A proposal to build a distinctive off-grid home next to the Kennet & Avon Canal in Bath has sparked mixed reactions among Bath and North East Somerset Council members.
Planning officers initially recommended refusal of the application submitted by a local boater family on various grounds. However, following a tied vote, councillors chose to postpone a final decision, allowing officers to collaborate with the family to improve the plans.
Applicant Wendy Zakiewicz explained to the planning committee on October 22 that her family has lived on a boat in the area for 18 years. Now, she, partner Tom Edwards, and their three children wish to construct a sustainable home on a canal-side plot they have owned for eight years—land they have revitalized after years of neglect and misuse.
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Zakiewicz emphasized, “We propose a sustainable off-grid low-impact home that would secure the long-term care and enhancement of the site. The Bath Preservation Trust has described it as ‘a model of sustainable architecture for the district.’”
Edwards added, “We believe this proposal represents the best future for the site: sustainable, sensitive, beneficial to Bath’s landscape and community, and allowing a local family to live a genuinely low carbon life.”
The proposed house would be cantilevered to accommodate the sloping terrain away from the canal, supported by pilings. It is designed to be completely off-grid, generating all electricity through renewable sources and sourcing its own water. The home would also utilize a compost toilet system, with waste safely stored and then applied to garden shrubbery in compliance with environmental guidelines.
Construction plans call for the use of carbon-negative hempcrete, with building materials transported by boat to minimize disruption. The family intends to live a car-free lifestyle, relying on cycling and public transport.
Councillor Toby Simon described the proposal as “imaginative” and supported its approval subject to resolving technical issues. Paul Crossley called it “one of the most interesting applications” the committee has faced in recent years.
However, Councillor Fiona Gourley raised concerns about potential structural issues, particularly regarding land stability, and questioned whether the composting toilet system would be acceptable to future owners beyond the family. “This home is for the future; it’s not just for them,” she noted.
With planning officers highlighting the need for substantial improvements, the committee voted 4-4, with Chair Tim Ball casting the deciding vote to defer the application. This delay aims to allow further revisions, ensuring the project meets the council’s requirements for an off-grid sustainable dwelling at this unique location.