Plans to turn more office accommodation in Bath into student flats have been drawn up.
Grosvenor House, formerly known as Cramer House, at The Square in Westmoreland, is a former engine shed which was redeveloped into offices over two floors in the early 1990s.
Although The Square was previously established as an office location, some buildings have already been converted to residential use, including adjoining Marr House which has been converted into flats.
The former Pickfords warehouse has been demolished and Aquila Court, a development of 203 student bedrooms, has now been built in its place.
Planning permission was also granted last year to convert the offices at Berkeley House at The Square into accommodation for 34 students.
The plans for Grosvenor House involve turning it into cluster flats of up to 103 bed spaces (two of the rooms would be accessible).
The applicant is Bathford Partners, which operates several student housing buildings in Bath.
A selection of three, five and six-bed cluster flats and duplexes are being proposed. All living areas and bedrooms will comply with HMO minimum standards.
There will be 42 bike spaces and the proposed development will be car-free with the exception of Blue Badge and maintenance staff parking provision.
There are plans to rename the building as The Goods Shed in reference to its historical significance.
The site was originally Westmoreland Road Goods Yard, which opened in 1877. It remained in use as an engine room and goods yard before being converted to an office building in the 1990s.
A report from property consultants Carter Jonas says that for most Bath-based businesses, the office is simply too large and is “highly suitable” to be converted into student accommodation.
It says: “Bath is a high-demand student city with over 25,000 undergraduate students across the University of Bath and Bath Spa University.
“While first-year students typically stay in university-managed halls, second and third-year students predominantly move into private rental housing, creating strong demand for shared houses (HMOs) and affordable off-campus accommodation.
“Despite the increasing supply of PBSA (purpose-built student accommodation) within the city, this mainly ensures provision for first-years and postgraduates, and there is still an under-supply of accommodation for second and third-years.
“The private market seeks to address this issue with the conversion of family homes into HMO units, or with private flats being taken by student sharers. Rents on the private market within Bath rose 9% in the last year, influenced by private student housing demand.
“Properties with energy efficiency and proximity to amenity and transport links are in particular demand for higher year students.”
The report says that Grosvenor House is situated close to one of Bath’s most popular student areas and the site has excellent transport links to both universities while being close to supermarkets, cafés and student-friendly services
“The site is highly suitable for student accommodation, especially for second and third-year students currently seeking shared houses or flats.”
The planning reference is 25/04893/FUL and the deadline for comments is 28th January.
In November, we reported on the approval of plans by developer Rengen Minerva Ltd to turn vacant 1990s office block Minerva House on Lower Bristol Road into purpose-built student accommodation with 52 bedrooms.
