Car restriction to be enforced as housing plan agreed

Approval has been granted for a new accommodation block in Bath with more than 60 rooms for students - but they will face eviction if they bring their cars. The redevelopment of the Old Bakery site on Jews Lane, off Lower Bristol Road in Twerton, was granted permission from the council last week. At the meeting of Bath and North East Somerset Council’s development management committee, concerns were raised by councillor Will Sandry that high levels of student accommodation would hollow out local communities. He also raised the issue of parking spaces. The scheme which will also feature a two-storey employment building, will involve the loss of 15 parking spaces, with only seven of the current 22 being retained. There will be two extra disabled bays. Bristol-based applicant Deeley Freed, on a website dedicated to the plans, says the bedrooms would be built in “affordable cluster flats”. In a stern warning, development manager Ross Chester said the carfree plans had been submitted after meetings with residents and students would be encouraged to walk, cycle and use public transport. “We will expressly write into their lease that they are not allowed to bring cars to the city and if they do they will have their leases terminated – that is a pretty strong stick,” he previously told our website Bath Live. The proposals also include a “flexible employment” building that could more than double the existing number of jobs. The 0.18-hectare site is currently occupied by a commercial kitchen, offices and a storage facility. The student building will be managed 24/7 and there will be CCTV covering communal and outdoor areas. It will be car-free but there will be a drop-off area. Students will be required to sign a tenancy agreement and a code of conduct - one condition being that they do not keep a car within three kilometres of the site - and there will be a hotline for residents to make complaints out-of-hours. Addressing these issues, CRM Students which will manage the accommodation, said steps will be undertaken to enforce the parking conditions. A spokesman said: “Confirmation of the parking restrictions will be included in the Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement and Welcome Handbook issued to all students. “The on-site management team will undertake daily checks (during office working hours) to observe if any of the students are utilising a motorised vehicle.” Photographic evidence will be used and students issue with a warning with seven days to comply.