New Student Housing Proposal Adds to Growing ‘Campus by Stealth’ in Bath

A proposal to convert Grosvenor House, an office building near Bath’s Lower Bristol Road, into 103 student flats has sparked renewed debate over the area’s changing character. Bathford Partners, the developer behind the application filed with Bath and North East Somerset Council, aims to transform the 1990s office block into modern cluster flats and duplexes to house students.

Grosvenor House is part of a 1990s business park known as “the Square,” which has seen a steady shift from office spaces to student accommodations. Last year, the council approved a similar conversion of Berkley House, another office building within the complex. Councillor Ian Halsall of Oldfield Park has previously voiced concerns over what he described as the “proliferation” of student housing developments turning the Lower Bristol Road into a “student campus by stealth.”

Originally built in 1876 as a railway goods shed, Grosvenor House was repurposed into offices during the redevelopment of the Square in the 1990s. According to the current planning application, the building’s office use has been limited for several years, with tenants vacating by September 2025 and no new interest despite extensive advertising. The area overall is described as “in transition,” with more residential and student-focused developments coming alongside new office constructions at Bath Quays South.

However, the council’s economic development team has objected to the proposed change, emphasizing the loss of office space that could support up to 148 full-time jobs. They suggest that the lack of interest in the building as office space may be due to its need for refurbishment rather than a genuine decline in demand.

Local resident Robin Hapgood has also expressed opposition, citing ongoing parking issues exacerbated by student residents and urging the council to preserve employment spaces instead of allowing further conversions that primarily benefit developers.

As Bath’s Lower Bristol Road continues to evolve, the debate over balancing student accommodation with workspaces and community needs remains a focal point for residents and officials alike.