By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter: Councillors could soon approve a new student block in the centre of Bath — despite fears it is creating “a student campus by stealth.”
Bath and North East Somerset Council’s planning committee will vote on July 8 on plans to turn another former office block on “the Square” on the Lower Bristol Road into student accommodation. The council’s planning officers are recommending that they approve the plan, stating: “There is little value in the premises sitting vacant.”
If approved, Grosvenor House would be the second office block on the 1990s business park to be turned into student accommodation. Councillors granted developers planning permission to turn Berkley House into student flats in February, despite local councillor Ian Halsall’s (Oldfield Park, Liberal Democrat) warning that developers were turning the formerly commercial area along the Lower Bristol Road into “a student campus by stealth.”
Objecting to the Grosvenor House plans, Mr Halsall said: “My predication has come true.” He said that the building could still be viable as office space and should be turned into open market housing, as opposed to student accommodation, if not.
Mr Halsall said: “This is a highly sustainable location and would contribute to the council’s five year housing land supply and offer Bathonians — and indeed graduates from our two universities — the opportunity to secure a home within the city, rather than having to commute from other areas even outside the city.”
He added: “The University of Bath currently has an application pending for a 962 bedroom development of student accommodation at their Claverton Down campus […]. This is where student accommodation should be being provided.”
Developer Bathford Partners wants to turn Grosvenor House (which is also known as Cramer House) into 22 cluster flats, with three, five, or six en-suite bedrooms and shared kitchens. The building would house 103 students, which council officers said was equivalent to 43 houses. It would only be available for students in second year or later, despite this typically being when students in the UK move into house shares.
Grosvenor House was originally built as a railway goods shed in 1876 and was converted into office space with the redevelopment of the Square in the 1990s. The planning application described the area as “in transition,” with the conversion of nearby buildings to residential and student accommodation and the creation of “more modern office accommodation” at Bath Quays South.
Bath and North East Somerset Council’s planning committee will meet at 10am in the council chamber in Bath Guildhall on Wednesday July 8.
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The journalists are funded by the BBC as part of its latest Charter commitment, but are employed by regional news organisations. A total of 165 reporters are allocated to news organisations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland including Bath Voice. These organisations range from television and radio stations to online media companies and established regional newspaper groups. Local Democracy Reporters cover top-tier local authorities, second-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.
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