Bath Spa University has acquired a site in the city which could be developed into student accommodation.
The university has bought the 0.09 hectare (0.23 acre) site next to its campus on Locksbrook Road from property firm Summix for an undisclosed amount.
Formerly the location of a Plumb Centre trade counter, the site is located next to the University’s new art and design facility in the former Herman Miller Factory.
Planning permission has already been secured to create more than 1,700 sq m of new employment space for local businesses, as well as the delivery of 80 student rooms.
BusinessLive’s sister website SomersetLive reported last year a government planning inspector overruled Bath and North East Somerset Council’s previous decision to reject Summix’s proposals for the site, after identifying a “substantial shortfall” in student accommodation in the city.
The move could see the demolition of the building and its replacement with a three-storey development, which could also include an expanded Genesis Centre gym which currently operates at the site.
Bath Spa University has plans to develop a ‘walkable’ campus around Locksbrook Road, as well as a sustainable travel link there to its other campus further west of the city centre at Newton Park.
Paul Fox, pro-vice chancellor of Bath Spa University, said: "We’re extremely pleased to have acquired this important site on Locksbrook Road, which is the next step in developing the Locksbrook ‘walkable’ campus in line with our Strategy 2030 vision which puts ‘creative enterprise at the heart of all we do’.”
Stuart Black, development director for Summix, added: “We’re delighted to have completed the sale of our Locksbrook Road site to Bath Spa University.
“The site is ideally located to help facilitate expansion around the University’s exceptional new art and design building. We’re pleased to be able to help support Bath Spa in achieving their vision as part of its Strategy 2030 and look forward to seeing new life breathed into the site.”
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