Bath Western Riverside Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

2.2 Vision Statement for BWR2.2.1 The vision for the Bath Western Riversideredevelopment is to create a sustainable mixed usedcity quarter that is a contemporary addition to the city,with its own distinct identity, but is respectful of thestrong established traditions of the town planning andbuilding of Bath which have led to its designation as aWorld Heritage Site.2.2.2 The tradition of well planned and linked spaces framedby high quality built form is a key theme for creating aquality development that befits its unique context.There are numerous significant opportunities to createthe highest quality public spaces. In addition to themain public realm areas there will be a series ofintimate and incidental public spaces following thetraditions of the city.2.2.3 The transverse north-south pedestrian routes buildingon established desire lines are a key feature of thepositive links to the existing communities, and establisha strong relationship with Victoria Park to the north forboth the new and existing residents. This is shown onPlan 2.2.2.2.4 Links from the west and into the city centre will bestrong with a new Rapid Transit System that joins theredevelopment site and the city centre with frequentand speedy public service vehicles.2.2.5 The eastern end of the site closest to the city willprovide a new extension to the city centre based on amix of uses with a higher proportion of commercialuses. The western end of the site will respond stronglyto the residential quarters adjacent with predominantlyresidential uses.2.2.6 The sites location on the valley floor dictates thatroofscape and choice of materials are critical aspectsof the built form. In addition the need to protect theviews and connections to the natural landscape willlimit the scale of the built form in relation to the widercity and landscape setting.2.2.7 The design of the built form should be enduring; muchof the city fabric has this enduring quality this is in partdue to one of the key characteristics of the built form inBath, which is that of the completeness of the historicfabric. Large areas of historic fabric have beensensitively reused rather than be subject to wholesaleclearance and redevelopment. This is testament to thestrong conservation movement in the city since the1960’s, coupled with the lack of major roadimprovements or extensive war damage. Both thetraditional layouts and the buildings have adapted tocontemporary uses. The Georgian terrace isacknowledged as an adaptable sustainable buildingtype2.2.8 The future for the city and its hinterland identified by theFuture for Bath Vision relies on recognising the existingstrengths of the city and building on these to create atruly successful world-class city centre. Bath has thispotential.2.2.9 The redevelopment will focus on the River Avon, thesites strongest natural asset, which will be fullyacknowledged and addressed by significant publicopen space along its length2.2.10 The design of the built form should be enduring.2.2.11 The site falls naturally into two parts either side ofVictoria Bridge Road, the emphasis on uses anddesign responses changes most dramatically at thispoint in the site. With the east being very much part ofan extension to the existing city centre, and to the westa more supporting role to the city, providing asustainable location for a new community2.2.12 Bath Western Riverside is the first part of the vision forthe Future for Bath, and as such it must be anexemplar of the quality of new urban fabric of the city,and in particular an exemplar of sustainabledevelopment that respects its unique context within theWorld Heritage Site.2.2.13 Western Riverside regeneration has to embrace this inproviding the highest quality built form and public realmto attract and retain investment, and embrace arenewed ambition for the city.Bath Western Riverside Supplementary Planning Document 13