Bath Council Allocates £1.85m for Hydropower Plant Proposal Near Pulteney Bridge

Bath and North East Somerset Council is moving forward with an ambitious plan to develop a small hydroelectric power plant located just in front of Pulteney Bridge in the heart of Bath. The council has earmarked £1.85 million to formulate detailed plans and a business case for the project.

The initiative focuses on replacing the aging Pulteney Radial Gate, adjacent to the iconic triple-stepped Pulteney Weir, which is now considered to be “at the end of its life.” One of the leading proposals is to transform this site into a hydroelectric scheme that would generate clean electricity from the flow of the River Avon, with the potential to power Bath’s Guildhall.

Funding for this planning phase will come from corporate-supported borrowing as part of the council’s upcoming capital budget. This money will cover design and feasibility work; however, additional funding will be needed to construct the hydroelectric plant.

The council has already undertaken a feasibility study, which Council Leader Kevin Guy described as “the most exciting and ambitious inner city hydroelectric project in Europe.” This initiative supports the council’s broader goal of achieving carbon neutrality for its estate by 2030.

Bath has a rich history of innovative use of natural resources, such as the Roman-era hot springs now providing heating for Bath Abbey, the Roman Baths, the Pump Rooms museum complex, and the Bath World Heritage Centre.

The hydroelectric project’s planning coincides with other major local developments, including the redevelopment of the riverside and the new stadium for Bath Rugby, with which the hydroelectric installation’s schedule must be coordinated.

The council’s capital and revenue budgets, including the £1.85 million allocation for this project, will be reviewed by the cabinet on February 12, followed by a full council vote on February 24 in Bath Guildhall.