A Bath and North East Somerset councillor has expressed apprehension that the village of Clutton risks becoming merely “somewhere people sleep, not somewhere they actually live their lives” amid forthcoming housing developments. The council’s new local plan proposes allocating land in Clutton for 330 new homes, which would increase the village’s housing stock by approximately 50 per cent.
Sam Ross (Green), who represents the village, revealed she was given no prior warning of the council’s proposal. She highlighted that the scale of development is only part of the issue. According to Ms Ross, developer contributions towards essential infrastructure such as GP services, secondary school places, and road improvements tend to be substantial only on large urban schemes. Smaller, piecemeal developments often miss out on adequate investment, resulting in increased housing without corresponding infrastructure improvements.
Ms Ross noted, “Most people commute to Bristol or Bath, so you end up with a dormitory: somewhere people sleep, not somewhere they actually live their lives. Having lived in cities, towns and suburbs before spending the last 25 years in a village, I’ve seen the damage this does to rural communities.”
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The local plan is a significant policy document guiding Bath and North East Somerset Council’s planning decisions and housing allocations over the next 18 years. While allocating a site does not guarantee immediate development, proposals consistent with the plan are likely to gain approval.
In the neighbouring village of Farmborough, also within Ms Ross’s ward, the plan proposes 200 new homes, a marked increase from previous expectations of 55 to 83 homes across both villages. Ms Ross has formally raised her concerns about the scale of these increases and the absence of prior consultation with residents or councillors. She intends to address these issues at upcoming council meetings and encourages residents to participate in the consultation process.
The government’s decision in 2024 to double the housing target to 27,324 homes for the area has heavily influenced the plan’s direction. Bath and North East Somerset Council plans to focus the majority of new homes around Keynsham and the Somer Valley to protect Bath’s World Heritage Site status from suburban expansion.
Council leader Kevin Guy (Bathavon North, Liberal Democrat) acknowledged the challenge, stating, “We had no choice over that figure and we remain concerned that the unique characteristics of our area, including our World Heritage status and the extent of our green belt, have not been taken into account in the way we would have hoped.”
He further emphasised the importance of having a local plan, explaining, “Without a local plan, there is less influence over where homes are built, what type of homes are built and how the infrastructure needed alongside them is delivered.”
The draft local plan is scheduled for consideration by the council cabinet on 10 September, followed by a six-week public consultation starting the week of 14 September. This consultation represents the final opportunity for residents to provide feedback before the plan is submitted to the government for approval. Once adopted, the plan will guide planning decisions until 2043.