I wasn’t able to get down to Bath Western Riverside yesterday to see the one-day presentation by the Berkeley Group who have outline planning permission to build 611 ‘high-quality’ homes on the old gasworks riverside site.
I am grateful to Alex and Richard for providing me with both information and visuals to share with you all.
The developers are currently decontaminating the former industrial site. B&NES have a separate parcel of neighbouring land for their own development.
As part of their ‘revised’ development plans Berkeley Group say there will be new riverside planting, including 263 trees and an ecological enhancement which they say will achieve a net biodiversity gain of 38 per cent and new habitat creation with riverside walks..
On-site, they intend to build 611 high-quality homes – providing a mixed community with a range of properties from studios to three-bedroomed apartments.
Of these 72 are planned to be ‘affordable’ – seeking to provide twelve per cent of the homes as shared ownership.
Good to hear that there will be an air source heat pump network and ‘ the maximisation of PV panels’ – plus nearly 1300 secure cycle spaces.
Don’t worry there will be 235 car spaces with EV charging provision.
Berkeley say they have a lot of experience in regenerating complex sites and l like the fact that the company intends to ‘draw upon the history of the site within Bath, with architectural cues and material tones taken from the site’s historic use as a gasworks and railway sidings.’
The Group says: ‘The riverside buildings are inspired by the historical gasworks buildings, with warm red brick and carefully proportioned elevations. The valley floor within which the site sits has historically been the industrial part of Bath and reflects a shift in materials from that of the Georgian parts of the city with the introduction of brick.
During the application process, the brickwork colour has evolved in response to feedback, and the revised scheme now presents a darker red brick and a more industrial appearance in keeping with the site’s former use. We are happy to report that this application now has support from Historic England.’
Next month the old railway bridge over the river is due to be removed.
Thanks again to Alex and Richard for the material.
Affordable homes is good but some social housing or housing association homes would be even better. Bath really needs to encourage front line workers on low wages to live locally.
As a resident of the immediate area I cant wait to see if yet another coffee bar will be included, to add to the four already opened in the other nearby developments. I’m spoilt for choice as to where to spend ten quid on a latte and a biscuit of a morning.
I’m guessing the trees and greenery will never look that good, so sadly the buildings will stand out and look gruesome.