Councillors refuse plans for “overbearing” blocks of flats in Bath

Councillors in Bath who want to block the building of “overbearing” blocks of flats could be overruled by the government due to controversial new rules.

How the development could look | Image © Blue Coast Capital

Bath & North East Somerset Council’s planning committee narrowly voted to turn down developers’ plans to build 272 “co-living” flats next to the River Avon.

The committee heard that the three-to-four storey blocks were far too tall and would be “overbearing”. But their decision will only stand if Angela Rayner agrees.

New government rules that councils cannot refuse planning permission for developments of over 150 homes without the agreement of the Secretary of State.

Chair of the planning committee Paul Crossley (Liberal Democrat, Southdown) called the rule “outrageous”.

The plan would have seen a complex of four buildings built on the Upper Bristol Road on the riverside by Windsor Bridge, an area which has sat mostly empty for 20 years.

“Co-living” means that the flats themselves were not intended to be a self-contained home, but the building would have contained extensive shared facilities.

The rooms would have only had kitchenettes, but the building would have included shared kitchens, dining rooms, and lounge spaces, as well as a gym, co-working spaces, and even a cinema/events space.

The planning application called it “a hybrid space where you can enjoy a healthier, happier lifestyle”.

Addressing the planning committee on 2nd September on behalf of local objectors, nearby neighbour Paula Riseborough said: “The city is in dire need of more affordable permanent homes for local families, which this plan does not serve.

“The site would be better used for low-level high-density housing, incorporating green spaces, which would mature into proper communities.”

She warned that the planned buildings would be “overbearing” but, speaking for the applicant, Chris Beaver insisted the scheme was “the culmination of four years of design work”.

Planning committee member Councillor Toby Simon (Bathwick, Liberal Democrat) said the brownfield site would not work for family homes with green space because of its contaminated history.

He said: “My view is that this makes good use of a difficult site and I’d like to see it go forward.”

But Councillor Fiona Gourley (Bathavon South, Liberal Democrat) said she was opposed. She said: “It is too big; the rooms are too small.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson added: “I just feel that for a World Heritage Site, for the approach into Bath along the river, this just doesn’t cut it in design terms.”

The planning committee voted 5-4 to reject the scheme. The Secretary of State will now have 21 days to decide whether to call-in the decision to be reviewed.

Councillors were reminded at the start of the meeting that the new government rules had come into effect. A separate scheme to build 200 houses in the green belt on the edge of Keynsham was approved by councillors, as they warned it would be difficult to refuse under the new rules.

John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter