One Waterside, Bath: net zero carbon living in a UNESCO city
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Hello everyone. In a UNESCO World Heritage city, on the riverside, a scheme built with a net zero carbon target. Today, from Bath, One Waterside is what we are looking at today!
For prices, taxes and the whole buying process, see our guide: UK Property Guide
Apartment types, current price range and location: see the project page
Bath: one of the two cities in England listed in their entirety as UNESCO World Heritage. Here, on the bank of the River Avon, on the site of a former gasworks, a scheme developed by Berkeley Group’s St William brand: 12.4 acre alanda toplam 611 homes. Mimari Grimshaw signed by. A new public park, a river walk, a restaurant, a cafe and a nursery are within the scheme. Yes, you read that correctly.
Prices
- Apartments: £375,000and up
- Studio, one, two and three bedroom options; penthouse’lar da mevcut
- Apartment size: 50 m²and up
- Total 611 homes, 12.4 acres site; blocks of 5 to 8 storeys
- Address: Midland Road, Bath, Somerset BA2 3DT
This is, in our portfolio, the most affordable Berkeley scheme. And in a UNESCO protected city at that: the supply of new build in Bath is extremely constrained because the historic fabric of the city is strictly protected. the advantages of buying a new build home a rare opportunity to catch in a city where supply can hardly be produced.
Why One Waterside?
A net zero carbon target: this is the most technical and most forward looking feature separating the scheme from the others in our portfolio. The scheme was designed with a target of net zero carbon operation and uses a district heating system running on a water source heat pump. With green and brown roofs, a sustainable drainage system and a riverside nature corridor, a gain of at least 10% in biodiversity hedefleniyor.
- Bath Spa railway station, in the city centre, a short distance away; a direct train to London Paddington
- Bristol about half an hour; the largest employment centre in the west of England
- M4 fast access to the motorway
- River Avon and a new river walk within the scheme
- The historic centre of Bath, the Roman Baths and the Royal Crescent within walking distance
Bath: a tourism and university city: Bath draws millions of tourists a year, has two universities and is consistently among the highest in England in quality of life rankings. Constrained supply and continuous demand are a strong foundation for long term value.
Daily life: beside the Roman Baths
A run by the river in the morning, then into the city centre on foot. A wander among the Georgian architecture of Bath at lunchtime: the Royal Crescent, Pulteney Bridge, the Roman Baths. The restaurant within the scheme or the independent kitchens of the city in the evening. At the weekend the Cotswolds countryside is half an hour away, Bristol half an hour. Because the nursery and the cafe are within the scheme, daily life is very practical for families with children.
One Waterside rental yield
Bath’s rental market is fed by the universities, tourism and the health sector. One bedroom apartments usually let for £1,500 to £1,750, 2+1s £1,800 to £2,100 a month. That puts the gross rental yield in the 4.8-5.6% band.
Tenant profile: academics and postgraduate students of the University of Bath and Bath Spa University, professionals commuting to Bristol, and healthcare staff. And the net zero carbon concept is a direct attraction for tenants sensitive to energy costs. For areas with a similar profile, high yield buy to let areas is worth a look.
The standout features and the details that set One Waterside apart
- A net zero carbon operation target: a district heating system with a water source heat pump; the only scheme in our portfolio carrying this target.
- Grimshaw Mimarisi: an internationally renowned practice; courtyard and linear blocks of 5 to 8 storeys.
- A new public park: new green space given to Bath within the scheme.
- The River Avon walk: a newly laid out shoreline along the river.
- A restaurant, a cafe and a nursery: within the scheme; no need to leave the neighbourhood for daily life.
- A riverside nature corridor: a target of at least a 10% gain in biodiversity.
- Green and brown roofs: together with a sustainable drainage system.
- Landscaped riverside gardens: shared areas for residents only.
Energy efficiency and comfort
This is the strongest side of the scheme. The net zero carbon operation target and the water source heat pump system mean both very low bills and full protection against regulation compared with conventional gas systems. Minimum energy standards for rented homes in the United Kingdom are tightening step by step and gas heating systems are under pressure in the long run; this scheme removes that risk from the outset.
Who is buying?
This scheme concentrates on three groups. The first is families whose children will study in Bath, with two universities and strong private schools. The second is buyers who care about sustainability, for whom the net zero carbon target is decisive. The third is investors after long term value in a supply constrained city. Berkeley quality at a £375,000 entry price is a strong offer for all three groups.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bath far from London? There is a direct train from Bath Spa to Paddington but the journey is about an hour and a half. That is long for a daily commute. Bath’s investment story is not tied to London; it rests on tourism, the universities and its proximity to Bristol.
Does the UNESCO protection cause problems? No, the protection applies to the structures in the historic centre. One Waterside is new build on a former industrial site. In fact that protection is in your favour: because new supply cannot be produced in the city, the value of the existing new homes is supported.
Is the project phased? Yes, 611 homes are handed over in stages. The phase you buy determines your handover date and how long there is construction around you.
What is the tenure? Leasehold: Berkeley schemes typically grant a term of up to 999 years.
Can I buy remotely from abroad? Yes. For the details, our remote property purchase guide page.
Can I use a mortgage? Foreign buyers can normally borrow up to 65-75% of the value. UK mortgages for foreign nationals is worth reading.
Total cost: what you actually pay when you buy at One Waterside
Many overseas buyers look only at the apartment price and meet a surprise at completion. Let us work out the real cost on a £375,000 apartment. Stamp duty (SDLT) in the United Kingdom is banded: 0% up to £125,000, then 2%, 5%, 10% and 12%. On top of that, non-residents pay a 2% surcharge, and if you already own another home, a further 5% additional dwelling rate applies.
| Item | If it will be your only home | If it will be an additional home |
|---|---|---|
| Property price | £375,000 | £375,000 |
| Stamp duty (SDLT) | £16,250 | £35,000 |
| Legal fees | £1,500 to £3,000 | £1,500 to £3,000 |
| Searches and Land Registry fees | about £800 | about £800 |
| Approximate total | £393,550 | £413,800 |
With a mortgage there are also valuation and bank charges, and if you let the property, management commission and income tax. The figures above are indicative, based on a £375,000 entry price; we prepare the exact calculation for your own scenario.
The One Waterside buying process, step by step
If you are buying from another country, the process runs like this:
- 1. Choosing the apartment and reserving it. We go through the floor plans, the aspect and the view. The apartment you choose is usually held with a reservation fee of £5,000 to £10,000.
- 2. Appointing a solicitor. An independent English property solicitor (conveyancer) is appointed. That solicitor acts for you, not for the developer.
- 3. Identity and source of funds checks. You will be asked for a passport, proof of address and documents showing the source of your funds. This step is compulsory in the United Kingdom, and having the papers ready shortens the process.
- 4. Exchange of contracts and deposit. Contracts are usually exchanged within 21 days of the reservation, with a 10% deposit. The signature can be given digitally from abroad.
- 5. Stage payments. In off plan projects these follow the payment schedule; for completed apartments the step is skipped.
- 6. Completion. The remaining balance and the stamp duty are paid and the title is registered in your name. For completed apartments this stage can take four to eight weeks.
You can run the whole process from your own country; you do not have to travel to the United Kingdom.
Risks and what to watch for
We have set out the strengths; in fairness there are points to watch as well. For One Waterside, these are the ones worth pausing on:
- A daily commute to London is long: about an hour and a half from Bath Spa to Paddington; not suitable for anyone going into the office every day.
- A large scheme of 611 homes: handed over in stages, so there will be construction around for a long time and competition within the block when letting.
- A regional market: the economy of Bath is strong but capital growth will not be on London’s scale.
- A new heating system: the district system with a water source heat pump is efficient, but the running cost and the tariffs should be asked about at the outset.
None of this makes the project a bad one, but there is a wide gap between buying with your eyes open and finding out afterwards. We give every client this list up front.
How does One Waterside compare with the alternatives?
Before you decide, it is worth looking at the other projects in the same budget band:
- Canalside Quarter: a similar university city dynamic and supply constraint in Oxford.
- Reading Riverworks: far closer to London, a riverside Berkeley alternative.
- St James Quay: a lower entry price and a higher return in Norwich.
We can work out together which project fits your goal, judged on budget, intended use and exit plan. For an overview, our guide to UK property investment for international buyers is worth reading too.
Answers to the most common questions on this topic: Which UK Cities Have the Highest Rental Yields?
