Local Plan for Bath & North East Somerset published

A number of options to deliver future developments including new homes, jobs and transport across Bath and North East Somerset are going out to public consultation.

A new Local Plan for the district, which will form the basis for determining planning applications until 2036, includes a range of options from the provision of affordable homes and the identification of new housing and employment sites to the development of wind energy, provision of electric vehicle infrastructure and the siting of fast food takeaways.

Some of the options in the proposed Local Plan include the creation of a new ‘Garden Community’ in North Keynsham delivering 1,500 new homes, including affordable homes, and the creation of a new ‘Garden Community’ to the South East of Whitchurch, to deliver around 2000 new homes, including affordable homes and associated infrastructure.

Other proposals include the introduction of new restrictions on the location of fast food takeaways to prevent them from opening near schools and youth facilities, a review of parking standards and provision for electric vehicles infrastructure and the proposed Clean Air Zone in Bath and its relationship with Bath Transport Strategy including additional park & ride provision.

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Bob Goodman, cabinet member for Development and Neighbourhoods, said: “The Local Plan will shape the future of Bath and North East Somerset for the next two decades so it’s really important that it works for all our communities. We’ve asked residents for their views at every stage of its development and this consultation is another opportunity to comment on these options and inform the next step which is the preparation of a Draft Plan setting out the council’s proposed site allocations and policy for developments.

“In addition to our Local Plan people are also being asked for comments on the wider Joint Spatial Plan which affects planning for homes and growth across the region and transport plans which would deliver the infrastructure to make future new developments possible.”   

Residents can take part in a public consultation, which runs from November 12 until January 7 2019.