By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter: A Bath family are hoping to get planning permission to build their own “unique” home by the Kennet & Avon Canal after living off-grid on a barge for 16 years.
On Wednesday, Bath and North East Somerset Council’s planning committee are set to decide a planning application described by the applicants as “an unusual site and an unusual proposal.”
It would see a four bedroom family home built next to the towpath near the Folly Footbridge.
Construction materials would be transported to the building site by boat. All of the house’s electricity would be generated by its own off-grid renewable energy and it would have its own water source, the planning application states.
The family also said the home would be car free as they would rely on cycling or public transport to get around.
Applicant Wendy Zakiewicz said in the planning application that continually moving around moorings, as there were no residential moorings available nearby, had caused difficulties for accessing work and for their three children to get to school in Bath.
She said: “Living on our land would allow us to remain connected to the boat community, the local community, to nature and outside space.
“It would enable us to fully look after the site and continue improvements of the land management. It would make travelling sustainably to work and school easier and we could improve on our low impact way of life and become even more self-sufficient.”
76 people lodged comments in support of the plans with the council when the application was submitted in 2022, while 13 lodged objections. But the council’s planning officers have warned that the plan conflicts with a “significant number of policies” and the council’s development plan. They have recommended that planning permission be refused, but the decision will be up to councillors on the council’s planning committee.
The planning committee will discuss the plan at their meeting at 10am on Wednesday October 22 in Bath Guildhall.
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