Bath and North East Somerset Council is poised to approve a £10.122 million investment in a contentious housing project set within a unique natural habitat in Bath. The development will create 16 supported homes for individuals with autism and learning difficulties on a field along Englishcombe Lane, known for its rare limestone tufa formations and designation as a site of nature conservation interest.
Although planning permission was granted a year ago, the proposal has faced significant opposition due to concerns about potential environmental damage to the tufa deposits. The council maintains that the homes will provide vital, life-changing support for vulnerable residents, addressing a critical shortage of supported living options in the area.
The council cabinet will vote on September 11 on whether to allocate the substantial capital funding required to proceed. Funding sources include a grant from Homes England, developer contributions, and borrowing offset by anticipated rent and service savings. Notably, while the total budget has been publicly disclosed, details of the business case justifying the expenditure have been withheld from public documents, a move justified by the council as protecting commercially sensitive information.
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This secrecy has drawn sharp criticism from campaigners featured on tufafield.com, who accuse the council of misusing legal exemptions to withhold information that should be available for public scrutiny, especially given the use of taxpayer funds.
If approved, the council plans to issue a tender in late September, award contracts by November, and commence preparatory works in February 2026. Full construction is expected to start by July 2026 with completion targeted for March 2028.
Designed to foster independence, the homes will be arranged in two clusters positioned on either side of the field’s springs, tufa deposits, and streams, which will remain undisturbed. A boardwalk will connect these clusters, preserving the natural waterways through the center. The development will also include accommodations for overnight carers and a community hub to support residents.
According to the council report, the project embodies a “low density, sensitive, and small-scale” approach, leveraging the site’s ecological value to provide a peaceful living environment tailored to specialist housing needs. The 16 units will offer supported housing with on-site care, reducing reliance on costly out-of-area placements and keeping families closer together.
The cabinet meeting will take place at 6:30 pm on September 11 in the council chamber at Bath Guildhall.