Bath and North East Somerset Council is moving forward with plans to transform a city centre car park into a vibrant new residential quarter. The proposals involve constructing 96 flats on the Green Street car park as part of the Bath Quays North redevelopment, a project once described in 2019 as “the most significant development in Bath in a generation.”
Now regarded as stalled, the council has stepped in to take direct control and push the scheme ahead. On Wednesday, November 19, the council’s planning committee will decide whether to grant the necessary planning permission. Planning officers have recommended approval, noting how the scheme fits within planning guidelines. These committees operate independently, basing their decisions on both policy and councillor judgement.
The development features two blocks of flats: one five-storey building with 50 flats to the east and a four-storey building with 46 flats to the west. Between them, a pedestrianised courtyard will extend Milk Street, which currently ends north of the car park, enhancing connectivity and public space.
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Notably, none of the homes have been designated as affordable housing, as the council found this model financially unviable for the scheme. However, profits generated from the development are expected to fund future regeneration projects and support social housing initiatives elsewhere in the city.
Ahead of the planning vote, on November 13 the council cabinet approved establishing a limited liability partnership (LLP) with its building company, Aequus. This LLP will oversee the delivery of the 96 homes on Bath Quays North and an additional 65 homes on the opposite side of the river in Bath Quays South. Councillor Lucy Hodge (Lansdown, Liberal Democrat) highlighted the benefits: “This LLP will allow us to bring forward these two developments which deliver about 160 new energy-efficient homes in the city centre, helping regenerate the area whilst mitigating any risk for the council. It also reduces our tax liability, enabling continued investment in social housing on future sites.”
The council report notes that while the focus is on bringing these homes to fruition, it is also actively seeking a new development partner to handle the broader Bath Quays North regeneration. Last year, a memorandum of understanding was signed with the University of Bath to explore its involvement in the site, potentially creating new opportunities for research, innovation, and enterprise activities.