Education, Health & Social

Claverton Campus

Project Details

Client
University of Bath
Location
Bath, Somerset
Year
2012 — present
Services
Planning, Masterplanning

Sustainable context

The University of Bath campus is set within a highly sensitive historic landscape, influenced by the World Heritage Site, the Chilterns National Landscape and the Green Belt. Its unique character and quality is an essential part of the University’s identity and appeal to students, staff and partners alike.

To support its continued success as a leading higher education institution, Define led the preparation of a new Campus Masterplan that balances growth with stewardship of this unique environment.

The masterplan establishes a clear vision for the future of the Claverton Campus. It enables the delivery of the essential development and infrastructure to facilitate its sustainable growth in a manner that ensures the University can remain a diligent custodian of the landscape. It also provides a framework for progressing towards a net zero carbon campus, following the University’s declaration of a climate emergency in 2020.

Growth strategy

The masterplan integrates complementary strategies for buildings, movement, sport and green infrastructure, which provide flexibility for the phased delivery of academic and residential accommodation, while protecting and enhancing the campus’s functionality, character and unique beauty.

Through detailed environmental assessments and stakeholder engagement, key parameters have been refined, allowing the capacity of the campus to be tested in three dimensions.

Masterplan

The masterplan has been prepared in collaboration with Bath & North East Somerset Council, and responds to an increasingly complex planning policy context. It provides a clear understanding of the key environmental constraints and development, and now underpins new Local Plan policies, establishing a positive and robust framework for future planning decisions.

Delivery

Define continues to advise on implementation of the Campus masterplan. Planning permission was secured in January 2024 for a new all-weather pitch, constructed entirely from recyclable materials. This will significantly increase the playing capacity and quality of sports provision on campus. Particular care was taken with lighting and landscape design to protect the surrounding National Landscape and sensitive bat corridors, resulting in a highly controlled and environmentally responsive lighting strategy.

The pitch was completed and opened for use at the start of the 2025/26 academic year.