Bath and North East Somerset Council’s planning committee has narrowly approved plans by Persimmon to build 200 homes on green belt land at the south-western edge of Keynsham. The decision, made by a 5-4 vote on 2 September, followed warnings from councillors that new government regulations limit their ability to reject housing developments that meet certain criteria.
The proposed development site is a field just west of Charlton Road, within the designated green belt. Although the council has yet to decide if this and similar sites will be allocated for housing in its emerging local plan, developers have already submitted applications, following the government’s recent doubling of the area’s housing target for 2024.
Toby Simon, a planning committee member representing Bathwick for the Liberal Democrats, acknowledged the constraints they face under the current planning regime. He said, “Under the current regime, I don’t think we have good grounds to reject this. The very strong steer from the government is that applications that meet the criteria ought to be approved.” He added, “I think this is a difficult one to refuse.”
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Local Keynsham South councillor Alan Hale, from the Independent Group, expressed concerns about the impact on his community, noting that while more homes are needed, development should be directed to the new town proposed at Hicks Gate and the planned northern extension. “Keynsham South has had its fair share of development. I therefore beseech you to refuse the application you have before you. Enough is enough,” he said.
Other members voiced similar concerns; former planning committee chair Duncan Hounsell (Saltford, Liberal Democrat) opposed the scheme citing fears of urban sprawl, while Conservative Tim Warren emphasised the importance of preserving green belt land. “Keynsham is fast becoming a suburb of Bristol, sadly,” he commented.
Conversely, Fiona Gourley highlighted the benefits of the scheme, including 45% affordable housing, allotments, a play area, and a cycle path. She remarked, “I think we have no option to refuse it, but also it will bring benefits.”
The proposed homes will comprise a mix of two, three, and four-bedroom properties, designed to be “zero-carbon ready” with features such as air source heat pumps, solar panels, and electric vehicle charging points. The approval granted was for outline planning permission; detailed plans concerning the design and layout will be submitted later through a reserved matters application.
Claire Burton of Persimmon described the project as “a very exciting and ambitious scheme” that will serve the local community with a significant proportion of affordable housing, green spaces, and amenities, alongside financial contributions to local services. She stated, “We look forward to progressing our plans to the next stage and will continue to work closely with BANES Council, the local community and its representatives as we develop our reserved matters application and aim to leave a positive and lasting legacy in Keynsham.”