HUB and Bridges Fund Management have secured planning approval for a new regenerative mixed-use development at Pines Way in Bath. Designed by JTP Architects and developed alongside the local community, the transformative plans will increase the diversity of housing in the city, delivering 275 build-to-rent homes and 179 shared/co-living homes alongside extensive shared amenity and landscaping.
The currently derelict site will also see six new flexible commercial spaces introduced totalling more than 1,100 sqm, contributing to the Bath Western Riverside local economy. The mixed-use approach has been designed to create an attractive and liveable community connected to Bath city centre by a short riverside walk.
Plans for the development were inspired by extensive community engagement, with over 800 insights gathered from the local community through a series of public events and focus groups over eight months. JTP Architects and Bradley Murphy Design have ensured that the industrial history and heritage of the site has influenced the scheme’s architecture and landscape design, where opportunities for incorporating found objects have been identified.
The development will include more than 6,100 sqm of publicly accessible space including areas for play and improved pedestrian and cycle routes. A strong focus on green space will deliver a biodiversity net gain of over 20% through generous communal garden spaces and biodiverse landscaping.
Further to this, contributions totalling more than £2.3m will go towards Bath and North East Somerset Council’s social and environmental infrastructure, including the delivery of its social housing projects and the Bath River Line Project.
The scheme targets high environmental standards including BREEAM Excellent for the commercial space, 4* Home Quality Mark and Fitwel 3 stars. The design incorporates photovoltaic panels, green roofs and high-efficiency air source heat pumps, so the building can be zero carbon in operation.
The Pines Way development adds to developer HUB and impact investor Bridges’ strong track record of delivering well-designed, sustainable, and community-led residential schemes together. Recently, these have included their Yardhouse project in Hammersmith and Fulham, which commenced on site last year to deliver 209 co-living homes alongside 60 affordable homes and the completion of phase 1 of their Leeds scheme along Holbeck viaduct in the emerging Monk Bridge quarter. Last month, HUB and Bridges also secured planning approval for Assemblies, a 277-home office-to-co-living conversion in the City of London.
Victoria Manston, Head of Development at HUB, said: “Today’s planning success is a testament to the commitment of the project team to deliver an outstanding new place for the Bath community to embrace and enjoy. We have worked closely and collaboratively with local people, organisations and the council to ensure Pines Way is not only a great place to live, but also to work and visit. It will play a key role in diversifying housing in Bath, where shared living is still fledgling, and help to ensure that renters have more high quality, professionally managed options available. Pines Way is a crucial part of the wider regeneration happening in this area, and demonstrates the catalytic impact BTR can have for driving investment in places to see them transformed for the better.”
Adam Amijee, Investment Manager at Bridges Fund Management, said: “We’re delighted to receive planning consent for this exciting new scheme. The success of our proposal reflects our ongoing focus on working with local authorities and local communities to create attractive homes with well-designed amenities in areas where there is a clear housing need. It also reflects our commitment to sustainability: these homes will be built to the highest environmental standards, which is not only better for the planet but also reduces living costs for occupiers. We believe this development can play a key role in transforming Bath’s Riverside area.”
Nigel Bidwell, Partner at JTP, said: “It has been a rewarding and positive process working with HUB and Bridges Fund Management to secure planning approval for the Pines Way project. Engaging with the local community and planning authority has enriched the design proposals, and the development delivers on the city’s aspirations for Bath Western Riverside, transforming an empty site into a confident new place, whilst carefully responding to the site’s wider setting and industrial heritage. Today’s decision will lead to the delivery of high-quality, characterful buildings that frame green spaces for local people to enjoy and deliver much needed new housing in this exciting new quarter of the city.”