Major plans are advancing to build eight blocks of student accommodation for almost 1,000 students in Bath.

The University of Bath plans to build eight new ‘passivhaus’ low carbon blocks of student accommodation at its Claverton Down campus. The new student accommodation would house 964 students.

One large block would be built over the current tennis courts just north of the university’s running track, with another large block built over what is currently the P Car Park. Six smaller blocks of accommodation would be built in a row across the sports pitches between the running track and the edge of the campus.

The site has already been taken out of the official green belt to facilitate the development of the university campus. The blocks would range from four to five-storeys tall.

Two new padel courts would be created on campus to make up for the two tennis courts which would be lost. The development will seek ‘passivhaus’ certification — a high standard of energy efficiency.

Plans are at an early stage and a full planning application has not been submitted yet. But the university has submitted a request to the council for an opinion on what environmental information would be needed for a full planning application.

The university is running a two day public consultation at the end of the month so that the public can share their thoughts on the plans at this stage. One session will be held between 3-7pm on Tuesday, April 29 at the Innovation Centre, Carpenter House, Broad Quay Bath BA1 1UD.

The second will take place 3-7pm on Wednesday, April 30, in the foyer of the University of Bath Sports Training Village, Claverton Down Campus, BA2 7AY.

The university’s chief operating officer Dr Ghazwa Alwani-Starr said: “This is an important development for the University and I hope that as many members of our community as possible will come and see the proposals and have their say on this exciting project.”

Increased student accommodation on the east side of the campus is a part of the university’s masterplan which was developed with a range of stakeholders and agreed with Bath and North East Somerset Council in 2021.

You can view the request to the council on Bath and North East Somerset Council’s planning portal here: https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/webforms/planning/details.html?refval=25%2F01283%2FSCREEN#details_Section