Bath, renowned worldwide for its Roman Baths and exquisite Georgian architecture, faces an exceptional challenge in addressing its housing crisis due to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This status extends beyond just landmark buildings to encompass the city’s overall character and setting, placing strict limits on new development to protect its historic and scenic value.
Home to over 94,000 residents, Bath is a thriving city where many workers struggle to afford housing. The Bath and North East Somerset Council is currently devising a plan to meet the city’s housing needs over the next 18 years. However, councillors highlight that Bath’s World Heritage status imposes significant constraints, limiting available land and restricting building heights in the city.
Unlike many heritage sites that cover isolated landmarks, Bath’s UNESCO listing includes the city’s unique “hollow in the hills” setting—green hills that encircle the city and are protected from development. This natural boundary makes suburban expansion impossible without risking the loss of World Heritage status, a fate that befell Liverpool’s docklands in 2021 due to insensitive redevelopment.
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Council cabinet member Matt McCabe explains the dilemma: “Bath is unique in the country with this protected ring we simply cannot build on without damaging the World Heritage listing.” With the government mandating a target of 27,000 new homes by 2043, over half expected within Bath, the city must find ways to increase housing density internally rather than expanding outwards.
Public consultation on the new local plan, running from 2027 to 2043, is currently underway. The council is seeking input on proposed development sites, many located outside Bath in the wider North East Somerset area, to relieve pressure on the city itself. This approach has sparked concerns from neighboring communities about increased housing loads and urban sprawl.
Locally, there have been calls—though politically unpopular—to relinquish Bath’s World Heritage status to allow greater development. However, council leaders reject this, emphasizing the status as a vital asset that must be preserved.
To maximize housing within Bath’s restricted footprint, new homes are proposed mainly as apartments rather than houses to achieve higher density. Additionally, the council plans to prohibit converting three-bedroom homes into houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), to preserve family housing stock. HMOs, while important for certain demographics, reduce the availability of homes suitable for families—a pressing concern amid the city’s housing shortage.
One notable exception to Bath’s development limits is a proposed housing site west of Bath near Twerton, where up to 1,950 homes could be built. However, the council warns this would cause substantial harm to the World Heritage Site, and its inclusion in plans aims to gauge public opinion and examine whether the benefits might justify the impact.
As Bath grapples with meeting housing demand while protecting its historic cityscape and status, the local plan consultation, open until November 14, offers residents a chance to contribute to this delicate balancing act.