Issue details

At the WECA Committee in December 2020, an allocation of £2m from the Investment Fund was made to strategic masterplanning. The Committee delegated the approval of Feasibility and Development Funding Applications for specific proposals to the WECA Chief Executive in consultation with the Chief Executives of the constituent Councils.

A Feasibility and Development Funding Application has been submitted by B&NES Council seeking to utilise £434k of the masterplanning allocation. This would see the development of a masterplan for an area including Milsom Street, Broad Street, Quiet Street, New Bond Street and George Street. Within this area there are several key development sites including Cattlemarket and Broad Street car park, together with several key buildings of importance such as King Edwards School, Jolly’s department store, the Old Post Office and YMCA.

The Milsom Street area of Bath is experiencing an accelerating decline in retail demand associated with the shift to on-line shopping and changing consumer habits, which has been heightened as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic. In addition, a significant proportion of the Council’s commercial estate is focused around Milsom Street and the northern part of the city centre, and structural changes being experienced are threatening the stability, income potential and value of the Council’s assets

The funding proposed will support the engagement of a property-led multi-disciplinary team to develop a masterplan, expected by July 2021.

The Chief Executives of the WECA constituent councils were consulted on this proposal and were in agreement with the decision.