Student accommodation and BTR homes planned for Bath car showroom sites

UK: Developer Watkin Jones Group has revealed plans for build to rent homes, student accommodation and commercial space.

The Dick Lovett BMW and MINI dealerships on Bristol Road in Bath will be replaced with a mixture of build-to-rent homes, student accommodation and commercial space.

Ahead of submitting a planning application, Watkin Jones Group and Dick Lovett are seeking views and feedback from members of the public regarding the proposals. An online public consultation is open until May 9 here.

The plans include demolishing the existing site and building around 360 build-to-rent units, around 340 student bed spaces, 740 secure cycle spaces, and around 750 square metres of commercial space.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on public gatherings, no physical consultation event will be held. The consultation materials will be available online for an extended period to allow people the opportunity to access the information and comment on the proposals.

A spokesperson for Watkin Jones said: “We are looking forward to sharing our proposals for this brownfield site with the Bath community. Our mixed use scheme offers a variety of new residential homes, commercial space as well as managed purpose built student accommodation. This will help B&NES to realise its aspirations for this key part of the Bath Riverside regeneration scheme as well as helping to meet housing targets for the city. We are disappointed not to be able to meet members of the public face to face during this consultation, but due to the current situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic we feel it is only sensible to hold a ‘virtual’ consultation online.”

Following the consultation period, Watkin Jones intends to submit a planning application to Bath and North East Somerset Council. Members of the public will have further opportunity to comment on the proposals at this stage.

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