Plans in for Bath’s first wholly co-living scheme

The development will be located on Lower Bristol Road and Windsor Bridge. The plans, drawn up by architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, involve the demolition of existing commercial buildings on a partly derelict industrial site which has been vacant since the 1970s.

The scheme will comprise four riverside buildings and a separate frontage terrace design. Resident gardens between buildings are proposed, along with new tree planting and a planted green buffer between the buildings and the river.

Public realm improvements will include a new pedestrian and cyclist connection to the towpath.

The proposal includes a car-free layout, with vehicle access limited to disabled Blue Badge holders and operational servicing requirements.

Bath and North East Somerset Council owns the adjacent site, the Midland Road Household Waste Recycling Centre, which is in the process of being decommissioned and has planning permission for 176 new homes.

John Stacey, managing director of UK real estate at Blue Coast Capital, said: “Our project will transform an underutilised brownfield plot into a vibrant new neighbourhood, delivering exemplar co-living accommodation and major improvements to the public realm, and we are pleased to be bringing this complex site forward after extensive consultation.”

Nathan Fairbrother, architect at Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, said: “Located... on the north bank of the River Avon, the scheme occupies a critical gateway into the city.

“The project seeks to sensitively repair this important urban edge, contributing to the renewal of the river corridor while strengthening connections between the city and its landscape.”

Last year, plans were approved for a 454-home build-to-rent and co-living scheme in Bath. The scheme, designed by JTP Architects and Murphy Designs, will deliver 275 build-to-rent homes and 179 co-living homes alongside shared amenities and landscaping.