LATEST NEWS

SOUTHGATE: BROAD QUAY ROAD CLOSURE

As part of the improvement to roads, pavements and crossing points between the new bus station and the new SouthGate retail development, reconstruction work has been progressing in Dorchester Street and Broad Quay.

Construction has identified essential works required to a broken water main in Broad Quay close to its junction with Dorchester Street.  In order to ensure the long term quality of the road when reconstructed, it is necessary to carry out immediate repair to the water main.  Improvements to the underlying condition of the highway will take place at the same time. This will require the closure of Broad Quay from 28 May 0600hrs, with work to be completed by 7 June.

Throughout this period west bound traffic will be diverted from Dorchester Street as vehicles will be unable to turn into Broad Quay, however to ease the impact private cars will be allowed to again travel east bound on Dorchester Street.  For a short time at the end of this period this system will be reversed in order to allow reconstruction to carry across the full width of the road.

Access to and from the railway station will continue via Manvers Street.  West bound buses will not travel along Manvers Street and Dorchester Street but will be re routed via North Parade and Pulteney Road, coming back into the city centre across Churchill Bridge.

We encourage road users to avoid this area and bus users should check with First Bus regarding any service diversions.

The Developer is working closely with the Council and First, and is liaising with near neighbours and emergency services to ensure that this work is carried out as swiftly as possible and with a minimum level of inconvenience.  The Council would like to thank the public for their patience during this period.

SOUTHGATE: WORK ON DORCHESTER STREET

Bath and North East Somerset Council is reminding motorists that construction work at the SouthGate site is continuing and is likely to impact traffic on Dorchester Street.  There is a one-way traffic system in place. This means that the area may be congested from the East through Manvers Street and from the West through St James’s Parade.

There is no access to Dorchester Street or Bath Spa railway station from St James’s Parade. Signs are advising motorists of the diversions.  The Council is asking road users to plan ahead for their journeys and is recommending motorists using Park & Ride services in order to avoid the potential congestion.

The work will continue during the May 2^nd 2009 Bank Holiday Weekend. Works to Dorchester Street are due to be completed at the end of May.

BATH STONE CLADDING SET TO COMMENCE TO PHASE 2 OF SOUTHGATE

Multi Development UK Ltd, the Developers behind the £360 million SouthGate development in Bath, have announced that installation of the Bath Stone cladding panels to the Phase 2 buildings is due to commence shortly. The first of these panels will be installed on the centre block fronting onto Dorchester Street and will progress towards Manvers Street, cladding the new Debenhams department store, which is due to open in Autumn 2010.

To allow these works and the upgrading works to western Dorchester Street to be carried out safely there will be restrictions on traffic. From the 16th March 2009 traffic in Dorchester Street will be restricted to westbound traffic only. Alternative routes via Rossiter Road will be sign-posted. Bath and North East Somerset Council is asking road users to plan their journeys taking into account the restrictions.

TRANSPORT INTERCHANGE

A gallery of images for SouthGate and the transport interchange are available to view via the web showing  what SouthGate will look like  by the end of 2010 click here to view.

Newsletter issued by Multi Development - Click here to view the Autumn issue.

Introduction

In 2003 planning approval was granted for the re-development of the Southgate area of Bath,  creating six new blocks made up of:

• 37,000 m² of retail space, which will be an increase of 17,000m² on the current area.  This will include a department store and a variety store;
  
• 3,500m² of leisure space;
  
• 2,300m²  of restaurant space;
  
• 93 residential units, 23 of which will be affordable housing;
  
• New public transport interchange, including a new bus station;
  
• New and improved public realm, including new streets and open spaces
  
• 724 car-parking spaces.

The parties involved in the project are:

• Freeholders : Bath & North East Somerset Council
  
• Lessee: CGNU Life (with Morley Fund Management as their fund managers)
  
• Developer/Investor: Multi Development UK, as Morley Fund Management’s Joint Venture Partner

CGNU had a long lease of just the shopping centre with 60 years still to run.  They own land outside the existing shopping centre, and so does the Council. 

In 2005 CGNU and the Council signed a new long lease which will be preceded by a Building Agreement.  The Building Agreement will ensure that the redevelopment of the centre is carried out as agreed, and will include compliance with the conditions of CGNU's planning consent    Also in 2005 to assist and ensure there are no land assembly impediments a Compulsory Purchase Order was made to acquire all the land and rights necessary for the scheme to proceed.

In October 2006 Multi Development UK Ltd became CGNU/Morley Fund Management’s Joint Venture Partner. Multi Development is committed to delivering Southgate within the shortest possible time frame, and expect to be on-site with construction early in 2007 doing everything within its power to deliver the total redevelopment completed by 2011.   

Debenhams has confirmed it is taking a 25 year lease of the 125,000 sq ft anchor department store, and will trade from four levels in the new building located at the corner of Manvers Street and Dorchester Street.