Chris Wilkinson: Council is desperate to kill off Dyson scheme
Wilkinson Eyre's Chris Wilkinson has given Bath and North East Somerset Council's (BathNES) planning committee both barrels after his practice's Dyson academy scheme was recommended for refusal.
In a sensational outburst, Wilkinson blasted the decision, claiming the planning report was 'full of inaccuracies' and took a 'highly biased view' with 'little account of the facts'.
Wilkinson said: 'BathNES is obviously desperate to kill off this scheme at any cost and ignores the benefits it will bring to the city. It has taken no account of the three years of consultation between the design team and the interested parties.'
Wilkinson Eyre teamed up with inventor James Dyson in 2005 to design a new academy that would focus on teaching technology and design.
The project has been dogged by opposition since its inception, with local campaigners vehemently opposing plans to demolish most of the Grade II-listed Newark Works.
But despite English Heritage and the Bath Preservation Society backing the proposals, Wilkinson Eyre's scheme looks likely to be killed off when the planning committee meets next Wednesday (19 March).
Wilkinson added: 'The views of Bath Urban Regeneration Panel have also been ignored, which are extremely favourable in terms of the architecture and urban design. It makes no reference to the considerable benefits to the public realm offered by the scheme.
'It is high time that the representatives of the fine city of Bath face up to their responsibilities to deal objectively with a bona fide planning application, which will bring considerable benefits to the city and which has been applauded for the quality of its architecture.'
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