Plans in for £6m Roman Baths project

Plans have been submitted for a new £6m learning centre at Bath’s historic roman baths, which could welcome 100,000 visitors per year.Following public consultation, an application has been submitted by Bath and North East Somerset Council for The Archway Project, including a World Heritage Centre and Roman Baths Learning Centre.Proposals include the refurbishment of the former Victorian spa buildings along Swallow Street and works within the underlying undercroft vaults to provide new access to areas of the monument and the Roman remains.The Roman Baths Learning Centre will be created above the former city laundry in Swallow Street with a World Heritage Site Visitor Centre in York Street.The current education facility at the site currently comprises one room within the museum. The new development will provide improved facilities and new access to the baths as well as an ‘investigation centre’.There are also plans to utilise energy recovered from waste water in the Roman Drain to heat the Centre.Work on the project, which is backed by investment from the Heritage Lottery Fund, is due to be completed by December 2017 when the site will reopen to visitors.Construction consultancy Edmond Shipway was appointed as a cost consultant on the project last year.