The Entry Hill Depot site
Site location and description
Entry Hill Depot is located towards the top end of Entry Hill, approximately 2km to the southwest of Bath city centre and 400m east of Cross Manufacturing’s long-established Midford Road facility.
The former Entry Hill golf course is located to the north of the site. Entry Hill itself runs along the eastern boundary from which the site takes vehicular and pedestrian access. The rear gardens of residential properties on Entry Rise and Hansford Square border the southern and western boundaries respectively.
A historic quarry face remains in place on the southern and western parts of the site. The topography is approximately level then slopes away north towards the golf course.
There is a yard of hard standing located centrally and towards the south side of the depot, with the remainder comprising mixed secondary woodland on made ground.
The Entry Hill Depot site - click to enlarge
Site history
The site of Entry Hill Depot was previously used as a quarry and is indicated as such in historic maps dating back to 1888. With the cessation of quarrying activities, the site was then brought into use as a Council yard in the early-mid 20th century, latterly being used as a Highways Depot up until Bath & North East Council released the site for redevelopment to provide employment use. Cross Manufacturing purchased the site in November 2024.
1888 - click to enlarge
1949 - click to enlarge
Ongoing site maintenance
Since acquiring the site in late 2024, we have been continuing to undertake maintenance, including the installation of a new fence in liaison with our immediate neighbours. This new fence includes tunnels to allow the continued movement of badgers and other wildlife through the site.
Many of the ash trees on site have sadly suffered varying degrees of Ash Dieback disease. The council previously felled several large trees along the boundary to Entry Rise and others within the site do require attention before they fall. We have a tree expert working as part of the project team to manage this. Any trees that do require removal will be replaced with appropriate native species.
Site analysis and constraints
In considering the development opportunities for the site, existing constraints were reviewed to inform the proposals.
- Development should avoid the northern part of the site, seeking to retain tree cover to retain a visual screen.
- Building should be positioned to the centre and south of the site, an area largely comprised of hardstanding associated with the former depot.
- There should be an offset buffer from the eastern boundary.
- Southern and western boundaries should be enhanced with supplementary tree planting alongside retention of better-quality existing trees. These edges are sensitive to neighbouring residents.
- Access should be provided from the existing access point to the site.
Constraints and opportunities diagram - click to enlarge
Planning policy context
The proposed re-use of the site for employment purposes is in accordance with Bath & North East Somerset Council development plan policy (Policy ED2B of the Local Plan Partial Update 2023). It also presents an opportunity to contribute towards the local economic development aims of the adopted B&NES Economic Strategy 2024-2034.
As part of the process of preparing a planning application for the reuse of the site, pre-application advice was sought from the Council’s Major Development Team. The written advice received from the Council in March 2025 confirmed that the principle of redevelopment for the proposed light industrial use (Use Class E[g]) with ancillary office and storage is supported by development plan policy.
In terms of national policy, the recently updated National Planning Policy Framework (December 2024) supports the redevelopment of redundant previously developed land for proposals that support economic growth.
