side extension to include storage for the Bath Sea Cadets on the ground floor, as well as four additional student beds on the upper floors.

This strip of land will also continue to be used as a designated flood egress channel as required by the Environment Agency.

The Sea Cadets will now lease the brand new facilities from Iesis on a 999-year tenancy.

Iesis Chief Executive Officer, Iestyn Lewis, said: “Right from the beginning we were very excited to be involved with this project, which will enhance and future proof such a vital charitable organisation in Bath.

“The Bath Sea Cadets have been supporting and encouraging young people in the city for many years. We are pleased that through this established partnership, working successfully with the Bath Sea Cadets’ committee, we have been able to make sure they can do this for years to come.

“Through our commercial capabilities we are delighted that we have also been able to secure this additional land for use by the Sea Cadets so they can continue to safely access the river whilst maintaining the essential flood egress channel.”

The new student accommodation units on St John’s Road site will be managed with strict tenancy rules concerning waste, as well as a ban on cars. Students will have no access to the river from the property.