Hotel on college site set to be approved
Revised plans for a new “premium lifestyle” hotel in Bath city centre have been recommended for approval.
Dominvs Group’s original application to demolish Bath College’s Allen Building in James Street West and build a 202-bed hotel were thrown out by councillors due to the “scandalous” standard of architecture.
It has since cut the number of bedrooms to 198 and the height by 1.4 metres and says the building will have a contemporary design.
Bath and North East Somerset Council planning officers said the changes make a “good building better still”.
Councillors threw out the previous application because the scale, height and design “failed to preserve or enhance the conservation area”.
The revised plans say: “The proposed high quality scheme is a modern contemporary building and is entirely appropriate to its 20th and 21st century site context.
“Whilst the previous scheme had an officer recommendation for approval - but was refused at development management committee the applicant has positively responded with design amendments following ongoing discussions with members, Bath Preservation Trust and officers.”
There were 168 objections to the original proposals but a more modest 33 to the revisions, with the majority reiterating their previous complaints.
Opponents said many Bath hotels are struggling, the number of bedrooms planned is already on track to exceed forecast demand, and other factors like Airbnb had not been taken into account.
B&NES Council has commissioned a study of tourist accommodation in Bath and the Federation of Bath Residents’ Associations argued it was premature for councillors to consider the plans before that research was published.
But Bath Preservation Trust was appeased. It said: “The trust has reviewed this new application and, whilst we continue to feel the proposal is not particularly inspired, we acknowledge that our main concerns regarding the original proposal have been mitigated via the reduction in height and the redesign of the corner elevation.”
Historic England also withdrew its objection.
Assessing the revised proposals, B&NES Council planning officers said: “It is important to note that the committee refused the previous application solely on design grounds and in doing so accepted that the development was acceptable in all other respects.
“The proposed reduction in height of 1.4 metres is significant, and this coupled with a further reduction in the roof top plant, will substantially reduce the impact and dominance of the building within the street scene.
“The lightening of the zinc metal cladding material has the effect of rendering the building less heavy in appearance; this is a welcome change. The effect of the design changes has been to make a good building better still.”
The officers noted that the need for 750 hotel bedrooms up to 2030 had largely been met but said that figure is not a cap. They said there was “no adequate evidence” that exceeding the number would cause “unacceptable economic harm to the city and its hotel sector”
The officers said it would instead bring economic benefits - the hotel is expected to create up to 100 fulltime-equivalent jobs, accommodate 57,800 overnight visitors and boost the economy by £4.1million.
The development includes a café/bar/restaurant at ground floor level as well as a delicatessen and a gym at lower ground floor level.
The development management committee will consider the application on October 24.