Bath Spa University eyes warehouse venture

Bath Spa University has submitted plans to transform a warehouse to provide teaching space.The application concerns a vacant site on Locksbrook Trading Estate, with the applicant looking to provide “good quality teaching space”.With the completion of works at the Herman Miller Building opposite the site, enabling the use of that area for education uses, the applicant is seeking a temporary permission for education use to provide “flexibility within its short to medium term operations”.This would also enable the relocation of students from elsewhere across the BSU estate to contribute to the creation of a new education hub at Locksbrook Road.Elsewhere, a trio of existing small office spaces would remain on the site, while the kitchen would be replaced by a common room.A planning statement submitted to the authority said: “Overall, it is considered that the scheme fulfils the goals of adopted and emerging planning policies, making full and effective use of an existing vacant brownfield site, while providing additional teaching and storage facilities for BSU without impacting upon the viability and vitality of the surrounding employment activities.”A decision of the application could be made later this year.