The scheme comprises four buildings of co-living studios, transforming a neglected plot on the bank of the river Avon, within the Bath Western Riverside regeneration area.
The location on Lower Bristol Road and Windsor Bridge is occupied by Victoria Park Business Centre, a former industrial site. It falls within Bath and North East Somerset Council’s riverside regeneration area, comprising industrial land identified for the delivery of more than 2,000 homes.
FCBS, which has its headquarters in Bath, has drawn up plans on behalf of Blue Coast Capital in collaboration with co-living experts VervLife, for what would be the city’s first wholly co-living scheme.
The landscape strategy includes developing a green buffer of planting between the river’s edge and the new buildings, in addition to garden courtyards and growing space for residents. A new pedestrian and cycle route would be created to the tow path.
FCBS architect Nathan Fairbrother said the scheme would occupy a ‘critical gateway’ into the city, adding: ‘The project seeks to sensitively repair this important urban edge, contributing to the renewal of the river corridor while strengthening connections between the city and its landscape.
Fairbrother added that the design drew on the site’s industrial past and the historic character of the area.
Blue Coast Capital’s UK real estate managing director John Stacey said: ‘Our project will transform an underutilised brownfield plot into a vibrant new neighbourhood, delivering exemplar co-living accommodation and major improvements to the public realm.’
The Bath Western Riverside regeneration project was drawn up in 2010. Last year, a Grimshaw-designed 611-mixed tenure residential-led development started on the site of a former gas works near the plot for the FCBS scheme.
The planning application was submitted to Bath and North East Somerset Council on 12 December.
Project team
Client Blue Coast Capital
Co-living Operator VervLife
Architect Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
Landscape, Townscape & VIS, Ecology & Biodiversity NPA
Planning Planning Sphere
M&E Engineer, sustainability, fire and lighting consultant ARUP
Structural engineer and flood risk BuroHappold
Transport, noise, air quality assessment Entran
Heritage MontageEvans
Housing viability Pioneer
Community engagement Creatirix
Quantity surveyor CoreFive
Viability statement Knight Frank
S106 head of terms CMS
Visualisation of FCBS’s plans for Bath’s first entirely co-living scheme
