Plans to convert purpose-built offices on the Lower Bristol Road in Bath into student accommodation have been submitted to Bath & North East Somerset Council.
Berkeley House in The Square on the Lower Bristol Road | Image © Google Street View / Google 2024
Eagle One Estates Ltd is behind the plans to create up to 34 bedrooms at Berkeley House, which forms part of a group of buildings known as The Square.
A planning statement submitted with the application says that the building is currently occupied by BMT which will be vacating due to its intended relocation to recently completed floorspace within Bath Quays South.
The statement says: “The site occupies a highly accessible location close to the city centre core and is well positioned to serve the requirements of both of the city’s universities.
“It is situated in a transport corridor in an area of mixed uses comprising commercial and, increasingly, residential uses, including student accommodation.
“It is also in an area of transition given the recent redevelopment of the land and buildings on the north side of the Lower Bristol Road as part of the Bath Quays South project (for predominantly office accommodation/managed workspace with a separate, as yet to be implemented residential consent), the redevelopment of the former Pickfords site to the east for provide student accommodation (Aquila Court), and the conversion of the adjacent building, Marr House, to residential accommodation.”
There are currently 22 car parking spaces in the courtyard. This will be reduced to 21 spaces to provide operational and accessible parking, with the residual 17 spaces available for occupiers of the accommodation. Secure storage for 24 bicycles is also proposed.
An accompanying report written by a partner at property consultants Carter Jonas considers that “Berkeley House is not strategically important office accommodation for Bath”.
The report adds: “It has reached a state of natural obsolescence for its existing use, in common with similar office buildings across the country.
“The nature of the property’s built form severely limits the ability to adapt to meet modern office standards.”
The report adds: “In 35 years I have never worked in such a poor market for offices. It is not hard to understand why an investor such as Eagle One is reluctant to invest in this sector as financially it does not make sense.”
The property would be run by an experienced, dedicated student accommodation management company.
The planning reference is 24/03730/FUL. The deadline for comments is 21st November.
