Eagle One Estates Ltd’s 34-bedroom purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) scheme is set to come before Bath & North East Somerset Council’s planning committee this week (W/C 10 February 2025).
Councillors are being asked to delegate permission to planning officers to permit the conversion of offices on the Lower Bristol Road to provide accommodation for 34 students.
Proposals include retaining most of the 22 existing car parking spaces on the site and providing secure parking for 24 bikes. The only external changes proposed are new windows.
“The site occupies a highly accessible location close to the city centre core and is well positioned to serve the requirements of both of the city’s universities.
“It is situated in a transport corridor in an area of mixed uses comprising commercial and, increasingly, residential uses, including student accommodation.”
An accompanying report from a city property consultant says that ‘Berkeley House is not strategically important office accommodation for Bath’.”
Statement, Eagle One Estates
Eagle One Estates Ltd submitted the plans for Berkeley House, which forms part of a group of buildings known as The Square, in October 2024. A report submitted by property consultants Carter Jonas considered the site as in need of development.
“Berkeley House is not strategically important office accommodation for Bath.
“It has reached a state of natural obsolescence for its existing use, in common with similar office buildings across the country.
“The nature of the property’s built form severely limits the ability to adapt to meet modern office standards.”
Carter Jonas report
The Berkeley House site occupies a highly accessible location close to the city centre core, and is well positioned to serve the requirements of both of the city’s universities.
Council planning officers say the proposed change of use of Berkeley House from offices to student accommodation is in accordance with the Local Plan as a whole and that no conflict with any relevant policy has been identified.
“Whilst material considerations relating to loss of office space, jobs and economic activity have been raised, these do not outweigh compliance with relevant policies.
“The site is adjacent to a significantly larger student accommodation development, which provides evidence that the proposed use can be accommodated in this area without detriment to neighbouring uses, local amenity or environmental quality.
“It is judged that residual impacts to transport, amenity, ecology, sustainability and flood risk can be managed through planning conditions and obligations. No material considerations have been identified that warrant refusal of the application.”
Report, Bath & North East Somerset Council planning team
