The owners of a former Bath care home have submitted plans to turn the building into “affordable” accommodation for hospital staff.
The former Newbridge House care home in Bath | Photo © Christie & Co
The scheme would see four-storey Newbridge Towers, which closed more than three years ago, converted into seven self-contained apartments, and two four-bed detached houses built in the grounds of the imposing Edwardian property.
Planning permission was granted in 2024 to convert the detached villa into a private home with 10 en-suite bedrooms and facilities including a gym, games room and cinema room.
A separate application to turn the property into retirement apartments and build three detached houses in the grounds was withdrawn earlier this year.
Now, plans submitted to Bath & North East Somerset Council explain that applicant Anil Iltas’s family previously operated the 20-bed care home at 169 Newbridge Hill.
The building’s design is said to have placed “significant limitations” on its future viability, particularly the inability to install a lift to meet modern accessibility requirements.
Miss Iltas says in a statement: “Following the challenges of Covid-19 and Brexit, including rising staffing costs, recruitment difficulties, and increasing overheads, it became unsustainable to continue operating. The home formally closed in February 2022.
“Following the closure, every effort was made to identify an alternative use that would continue to serve local needs.
“We engaged with Bath & North East Somerset Council, local schools, and charities to explore whether the property could be adapted for social care or community purposes. Unfortunately, the scale of the building and the cost of the required refurbishments proved prohibitive.
“We then explored options to sell the property, both commercially and residentially. However, its size made it unsuitable as a single dwelling, while wider economic conditions, particularly rising material costs since Brexit and Covid rendered redevelopment unattractive to potential buyers.
“The last interested party submitted a planning application of their own, but it was poorly conceived and failed to adequately consider the heritage of the building, the character of the local area, or the practical concerns of neighbours.”
She says that in parallel, there was an approach by the Royal United Hospitals Bath (RUH), highlighting “their pressing need for good quality, affordable local housing for staff”.
The RUH specifically raised the value of accommodation within walking distance of the hospital, which would: provide suitable homes for doctors and staff, ease pressure on local roads and parking by reducing car reliance, and offer an “environmentally-kinder” solution, given Newbridge Towers is just a five-minute walk from the hospital.
Anil Iltas continues: “In light of these factors, we re-engaged with the architectural practice who previously achieved a successful planning approval on the site.”
The current proposal aims to secure the long-term future of the landmark building by returning it to sustainable use. It would deliver “much-needed housing” and “supports the RUH and the wider community, providing affordable, walkable housing for staff, reducing car dependency, and helping with hospital recruitment and retention”.
The design is said to be “sensitive”, maintaining the special setting of the conservation area as well as protecting neighbours’ amenity.
The scheme includes parking provision for 11 vehicles and 16 bicycles as well as access improvements.
The planning reference is 25/03998/FUL and the deadline for comments is 20th November.
