Office space to be lost for 22 new flats
A city centre office block is set to be turned into 22 flats, despite a shortage of such a scale that the level of office floor space needed over the next 20 years is a bigger than the size of Sydney Gardens. Henry Boot Developments Ltd wants to convert the upper floors and part of the ground floor of Plymouth House into 19 one-bed and three two-bed apartments. It argues that the Monmouth Street location is highly sustainable, the flood risk is low and noise from the homes will not be an issue. The developer said the change of use meets the criteria for “permitted development”, which would allow it to go ahead without the need for planning permission. It has applied for “prior approval” from Bath and North East Somerset Council, which last year commissioned research on the impact the loss of office space was having. The report by Ortus Economic Research said the authority had identified the permitted development rights as a “threat to its local economy”. It added: “As a World Heritage site, Bath has a limited stock of B1 offices, a constant demand for residential property, along with few opportunities for new development. “Over the last 10 years, Bath and North East Somerset has seen a net loss of B1 [office] space and the position has deteriorated since 2013 and the extension of permitted development rights/introduction of prior approval.” The permitted development rights were extended to bring vacant properties back into use when there is weak demand for commercial premises. The Ortus report found that 590 jobs, £36million in output and £630,000 worth of business rates are at high risk from the conversion of office premises to residential. The council’s local plan calls for another 40,000m2 of office space over the next 20 years but Ortus said 18,000m2 had been lost so there is now a total demand for 58,000m2 - an area bigger than Sydney Gardens. The development document also says 13,000 new homes are needed, so there are increasing efforts to develop new residential spaces. B&NES Council could claw back control by reintroducing the requirement for developers to submit planning applications for changes of use, although the report said although there are risks in doing so. It concluded: “Alternatively, it may be decided that Bath’s economy should/could become less reliant on office based activity, resulting in conversion being seen as less of a challenge.”
Bath has seen a net loss of office space and the position has deteriorated since 2013