Bath proposes green belt homes in revised core strategy

The Council suspended its examination of a previous draft of the plan in July last year after an inspector concluded the plan could not be found sound. The inspector's main concerns with the plan related to a housing supply shortfall and to the housing methodology used, which he said was not compliant with the National Planning Policy Framework.

The Council said in a statement it had conducted a green belt review in response to the inspector's concerns relating to the housing provisions. It said the review had resulted in proposals for housing based in the green belt as there is "simply nowhere else for these homes to go."

The number of new homes proposed between 2011 and 2029 has been increased in the revised plan, from 11,500 in the previous draft to 12,700. The Council said it will still consider all of the land proposed for new homes in the previous draft, but that it will also propose additional locations.

“The Inspector’s key concern was the need to ensure that Bath & North East Somerset Council was properly addressing housing needs in the district," said Council leader Paul Crossley.

"The Council has already been able to identify a supply of around 10,800 new homes through maximising the use of brownfield sites and bringing empty properties back into use," he said.

“Additional locations for new housing have been identified on the edge of Bath, at Keynsham and Whitchurch. The housing supply in the Somer Valley and at sustainable villages has also been increased,” said Crossley.

“It’s important for the Council to agree upon a Core Strategy which meets our area’s housing needs whilst also taking account of our area’s sensitive environment and valued heritage, with new development aligned to improved infrastructure," said Councillor Francine Haeberling. 

The Council said the proposals will be discussed by all councillors on 4 March to decide what is put forward to the public. It will then consult on the proposals in March and April and the examination is expected to continue in June and July.