City’s first ‘co-living’ flats plan rejected

PLANS to redevelop a 140-yearold Bath laundry with the city’s first 155 co-living flats have been rejected.

Supporters praised developer Watkin Jones for scrapping student housing ambitions for the Regency Laundry site to propose flats they said would keep graduates and young professionals in Bath.

But critics said the estimated £950-a-month rent would not meet the need for affordable housing and the firm had failed to prove another commercial use was not viable.

Proposing approval of the scheme at Bath and North East Somerset Council’s planning meeting on Wednesday, Cllr Paul Crossley said: “It will be a vibrant part of the new housing market. This is a win, win, win for everyone in Bath and North East Somerset.”

The plans proposed 155 en-suite studios with kitchenettes with shared facilities including a gym, communal kitchens and dining areas, reading room, TV lounge, laundry room, co-working lounge and landscaped gardens.

Westmoreland ward councillor Colin Blackburn said young local people want to stay in the city but faced a lack of affordable options.

Objectors slammed the plans as “student housing in disguise” but councillors were told last month a tenancy agreement could require the flats to be occupied by professionals in full-time employment, making them liable for council tax, unlike student properties.

The St Peter’s Terrace site has been used for commercial laundry since 1879 but Regency Laundry, which employs 85 people, has outgrown it and is moving to larger, more modern premises in Corsham in Wiltshire.

The application was refused by five votes to three against, with one abstention.

Kenny Oke, development director of Watkin Jones, said after the meeting: “We are extremely disappointed with the decision taken today at the B&NES Council planning committee. We listened to the people of Bath and decided not to submit a policy compliant student accommodation scheme, instead providing a highly sustainable co-living scheme to create new homes aimed at younger people in the city and open up the ecological potential of the site by uncovering the Marl Brook.

“Rents are rising across the South West from a lack of rental housing supply. The conversion of an industrial unit to sustainable homes and co-working space open to the community would have helped to drive the city’s future economy, rather than more heavy traffic towards the city centre. We will now review our options for the site.”