Morley Fund Management, the CGNU subsidiary, is to make a sixth bid to win backing for a controversial £150m redevelopment (pictured) of Baths Southgate centre.
The application is likely to go before Bath and North East Somerset council this spring in a bid to end a five-year-old row.
Morley believes it has made significant progress in the last few days, persuading the local authority to agree a partnership approach to help resolve the two principal issues holding back the plan the design of a new bus station and options for a ramp access to it.
In return, Morley, which is working jointly with Shearer Property Holdings on Southgate, has commissioned architect Wilkinson Eyre to carry out further design work.
Clive Thomas, strategic director of economic and environmental development at B&NES council, will chair a series of meetings involving interested groups.
Morley and the council hope final proposals will go to a development control committee meeting in the spring.
Jim Drysdale of Morley Fund Management, said: “I am pleased that B&NES has responded positively to our proposals and welcome their positive approach. We are confident that the two outstanding issues can now be resolved early in 2002.”
Clive Thomas of B&NES added: “Considerable improvements to the scheme have already been achieved. It is important that we resolve these outstanding items quickly, in order that the redevelopment process can proceed with purpose.
“I look forward with renewed optimism that an acceptable solution can be achieved.”
The Southgate centre, which will replace the existing centre and bus station, includes a new bus station, around 35,356 sq m (380,580 sq ft) of retail, 5,892 sq m (63,420 sq ft) of leisure and 6,052 sq m (65,145 sq ft) of residential.
Plans will also be submitted for a 725-space underground car park.
EGi News 07/01/02
