Revised plans for the redevelopment of the Homebase site on Pines Way to provide a new care community with mixed communal, office, commercial, and childcare facilities were refused at Planning Committee in December 2020. The application was refused on grounds of excessive height, bulk and massing within the World Heritage Site, use of inappropriate materials, and resulting harm to the character and appearance of the surrounding area and harm to the OUV of the World Heritage Site. An appeal has now been submitted to contest the Committee’s decision; the appellant argues that an increased density and bulk of development on the site is required to meet local policy requirements, and the development would sit within the height parameters set out in the Bath Building Heights Strategy and would be of a similar scale with other contemporary precedents in the area such as Pinesgate. The use of brick and metal cladding were intended as part of an “industrial design approach” and were considered largely acceptable by B&NES Council’s conservation team and urban design officer.
The Trust maintains that whilst we appreciate the site’s potential for positive regeneration, we reiterate that due to its excessive height, scale, massing, and inappropriate use of materials this development would fail to reinforce local distinctiveness, would not preserve or enhance the character of the Bath conservation area, and would harm views into and across the World Heritage Site.
You can read our original planning application consultation response here.
You can read our revised July planning application consultation response here.
You can read our revised November planning application consultation response here.
You can read our statement to Planning Committee here.