Work on transforming Bath’s former Royal Mineral Water Hospital into a luxury hotel with spa facilities is to start soon following council approval of revised plans for the high-profile site.
Singapore-based hotel investor Fragrance UK, which acquired the Grade II* listed building in 2018 for £21.5m, said its 160-bedroom scheme would support biodiversity on the site through a range of planting as well as using green walls and roofs to boost its sustainability credentials.
The firm also said as well as rejuvenating the historic site on Upper Borough Walls, the project would boost Bath’s post-Covid economic recovery by around £35m and create up to 120 jobs.
After an earlier planning application to Bath & North East Somerset Council was rejected, Fragrance UK’s design team revised the proposals to take into account planners’ concerns about the appearance of an extension to the rear of the site.
The team was led by award-winning Bath-based architecture firm Aaron Evans Architects, which has an extensive track record of designing high-quality developments in the city for the past 40 years.
The two 18th century buildings making up the Min were originally opened to cater for people who came to the city for the healing properties of its mineral waters and are connected by a two-story bridge link and a tunnel.
Having been used by for medical purposes for more than 300 years, the site has been vacant since the remaining health services were transferred to Bath’s main Royal United Hospital.
Martin Rogers, from Global Hotels & Leisure Consultancy, on behalf of the Fragrance Group, said the scheme took the site’s heritage and distinctive architecture into account, including its historic links to Bath’s world-famous thermal waters.
“We are delighted that members overwhelmingly approved our revised proposals to rejuvenate and sensitively extend Bath’s Royal Mineral Water Hospital, helping to secure the long-term future of this cherished heritage asset,” he said.
“Our revised proposals sought to respond positively to the concerns which were raised during the determination of the previous application for the site, representing a significant amount of engagement with officers, statutory consultees and other stakeholders.
“We look forward to commencing work as soon as possible and helping to support Bath’s post-Covid recovery through significant investment into the local community and creation of much needed new jobs.”
The Fragrance Group owns six UK hotels – including the Townhouse in Manchester, the Crown in Harrogate and the Imperial in Blackpool – and as well as The Min is working on the redevelopment of the Grade II* listed former Liverpool City Council office into 185-bed four-star hotel.
Founded in 2000 by Koh Wee Meng, one of Singapore’s richest businessmen with a fortune of around $1.9bn (£1.54bn) according to Forbes magazine, the group also has 21 properties in Singapore and a number of outlets in Australia.
Opening The Min will put Fragrance Group up against Malaysian conglomerate YTL’s hotel operations, which opened the five-star, 99-room Gainsborough Hotel in Bath five years ago.
