
We were very disappointed to attend the last Development Management Committee and to see the councillors approve the latest version of the Chivers House scheme (95 residential units in 2 blocks at 6 and 7 storeys high) despite the planning officer’s recommendation to refuse the scheme on the basis of loss of industrial space and harm (through design, heights and planform) to the setting of the conservation area and World Heritage site. Of particular note in the design of the scheme was that buildings sit hard and tight to the boundaries of a very constrained site, with very little public realm and almost no amenity space; basically overdevelopment of the plot. Caroline Kay spoke against the scheme at the meeting. You can read the minutes of the meeting and how the councillors reached their decision here: https://democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=23819