Scheme approved despite lack of affordable housing

A major development of almost a hundred homes in the centre of Bath will contain no affordable housing, despite the council itself being behind the plans.

- John Wimperis Local democracy reporter

Councillors on Bath and North East Somerset Council's planning committee reluctantly approved the plans on November 19, despite raising concerns about the lack of affordable housing. The plans will see 96 homes built in two blocks of flats on Green Park Road Car Park, as part of the Bath Quays North regeneration project.

Large developments in this part of Bath would usually be required to include 40% affordable housing, under the council's own rules, although developers can build less if the land value would make providing affordable housing unviable.

Planning officers told the committee: “The development would not be viable with any amount of affordable housing.”

Committee member Fiona Gourley (Bathavon South, Liberal Democrat) said: “If this land is owned by Bath and North East Somerset and the developer is [...] effectively Bath and North East Somerset, what is it that is costing so much money that means this isn’t affordable?”

Green Park Road Car Park is a council-owned site and the developer is Aequus, a building company wholly owned by the council itself.

Last week, the council agreed to establish a limited liability partnership (LLP) with the company in order to deliver the development.