People wanting to find out more about a 20-year vision to transform the Milsom Quarter area of Bath to create a fashion destination are being invited to a number of drop-in sessions.
A concept of how Milsom Street in Bath could look | Image © B&NES Council
The Milsom Quarter Masterplan is a proposal being led by Bath & North East Somerset Council to attract creative industries to the area, relocate the Fashion Museum and provide 180 new homes.
A public consultation on the plans, which launched on 4th May, asks people to give their views on topics including the proposed development sites at Cattlemarket and Broad Street Yards, whether they support converting upper floors of existing buildings into new housing and if the Fashion Museum should be sited in the Milsom Quarter.
The proposals also include attracting a range of high-end fashion retailers and hosting more events to make the area less dependent on shopping.
It was revealed in an interview with the Bath Newseum last week that the council has bought The Old Post Office building on New Bond Street, with the intention of moving the Fashion Museum there within the next few years.
B&NES Council is holding a series of drop-in sessions during June to give residents the opportunity to find out more about the plans.
All sessions will take place at the local authority’s Commercial Hub at 15 New Bond St in Bath on the following dates:
- 17th June, 2pm-4pm
- 20th June, 4.30pm-6.30pm
- 22nd June, 9.30am-11.30am
- 24th June, 2pm-4pm
- 27th June, 4.30pm-6.30pm
- 29th June, 9.30am -11.30am
A short video explaining the masterplan has already had 2,000 views since the launch of the consultation. The video can be viewed here.
Councillor Richard Samuel, Deputy Leader and cabinet member for Economic Development and Resources, said: “The Masterplan takes inspiration from Milsom Quarter’s past strength as a leading fashionable location and complements the rest of the city centre.
“It aims to make this part of the city more vibrant and bring in more creative industry. However, the wide-ranging plans are a work in progress and we want residents to have their say.
“What do you think about the future of the vacant King Edwards School site? What’s your view on the public space proposals in the Masterplan?
“Do you support the creation of 180 new city centre homes? We’re keen to hear from you. Please drop into one of our face-to-face sessions to find out more and respond to our consultation.”
The plans for each of the four areas of Milsom Street Quarter are:
- Milsom St. Core (Milsom St and New Bond St): will remain an important location for fashion-led retail and will be home to an enhanced Fashion Museum.
- Broad Street Yards: will better connect Milsom St and Broad St and will accommodate new-build contemporary space for the creative industries, workspace and visitor accommodation.
- St Michael’s Neighbourhood: will become a growing residential neighbourhood for Bath with new development and conversions of upper floors of properties, supporting a range of local shopping and amenities at ground floor level. A new public square will also be created in front of St Michael’s Church.
- Walcot Gateway: Will provide an improved entrance to Walcot St, with a new frontage to the street and the redevelopment of the Cattlemarket site for housing
The consultation runs until 15th July.
The masterplan is funded by the West of England Combined Authority’s Investment Fund.
