One of the champion promoters of Bath doing more to hi-light its historical connection to water – both hot and cold – says he is disappointed to view the latest planning proposals for the North Quays office development around the banks of the River Avon.
Rob Delius is a Bath resident, architect and Head of Sustainability for local practice Stride Treglown. In 2016 his idea – ‘Waters of Bath’ – to let public spaces around the city celebrate this unique connection was voted winner of a city-wide public competition called Imagine Bath – organised by the Royal Institute of British Architects.
Rob had been encouraged to see that initial proposals for the new Bath Quays development – the Council’s flagship regeneration project to create a new and vibrant commercial quarter for Bath businesses – included water features. However, a more recent application has brought concerns.
He told Bath Newseum:
“This project will create a substantial area of new public realm and therefore represents an unmissable opportunity to celebrate Bath’s core identity, as a spa town synonymous with water.
The original Outline Application included some water features and I may have missed them in the current plans but it appears they have been removed, which would be a great loss to the scheme. I hope that this decision will be reconsidered.
I appreciate that the project is embracing its riverside location but there is much more that it could do by integrating water into the wider site to help develop the distinctive, healthy place that I am sure they are looking to create at Bath Bankside.”
I have asked B&NES for comment.
