96 homes at Bath Quays North Development Site, Bath

What was proposed

The application sought reserved matters approval for two residential buildings containing 96 flats, with landscaped areas, cycle storage and no resident parking.

“This application seeks approval of reserved matters (layout, scale, appearance and landscaping) for the outline permission for the Bath Quays North site (reference: 20/02787/VAR), specifically relating to 'phase II' and the residential development on Plots 6-7 (following earlier approval for commercial uses on Plots 1-5 in February 2025 (20/04965/ERES).”

“The development will be car free and include zero on site allocated car parking for residents. Disabled parking will be provided in the car park within the wider Bath Quays North development or on street. The development will be served by a loading bay located adjacent to the courtyard area between Plot 6-7. This would be used for loading, serving and waste collections.”

Officer report

The site and its setting

The site is a former coach park now used for public car parking, beside Bath College, student accommodation, offices and residential flats.

“The application relates to part of the Bath Quays North development site at Avon Street/Green Park Road, south west of Bath city centre. The site was formerly used for visitor coach parking and is currently used for public surface level car parking. The land is owned by Bath and North East Somerset Council. The land is situated to the north of Green Park Road and west of Avon Street.”

“The site is north of the wider Bath Quays North / former Avon Street multistorey car park site and Bath Quays shared use bridge. Bath College is situated to the east of the site, there are University of Bath student halls of residence (John Wood Court) and offices to the north, and residential flats (Riverside Gardens) to the west.”

Officer report

Earlier permissions

Outline permission for the wider mixed-use regeneration scheme was granted in 2019, amended in 2020, and commercial plots received reserved matters approval in February 2025.

“In 2019, the Council gave outline planning permission for a major mixed-use regeneration scheme on the Bath Quays North site. The proposals comprised up to 38,000 m2 of office, hotel, retail, food and drink and assembly and leisure and institutional uses as well as residential dwellings. The commercial uses were located on Plots 1-5 and planned as…”

“Phase 1' of the development, located adjacent to the river. The residential dwellings were planned as 'Phase 2' of the development on land referred to as Plots 6 and 7, located to the north of Green Park Road. The outline permission was later amended in 2020 (20/02787/VAR and 20/02660/NMA). In February 2025, permission for the reserved matters was granted for the commercial development on Plots 1-5 (application reference: 20/04965/ERES).”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended permission because the homes would reuse brownfield land, meet housing needs and provide public benefits that outweighed identified heritage harm.

“The development will deliver 96 one- and two-bedroom homes in a desirable location that has excellent accessibility, promoting sustainable travel patterns and lifestyles. The development regenerates an existing car park, improving the local townscape and public realm, and making more efficient use of a brownfield site to deliver housing.”

“The reserved matters designs are identified to pose less than substantial harm to the City of Bath World Heritage Site due to impact on landscape views and association with wider Georgian city in long range views. Assessment has concluded public benefits of the development are sufficient to outweigh harm.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A local resident spoke against the application and the agent spoke in support.

The vote

The motion to delegate permission to officers was carried by seven votes to two.

“On voting for the motion, it was CARRIED (7 in favour and 2 against).”

Minutes

What was decided

The committee delegated permission to officers, subject to a legal agreement securing contributions, travel and car-club measures, employment obligations and conditions.

“RESOLVED that officers be delegated to permit the application subject to:”

“A) A Legal Agreement to secure: 1. A financial contribution of £243,840.48 towards greenspace enhancement and maintenance in the local area associated with additional need generated by the development. 2. A financial contribution of £330,430.58 towards the Council's carbon offsetting fund to mitigate residual emissions in compliance with Policy SCR6. 3.”

Minutes