The first show flat at a major £16.6m student housing development in Bath opened this week as transformation of the historic Twerton Mill neared completion.
The scheme will convert the former landmark building on Lower Bristol Road into a state-of-the-art student housing complex.
The project is being developed by McLaren Property with construction work carried out by Bristol-based Midas.
The project will create much-needed new student accommodation for Bath with 330 bedrooms in a mixture of studios, en-suite clusters and townhouses, which it is hoped will free up more privately-rented accommodation in Bath for local families.
Work began on site at the historic former mill last May and the new complex is due to be completed this August in time for the new academic year.
Bristol-based architects Stride Treglown worked with Bath and North East Somerset Council to ensure the regeneration fully reflected the historic importance of the site.
Twerton Mill was originally home to cloth manufacturing company Wilkin’s which dominated the area in the 19th century and made military uniforms during World War I.
However, the mill buildings have been derelict for many years ahead of the current project.
Those behind the scheme hope it will help meet the shortfall of student accommodation in the Bath area, with almost 10,000 rooms having to be privately rented in the city for the student population, taking up properties which could be used for local families.
Bath and North East Somerset Council leader Paul Crossley said: “One of the issues with having two very successful universities in Bath is that it puts pressure on our affordable family housing, particularly to Twerton, Westmorland and Oldfield.
“For us, the advantage of purpose-built student accommodation like this is that it gives the student better accommodation and a better landlord experience, but it also takes pressure off our existing housing. A vibrant city needs a mix of everything, it needs good universities and young people coming in to the area, but it also needs housing for our young families.”
Midas Group chief executive Alan Hope added: “This former mill is on a main commuter route and an important gateway site for students from both Bath Spa University and the University of Bath, and the high standard of the development and build will offer an enviably modern accommodation option for students.
“The contemporary design of the new development also manages to pay homage to the rich industrial heritage of the site, with many traditional materials employed in the construction of the new buildings.”
Pictured, from left: Stuart Black, McLaren Property development director; Midas chief executive Alan Hope, and council leader Paul Crossley
