Bath could get a vibrant new riverside district with bars, cafes and open spaces for art and entertainment as part of the long-awaited redevelopment of The Rec.
Architects working on the Bath Rugby stadium scheme believe a new river frontage area could be developed alongside it, putting Bath on a par with cities that have embraced innovative waterside usages such as London, Seoul and Hamburg, pictured below. 
Stadium for Bath – the partnership that brings together Bath Rugby, Bath Rugby Foundation and stadium developer Arena 1865 – is working with global architecture practice Grimshaw to redevelop The Rec.
They believe their plans could be a catalyst for a unique – and timely – opportunity to regenerate the riverside area adjacent to the stadium, pictured.
Bath has traditionally ‘turned its back’ on the Avon, with most waterside buildings facing away from the river. While cities across the globe have opened up river and canal frontages over recent decades, creating vibrant new communities, with a few minor exceptions Bath has failed to join them.
Stadium for Bath agrees that the riverside close to The Rec has long been neglected while the stadium itself has for years faced away from the city centre, so leaving little scope for development.
It says its plans have the potential to create a vibrant new leisure destination for residents and visitors of Bath, with the added opportunity for improving access to the area from the city centre.
The Rec redevelopment will also take place around the same time as investment in other riverside areas, including The Bath Quays and Bath Riverside schemes which will create new business hubs, homes and public spaces adjacent to what they say is one of the city’s greatest assets – the River Avon.
Bath Rugby chief executive Tarquin McDonald is inviting the people of Bath to have their say on the riverside concept – which he believes could “a jewel in the city’s crown” – after a positive response to The Rec plans.
“Over the past 12-months we’ve been consulting extensively with neighbours and many people across Bath and the resounding feedback has been a sense of optimism and excitement about the opportunity for creating something exceptional in the heart of this unique city,” he said.
“Over the coming months we will be accelerating the design process not only for the new stadium but for the riverside too. We want people to share with us their aspirations for the area which is such an important part of the city, with the opportunity be a jewel in the city’s crown.
“We would love to see ideas and examples from around the world of truly great riverside regeneration to help us create a place that can be enjoyed by everyone for many years to come.”
To spark the debate, Grimshaw has provided six examples of riverside regeneration projects from around the world:
- Granary square & canal side: London. This development has acted as a regeneration catalyst in the wider Kings Cross area and has been a key factor for establishing Kings Cross as a cultural and creative hub
- Phone River Banks: Lyon, France: The design consideration for this development was to prevent flooding alongside providing a sensitive approach towards sustainability. The project has in turn created a high-quality ecosystem for wildlife.
- Cheonggyecheon River Park Seoul, South Korea: This project’s sustainability approach has increased local biodiversity and improved the public transit ridership and the downtown quality of life.
- Paprocany Waterfront, Tychy, Poland: The different levels offer various ways of navigation and appreciation of views. The play element embodied in the design links with the wider context of play and recreation activities for the area.
- Hafen City, Hamburg, Germany: Here local materiality has been retained so that the development fits seamlessly into the landscape. There is also a retail and leisure component.
- Parade & Canal Square, Kilkenny, Ireland: The parade connects the 13th century castle to the High Street. Georgian facades and mature trees sit along the path complimenting the areas heritage.
Tarquin McDonald added: “It might sound surprising, but we want these examples to divide opinion. We want them to have the ‘Marmite effect’ because this way we will know what the people of Bath definitely do, and more importantly, definitely don’t, want to see in the designs Grimshaw bring forward.
“There is a unique opportunity to transform a core part of our city into something truly amazing and I firmly believe that we will get this right if we all work together.”
Members of the public can share their views on the projects as well as their ideas and aspirations for riverside regeneration in Bath via social media @stadiumforbath using the #BathRiverRegen, or via email at feedback@stadiumforbath.com
