12th February 2015
Alder King secures planning permission on 58 unit housing scheme on Bath’s Royal High School site
Alder King has successfully obtained planning permission via appeal for 58 new dwellings, including 20 affordable retirement apartments, on the former Royal High Junior School campus in Bath’s conservation area. The decision, secured on behalf of Square Bay, will see the high quality regeneration of the 2.5 Ha brownfield site and provide much needed new housing in the city.
The plans include the development of 54 homes on the upper part of the site in the area currently occupied by the vacant school buildings. These will be built in terraces of traditional Bath style using Bath stone. The affordable element is aimed at the over 55’s market, with the aim of freeing up existing family accommodation in the city. The original Grade II listed Hope House will be retained and refurbished for residential use.
The remaining four properties will be located on the lower part of the site. The terraced properties will be of a simple but contemporary low level design to blend into the landscape and minimise impact on adjacent properties. The site’s iconic parkland will be preserved and enhanced with the planting of 84 new trees as well as 1,400 new shrubs.
The planning application, although recommended for approval by Bath and North East Somerset Council officers, was originally refused by Committee on the grounds of the design and impact of the four contemporary new homes on the conservation area.
Alder King were instructed to launch an appeal which was considered via a hearing last month. It also submitted an application for 54 units on the upper part of the site.
Permission was forthcoming for this application and the appeal was allowed, with the Inspector concluding that the scheme would preserve and enhance the conservation area, setting of the Grade II listed Hope House and the World Heritage Site.
Alan Pearce, partner at Alder King, commented: “We are delighted that the Inspector agreed that the design of the buildings would be visually attractive and preserve the character and appearance of the conservation area. This decision will allow a currently vacant school site to be appropriately redeveloped to provide much needed housing of high quality and provide a good example of how contemporary architecture can fit within Bath.”