Bath battles to be named best small city in the UK

Bath is in the running for a prestigious national award for being the best small city in the UK, Europe and beyond thanks to its ambitious regeneration and place improvement projects.

The city has been selected as one of three national finalists in the Great Town or Small City category of the 2024 Urbanism Awards which recognise the best, most enduring or most improved urban environments.

Following a nomination by a member of the public, Bath was chosen as a finalist by a panel by the Academy of Urbanism which is a not-for-profit organisation committed to creating, sustaining, and learning from great cities, towns, and neighbourhoods.

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The city was selected due to projects such as the Milsom Quarter Masterplan proposals to reimagine the northern part of the city centre by positioning the area as a fashion destination for the South West, including a new Fashion Museum in the Old Post Office building that will be the only museum in the UK dedicated to fashion heritage.

The panel also mentioned the city’s ambitious approach to tackling the climate and nature emergencies.

A new video showcasing the Bath city centre renewal programme which aims to improve the high street, encourage footfall and support local businesses has been launched by the council today (July 16).

The Urbanism Awards have run every year since 2006 and the most recent winners in the Great Town or Small City category include Stromness in Scotland, Dún Laoghaire in Ireland and Penzance in Cornwall.

There are seven criteria which the finalists are assessed against: Leadership and Governance, Local Character, Amenity and Housing, Commercial Success and Viability, Environmental Sustainability, Community, Health and Wellbeing, and Connectivity.

Bath and the other finalists Lewes and Shrewsbury will be visited by the Academy of Urbanism later this year ahead of the winners’ awards ceremony on November 13 in London. Read more information about the finalists.

Councillor Paul Roper, cabinet member for Economic and Cultural Sustainable Development, said: “It’s fantastic that our projects to improve the urban landscape and environment of our communities are getting national recognition. To become a finalist for this award is a great achievement in itself.

“The recognition for our Regeneration Team at the council is well deserved. They have been working tirelessly on reshaping our high streets and town centres in Radstock, Keynsham, Midsomer Norton and Bath, securing invaluable grant funding and making a real difference to our communities. We are looking forward to welcoming the Academy of Urbanism to Bath later this year to show them how our Bath Masterplan proposals are developing and demonstrate everything the city has to offer.”

Find out more about the future of the Fashion Museum.

Watch the video describing the Milsom Quarter Masterplan