Improvements to York Street in the centre of Bath that will complement the opening of the new World Heritage Centre and Clore Learning Centre will resume on 6th January.

York Street in Bath | Photo © Colin Peachey / Shutterstock.com
Work between Stall Street and Kingston Parade is expected to last 16 weeks and will support the opening of the centre, as well as improve the public realm in the long term.
Bath & North East Somerset Council completed phase one of the works in Swallow Street earlier this year, but paused until January following feedback from traders, to minimise the impact on local businesses in the busy summer and Christmas periods.
The area will be resurfaced in a high-quality natural stone, in keeping with the historic streetscape, and the street will be raised to create a level surface throughout allowing for a smooth transition throughout the spaces.
The council is notifying residents and businesses that from 6th January, access to York Street will be restricted to emergency and site vehicles only for the duration of the works.
A pedestrian diversion will be in place between York Street and Stall Street and York Street and Abbey Street, with diversion routes clearly signposted.
The works will be carried out by the council’s contractor, Volker Highways.
Works will take place between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday, with the site operational from 7am to 7pm.
Businesses between Terrace Walk and Kingston Parade who have pavement licenses will not be able to place furniture on York Street from 1st January due to the Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) for social distancing coming to an end on 31st December.
A separate Temporary Traffic Regulation Order starts on 6th January to enable the works.
Councillor Richard Samuel, Deputy Leader and cabinet member for Economic Development & Resources, said: “These works are essential to the long-term maintenance of York Street and are an important part of enabling the development of the World Heritage Centre and Roman Baths Clore Learning Centre, which will bring Bath’s fascinating history to life for many generations to come.
“We apologise for the disruption caused while the public realm improvements are carried out, which in the long term will encourage footfall and increase local trade.”
The Bath Abbey Footprint Project team will also be on-site between 10th and 21st January, undertaking planned works within the Great Drain.