Date published: 2025-03-20 | Category: Bath, Delivering for local residents, Housing
Work to prepare a former gas works site in Bath for the development of around 900 quality, sustainable market and affordable homes as well as a riverside park is under way. Contractors have begun work on land remediation and infrastructure on the Bath Western Riverside Phase 2 site.
The 12.4 acre brownfield site is owned by Bath & North East Somerset Council and developer Berkeley Homes. Berkeley Homes, which is experienced in the regeneration of underutilised gasworks and gasholder sites, is carrying out the remediation work, which is expected to be completed by next spring.
Earlier this year, cabinet members approved £18,202,421 of additional funding from Homes England Housing & Infrastructure Funding (HIF) for the work.
The council used the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority Land Acquisition Fund to acquire the three large gas holders in the centre of the site and the surrounding land, which was owned by National Grid, was transferred to St William (Berkeley Homes). A land swap in 2024 provided both parties with developable plots of land and close collaboration with Homes England has ensured the plans enhance local heritage and fit the city’s UNESCO World Heritage status.
Homes England Housing & Infrastructure Funding (HIF) was used to carry out the gas rationalisation and associated enabling works, removing the network of live gas pipes across the site. The second stage of the project will include the land remediation, removal of the east pipe bridge and tree planting.
The key partners marked the start of the work with a groundbreaking event.
Councillor Matt McCabe, Cabinet Member for Built Environment, Housing and Sustainable Development said: I am very pleased to see work is under way to prepare the site for the delivery of Phase 2. It allows us to make further progress on our commitment to provide a mix of homes that are badly needed in our area. We are extremely grateful to Homes England and West of England Mayoral Combined Authority for the grant funding that allowed us to secure delivery of this strategically important regeneration project in the heart of Bath.”
The site is a central plank of the council’s five-year housing supply under the Local Plan Partial Update. Housing affordability a key pillar of the council’s Economic Strategy 2024-2034 and its Housing Plan 2025-30.
Elkie Russell, Managing Director, Berkeley, said: “We are excited to transform this redundant brownfield site into a new landmark place to live in the heart of Bath. Once complete the 611 new, high-quality, low-carbon private and affordable homes will sit alongside a new public park, river walk, café and children’s nursery.
“We are hugely proud to be delivering these works in partnership with Bath & North East Somerset Council and Homes England, and to have the opportunity to transform this redundant brownfield site into a sustainable city centre neighbourhood. We have worked closely with the council, Historic England, ICOMOS and others throughout the planning process to design a place that positively contributes to the site’s heritage and setting within Bath. This spirit of partnership has extended to working with the council and Homes England to secure £18.2 million of much needed funding to assist in the remediation of this contaminated land. We look forward to working with the council to deliver this key site and transform this part of the city.”
Pauline Schaffer, Director of Infrastructure Funding, Homes England, said: “The Bath Western Riverside development is an excellent example of how funding from Homes England is helping to create new homes and thriving places people can be proud of.
“It’s great to see the regeneration of this site moving forward and we are committed to continuing to support Bath & North East Somerset Council and Berkley Homes to achieve their housing ambitions.”
Dan Norris, the Mayor of the West of England, said: “It’s right that we build new homes in the right places, and redevelop brownfield land. Bath Riverside is just that. This former gas works, around the corner from Oldfield Park railway station, will in the not-too-distant future be home to around 900 new homes, a nursery, and a new park.
“I’m delighted that the £8 million investment from my Mayoral Combined Authority to secure the site has led to this £18.2 million funding from Homes England to finish unlocking the space for the new homes that local people need in central Bath.”
ENDS
Photo caption left to right: Donné Caswell, Homes England, Councillor Matt McCabe, Elkie Russell, Berkeley, Councillor Kevin Guy, Dan Norris, Mayor of the West of England.