Decision details

Planning permission has been granted for 24/03168/REG03 to construct a Recycling Centre (RC) in Locksbrook Road on the site of the Cleansing Yard and The Old Coal Yard to replace the existing site at Midland Rd which will close in 2026 for redevelopment. In order to commence construction of Bath RC, Cleansing Services will move out of this site to the Transport Depot also in Locksbrook Road. This site is currently not fit for purpose and requires remodelling and refurbishment.

1.  To approve a capital budget allocation of £4.554m for construction of a new Recycling Centre in Locksbrook Road on the site of the existing Cleansing Yard and the adjacent ‘Old Coal Yard’ site.

2.  To approve a capital budget allocation of £5.543m to refurbish the Locksbrook Road Transport Depot units 1 and 2 to provide fit for purpose facilities for SENDPT Service who remain on this leased site in unit 2 and Cleansing Services who will relocate to unit 1 on this site; and this includes a virement from the Pixash Site Redevelopment budget, of £1.4m. In addition, the abortive cost of £58k from alternative site proposals to revert to revenue.

3.  To delegate power to officers to appoint contractors and all other matters relating to project delivery and implementation of decisions 1 and 2 above.

1.  Planning permission was granted on 9 April 2025, and this executive decision means that the council can now appoint a construction contractor.

2.  The relocation of Midland Road Depot Recycling Centre is part of the Council’s long-standing depot consolidation and modernisation programme.

3.  To allow the housing construction to commence, Midland Road Depot Recycling Centre must relocate in line with the Liberal Democrat commitment at the local elections in 2022 to maintain recycling facilities in Bath.

4.  Following exhaustive site searches over several years, the site at Locksbrook Road was chosen as the most feasible and appropriate location to maintain recycling provision for the residents of Bath and aligns with the council’s climate and nature priorities and aims to further increase recycling rates across B&NES.

5.  Materials accepted will be general waste, bulky waste, wood, garden waste, metals (including large domestic appliances), cardboard and upholstered furniture. There will also be a dry recycling area for paper, glass, cans, plastics (bottles, pots, tubs and trays) and textiles. However, these items will be reviewed periodically to ensure they meet the needs of residents.

6.  Cleansing Services currently occupy the site of the proposed recycling centre at Locksbrook Road and will relocate to the Transport Depot site, also on Locksbrook Road (Northside) which enables them to maintain easy access to Bath RC which will house their tipping bays for street sweepings, weed waste and litter bin bags.

7.  The Highways Service City Centre team will also share the Cleansing Service facility to maintain efficient operations following their vacation of Argyle Works (also being developed for Housing). The SEND Passenger Transport Team currently occupy the other half of this site and will remain here following the decision not to relocate this service to Odd Down. The whole site requires refurbishment to provide facilities of an acceptable standard for staff and enable efficient operations.

1.  Do nothing: This entails a high risk of service failure for Waste Services as the existing MRD site is no longer fit for purpose, on the limit of the tonnage it can manage and has been underinvested for many years. Aside from this, the site has been allocated for housing and the RC must relocate by mid-2026 to bring the much- needed housing forward as a council priority thereby leaving Bath with no household recycling provision which would not support the council’s climate and sustainability objectives.

2.  Lease or purchase sites and re-develop so fit for purpose: This entails high financial and operational risk. There are no suitable, feasible sites of sufficient size and capacity within the district, nor close by in neighbouring districts that will suit objectives. The council would need to invest in purchasing or leasing land for construction and indicative financial and property benchmarking costs show significantly more capital growth would be required.