There is considerably more to this debacle than Dyson would have people believe, and much of the mess of his own team's making. It is not just the flooding issue - although the Environment Agency is simply following a government directive on building colleges on a flood plain.
British Waterways is also objecting because the Dyson team has failed to keep them in touch with plans about the bridge across the Avon. BW advised Dyson right at the start that he would need permission from them for works along the river bank and that they would have to agree the design and licence the bridge. Yet he has submitted designs without their agreement .
Above all there is the mystery as to why Dyson does not take over the Bath Press site, which is now available just along the road and does not have any of these problems.
This is beginning to look less like sensible planning and more like sheer bloody-mindedness on Dyson's behalf.

Kirsten Elliott, Bath, England

This is a Grade II listed building by Fuller, in a WHS, the plans will reduce that to a facade with holes punched through under the windows to make an 'arcade'. The rest of the building will be demolished to make way for a rather bizarre new build, not at all in keeping with the WHS and the location.

It makes a mockery of listing buildings if this is allowed to happen - and the flooding danger is another factor seemingly ignored by Dyson and his bunch. The EA has the final say on that issue. You cannot build an educational establishment in a place liable to flood.

Don't blame the planners - they are the only ones with wider vision, and apparently some idea of national planning policies.

Also - this is playing with the education of young people - there is no real educational vision and Academies are not proven to be a success. Some are failing. Dyson isn't an educator, he's not even a wildly successful designer, and he's not an engineer.

Get this in perspective.

Evelyn Cook, UK, UK

Little minded men in suits once again get in the way of true vision.
Council men like this should be emptying garbage lorries not making 'visionary' decisions. There are very few councils who have a 20 to 30 year plan yet to be able to handle the future you have to at least try to see where it is heading in the first place and not play catch up the whole time.
Dyson is a proven man - trying to help, who has vision and the ability to implement and the will to make things succeed. Let the man get on with it. If the whole thing falls what has the Council lost? If its a success then the Council can say what vision it has.

bruce barrons, bournemouth, uk