Exclusive: New plans for Bath Cornmarket
Plans have been drawn up to bring new life to the Cornmarket building in Walcot Street, which has been empty for the last eight years.
City developer Sires Property is in the process of buying the lease to the 6,000 sq ft building which was the centre of grain trading in the 19th century, from Bath and North East Somerset Council.
It is planning to let the building to renewable energy company Blue-NG, which is currently based in Railway Place, and which is developing a range of schemes, including combined heat and power plants fuelled by vegetable oil.
If an outline planning application for the listed building is approved by B&NES councillors, Blue-NG would turn it into its international headquarters, and run a community cafe to showcase its work and other schemes around the world.
The building - which has also been used as a aircraft parts factory, youth club and family centre in the past - was put on the market by B&NES last year.
A local charity, the Walcot Street Trust, wanted to turn it into an arts centre but could not afford to bid against commercial organisations for the building.
Sires has submitted an application for what is described as mixed use of the ground and lower ground floors of the building, which is on an official at risk list because of its structural condition.
Its application - which does not cover the first, second and third floors - allows for the possibility of a cafe/restaurant and office accommodation.
Sires director Warren Jones said his firm's plans would guarantee the structural repair and complete refurbishment of the Cornmarket, returning the upper hall back to its original open form and reinstating pedestrian areas.
He said the associated Cattle Market Vaults would be the subject of a separate planning application for commercial and recreational use which he said would make the most of the site's river frontage.
He added: "We also have plans to explore the possibility of extracting hydroelectricity from the river that may contribute to the power needs of the site, with the aspiration of making this development as environmentally-friendly as possible."
Sires has reached an agreement in principle to let the Cornmarket to Blue-NG, a joint venture between the National Grid and 20C, which is owned by entrepreneurs Michael Edge and Andrew Mercer.
Blue-NG wants to use the ground floor hall for its trading floor, and design studio space and to turn the majority of the lower ground floor into a cafe for their staff and the public.
Mr Jones said: "The cafe will serve great food and drinks in a unique environment, in that, it will have an educational element where members of the public can not only gain an understanding and track the progress of 20C's patented eco-power projects, but also many other environmentally-friendly projects throughout the world."
He added: "We believe the proposed use is a great opportunity and benefit for Bath to host a leading green energy company such as Blue-NG, which is likely to produce significant employment opportunities, a great deal of vitality for the area and help ensure a sustainable use of the site."
Blue-NG's existing offices were stormed by environmentalists last week in a protest over the impact of biofuels on developing countries, with activists questioning the firm's green credentials.
A statement from B&NES said: "A decision was made in January 2008 to market this property. This provided an opportunity for all interested parties to set out proposals. The council was keen for innovative uses and schemes for the site that recognised the listed status and considered all bids it received on this basis."
It added: "Sires Property have submitted a planning application for a change of use, with the intention to have offices and a café in the building."
Sires will also be submitting a detailed and listed building application for Blue-NG's offices in the near future.
Walcot Street Trust chairman Mike Fairbeard said his group would be keeping a close eye on the application.
The application will be determined by B&NES later this year.
Senior environmental health officer Alan Bratt has lodged a holding objection to the application to his planning officer colleagues, saying the application does not go into enough detail about the possible noise and lighting impact of any development.
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