Somerset Daily
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Government Forces Bath and North East Somerset to Double Housing Targets and Weaken Green Planning Rules

Sunday, May 31, 2026 housing. planning government bath environment biodiversity council development policy consultation

Councillors in Bath and North East Somerset council have voiced frustration over recent government-imposed changes to their housing plan, claiming they have been effectively “trussed up” by central authorities. The local plan, a critical document dictating development and planning policies for the next 20 years, is now under pressure to meet new government mandates with limited opportunity for proper scrutiny or local influence. Originally, the council’s housing target was set at 13,000 new homes across the plan’s timeline.