Don’t ignore the people.

I have used my own website here to publicise efforts by local people to stop a planning application to build houses on a green belt site, so l think it only fair to allow a Bath Newseum follower to have his say about a brownfield development near him.

One that – says John Taylor – is too large for the site – the old Hartwell garage on Newbridge Road –  and which will have a dangerous road access.

Here is John’s story.

“Oakhill Group submitted proposals over a year ago for outline planning permission for the former Hartwell Showroom site on Newbridge Road in Bath for a mix of residential blocks and large student blocks. No-one in the neighbourhood has expressed any support for this proposal. The application has finally reached Planning Committee stage in B&NES and should be heard on Wednesday 11^th March (at the same time as the Bath Football Club application for redevelopment).

Many local residents have expressed concerns that the proposals are much too large for the site and that the road access will be dangerous. There were over 260 objections to the proposals, including ones from well-respected organisations such as Bath Preservation Trust. However, the Planning Officer has recommended that the proposal is allowed, much to the astonishment of the locality.

Oakhill were asked to consider allocating the lower (rear) part of the site to continued industrial use because it already has rear access from the Maltings trading estate. The upper site could be residential, but allowing for a mix of family, truly affordable and social housing but not more student housing, which will stand half-empty and find its way onto Air B&B etc.

All the planning documents can be viewed on B&NES website using reference 19/01854/OUT . 

However it is extremely difficult to put all the relevant documents in order. A group of neighbours surrounding the Hartwell site put a local community website together. It shows residents how to view the proposals easily and comment on them: https://hartwellbathplans.wordpress.com/ 

The current proposals overwhelm the old garage site. You really get a sense of the enormity of the project if you look at the tab on the local website called Plans and Photos .

I understand that local councillors have been inundated with objections. If you feel as strongly as everyone in Newbridge does it’s not too late to send your views to the planning committee. You can find all their contact details here: https://hartwellbathplans.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/councillors-banes-planning.pdf “