The land ‘sandwiched’ between the cottages and the car park
Asquare Properties Ltd have withdrawn their controversial plans to build seven homes on land between a row of historic cottages in Keynsham and a council car park.
In their application, the developer had described the land as “sandwiched” between the rear boundaries of the listed Tenhouses terrace on Bath Hill and Bath Hill East Car Park.
Three four-bed houses, three one-bed flats and one two-bed flat above a garage were proposed on the site, which is in the Keynsham Conservation Area.
The withdrawal of the plans follows criticism from local residents, Keynsham Town Council and officers at Bath & North East Somerset Council.
Posters were put up in windows of the cottages saying: ‘We say No to the Bath Hill Sandwich’. Keynsham Town Council warned that the proposal would “destroy and diminish the character of this section of the town’s conservation area”.
The proposed access
B&NES Council’s conservation officer had been concerned about the impact on the listed terrace and the conservation area, while the ecology officer objected on the grounds of the net loss of biodiversity and green infrastructure. She also said there was insufficient information to enable the planning authority to fully assess the likely impact on protected species.
Meanwhile a council highways officer said the proposed access arrangement from Bath Hill was “sub-standard” and would harm road safety, and that the developer had failed to show how satisfactory walking and cycling connections could be achieved; the proposed car parking provision was also considered to be below the council’s adopted standards.
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