Plans have been unveiled to rent out part of a Bath student accommodation block to tourists over the summer months.
The Depot accommodation at Brougham Hayes
Bath & North East Somerset Council has received a change of use application from Roost Propco 1 Limited for The Depot at Brougham Hayes.
Permission was granted 10 years ago to demolish an old transport depot on the site and build a block for 104 students, including communal facilities.
Now there are plans to house both students and non-students in the months of June, July and August.
A letter with the application says that a significant portion of students leave the accommodation at the end of the academic year after exams and final assessments end in May, resulting in a significant portion of the site being vacant over the summer period.
“The proposals would introduce greater flexibility to the site by allowing the existing accommodation to be used for short-term lettings by non-student residents during the summer period.
“This greater flexibility would help to maintain the site’s commercial viability during the summer period if a larger proportion of student residents vacate the accommodation following the end of the university term.
“Furthermore, the flexibility would supply additional visitor accommodation within the city centre, which could support a wide variety of events and conferences at the university as well as the wider city centre.”
The flexibility of use would be restricted to 30 bed spaces at any given time between 1st June and 31st August (inclusive).
The letter adds: “The applicant intends to market the accommodation as being most appropriate for families (including the families of student residents), couples, organisational/corporate bookings and group bookings of up to six people.
“Adverts for the accommodation will explicitly state that bookings for large weekend-only groups such as stag and hen parties are not permitted.”
The reservation process will ensure that any students remaining at the site over the summer would not be affected by non-student guests.
The site is said to be sustainably located in relation to public transport services and local amenities, with shops, restaurants, pubs and other local services within a 10-minute walk.
The planning reference is 25/04603/FUL. The deadline for comments is 31st December.
