Bath’s long-awaited Quays North development is to be revised to include space for research, innovation and enterprise under a new link-up between Bath & North East Somerset Council and the University of Bath.
The university said the partnership would boost the creation of start-up and spin-out businesses, attract more investment to the city and help it retain more graduates.
The university has stepped in as the council’s development partner on the 5.5-acre brownfield site following the expiry of a previous agreement with investor L&G.
Under that agreement, signed just over five years ago, Quays North was to be regenerated with a 306,000 sq ft office-led, mixed-use scheme, pictured.
The Avon Street car park which dominated the high-profile riverfront area was demolished in two years ago, shortly before a new bridge was opened across the River Avon linking the site to the Bath Quays South development.
L&G received planning approval just two months ago for the final stage of its proposed scheme, including around 160,000 sq ft of offices, a 130-bed hotel, a 411-space underground car park for 411 cars, and 92 flats along with some retail units.
The council and university said their new Memorandum of Understanding would lead to collaboration on a joint vision for regenerating site, which forms part of the larger Bath City Riverside Enterprise Zone.
Talks would now start about “exciting possibilities including new space for research, innovation and enterprise activities” that would bring important economic activity to the heart of the city, they added.
the existing outline planning permission will be used a basis for these discussions.
Cabinet member for economic and cultural sustainable development, Cllr Paul Roper, said the development both Bath Quays sites were key aspects of delivering the council’s economic strategy.
Following recent office lettings at Bath Quays South, that site was now almost fully let and” securing hundreds of jobs in the city, generating real economic benefit and renewal”.
“Delivery of the Bath Quays North site is now our focus and the recent planning approval marks a major development in delivering the scheme,” he added.
“We look forward to working with the University of Bath over the coming months to make our Bath Quays North vision a reality.”
University of Bath president & vice chancellor Prof Ian White said: “This exciting opportunity could create a new dimension to a range of university activities, boosting our life-changing research and job-creating innovation.
“This agreement marks the beginning of our conversations, but the site could enable more public involvement with our science and research, and help our city retain more of our graduate talent, start-up and spin-out businesses that begin life at the University of Bath and attract further inward investment.
“We at the university are deeply proud of our home city, and this agreement could unlock the next phase of the university’s development, one that is co-created with partners, enabling us to play an even bigger role in building the vibrant and thriving city and region we seek.”
The council and university, along with Bath Spa University and Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, recently signed a future ambition civic agreement to look at ways they can collaborate to “drive inclusive economic prosperity, create high value jobs and enhance public wellbeing”, in partnership with businesses, the public and third sectors organisations.
