Bath's new connection with the River Avon is seeing unrivalled property opportunities

Water has always been at the heart of Bath’s success: the Celtic tribes discovered its warm springs, the Romans built its famous baths and the Georgians turned it into Britain’s most fashionable spa destination.

But while the Georgian-built Royal Crescent and The Circus are breathtaking, the city has grown up with its back to the river, looping around the classic areas.

The Avon was more valuable as a transportation route to the Kennet & Avon Canal and beyond for the warehouses and factories that lined its banks. Now Bath has joined Britain’s postindustrial riverside regeneration movement and its success has been immediate.

Bath City Riverside Enterprise Area represents “the best, and probably the only, opportunity to accommodate the growth necessary to maintain Bath as a fantastic place to live, work and play”, says Bath City Riverside Masterplan Vision Report.

Produced by Bath & North East Somerset Council, it continues: “Bath is on the verge of profound change, with the potential to accommodate up to 9,000 new jobs and 3,400 homes.”

Nearly 250 acres of land along the River Avon corridor in central and western Bath are being developed for new homes, workplaces, parks and leisure facilities.

“New employment will focus on Bath’s strength in growth sectors: creative industries, professional financial and business services, information technology and software development,” says the report, which forecasts a £620million per year (16 per cent) increase to the value of Bath’s economy.

One of the new developments is Crest Nicholson’s Bath Riverside, where downsizers Susan and Alistair Hay moved from Cornwall.

The couple relocated to be closer to their children but rather than rush into buying a new home they decided to rent at Bath Riverside, where they watched the latest phase of the award-winning development, Royal View, being built.

“To rent first really gave us a great idea of what it was like to live at Bath Riverside and to watch Royal View go up was interesting,” says Susan.

“We were also able to check out whether it was noisy or not but were soon struck by how peaceful it is here, despite being so close to the city centre.”

They looked at a number of Georgian properties, but Susan says: “Those that had been converted into apartments just weren’t right and not as sensitively refurbished as they could have been. In a way, they had lost their sense of authenticity.

“With Royal View everything is new and current and we liked the look of the design. We like the dimensions of the rooms, which are generous when compared to what you would get in a reproduction Georgian property.”

The location was another attraction: “I can walk to the train station in less than 10 minutes. I can walk across Victoria Bridge and be in Victoria Park in a matter of minutes, which is really handy as we’ve got a dog.”

Suzy Price moved into her two-bedroom apartment in Royal View after realising that she needed a change of scene.

“I’ve found the location very convenient as I can now walk into town along the tow path or Upper Bristol Road,” says Suzy.

“In the past I would have had to drive or get a taxi so it’s a whole new and better way to live.”

Suzy was one of the first Royal View residents, and says: “I’ve made a load of new friends and we’ve had cocktail parties and are always popping in to catch up with each other.”

Prices start at £570,000 for a two-bedroom apartment (01225 463517; bathriverside.co.uk).

The next phase is Sovereign Point, where two-bedroom apartments are on sale from £570,000.

Help To Buy is available with some plots eligible for £500-a-month mortgage contributions from Crest Nicholson.

Suzy adds: “I used to renovate properties as my profession so know the property sector and I think this is a real hotspot, especially when Sovereign Point is finished.”