Bath’s first major office development for more than 20 years has been given the go-ahead after councillors overruled objections to the scheme from their own officers.
The 113,000 sq ft grade A office development at Pinesgate on Lower Bristol Road will help Bath overcome its marked shortage of employment space – an issue property market figures say has already driven some expanding firms out of the city. 
The scheme also includes an international college campus with 43,000 sq ft of teaching space and accommodation for 358 students.
Edinburgh-based developer Ediston Real Estate has spent five years drawing up its plans for the high-profile site. Proposals put before Bath and North East Somerset Council (B&NES) in February last year were rejected because of the height and scale of the buildings and the materials Ediston planned to use.
Officers had called for a revised scheme submitted by Ediston to again be rejected due to its height and the detrimental impact it would have on the city’s standing as a World Heritage Site.
Bath Preservation Trust had also objected on similar grounds although the city’s Chamber of Commerce called for it to go ahead, arguing that the scheme would help address the lack of modern office space and stop firms from re-locating to other cities while also “sending out a clear message to inward investors that the reputation Bath has gained as being a difficult place for development is misplaced”.
The Chamber’s submission continued: “A negative response would not only be a tragedy for this particular scheme, it would disastrously confirm in the minds of potential investors that their time and money would be better spent elsewhere.”
Following approval of the scheme by the council’s development management committee, Ediston development manager Niall McLean said: “After five long years, we are delighted our proposals have been approved by B&NES.
“We can now look forward to providing much needed Grade A office accommodation and an international college campus at this site. B&NES clearly have sent a great message – Bath is open for business.”
The office building will provide space for around 1,000 employees and will shortly be marketed to potential occupiers.
Two weeks ago Bath Business News revealed that the supply of prime office space in Bath had reached a five-year low. Last year the largest office letting in the city was 9,500 sq ft with the average just 1,600 sq ft – proof of a lack of stock.
Ediston is to partner with language school Kaplan International on the college campus on the remainder of the site.
Kaplan, which has operated a language school in Bath since 1997, said the scheme will give it the opportunity to provide a much wider range of academic courses including A-level and university pathway programmes.
The college will provide 69 full-time and 73 part-time jobs and is estimated to contribute more than £10m annually to the city’s economy once fully operational.
