Housing association Curo has submitted redevelopment plans to Bath & North East Somerset Council to knock down 55 of its garages in Bath and Saltford and build 12 two-bed homes.
The garages on Kelston View in Bath
The new housing for social rent would be highly energy-efficient and feature air source heat pumps, solar panels, electric vehicle charging points and private gardens/balconies.
Curo plans to demolish 16 garages at Kelston View in Whiteway to make way for four affordable homes, each for a family of four.
During a consultation before the planning application was submitted, local people were generally happy with the proposals to knock down the garages – which one described as “an eyesore and magnet for graffiti”- and deliver more local housing.
A pre-application enquiry had been made by Curo to the council in 2021 for seven affordable homes on this site.
The response confirmed that the principle of residential development would be acceptable, but seven homes would be overdevelopment.
The proposal submitted is for two apartment buildings, housing four homes in total. Four parking spaces are proposed, along with two visitor parking spaces and eight cycle storage spaces.
The planning reference is 24/01120/FUL.
In Saltford, there are plans to demolish 15 garages in two blocks on the corner of Stratton Road and Camerton Close to make way for four homes.
The planning application says the proposed layout has been amended following consultation with the local community last November.
Feedback suggested that vehicle access would be preferred from Stratton Road instead of Camerton Close. The proposed buildings now front onto Stratton Road.
The scheme includes four allocated parking spaces and cycle storage. All the properties would have private rear gardens.
The existing footpath on Stratton Road would be extended along the southern boundary with Camerton Close.
Curo says the redevelopment of this “unsightly” piece of brownfield land will enhance the character and amenities of the area, providing housing with good sustainability credentials.
The planning reference is 24/01119/FUL.
The other garages in Saltford that are earmarked for demolition are next to Wedmore Road car park. Again, Curo says this is an “unsightly” piece of brownfield land.
There are 24 garages in two terraced blocks and Curo says it is in a sustainable location. The site is however just outside of Saltford’s Housing Development Boundary but Curo’s application refers to a B&NES Council policy that allows the release of land that would not normally be used for housing for the development of 100% affordable housing on small sites where there is a demonstrated local need.
Four homes are proposed on this site, with eight parking spaces on the basis of two per home. The scheme also provides two secure and covered cycle parking spaces per home.
During the consultation before the plans were submitted, one local resident said they had no objections.
Another was happy the garages would be demolished but expressed a preference for the site to be used to provide more parking for Saltford Hall and the sports clubs which are busy at the weekends.
The resident also raised concerns about the noise that future occupants would get from living next to a hall and sports club.
The planning reference is 24/01118/FUL.
The deadline for comments for all three schemes is 24th April.
Curo has said it has written to customers who rent garages at the three locations on short-term licence agreements to let them know about the plans and would give them at least four weeks’ notice.
