Labour councillors have criticised Bath and North East Somerset Council for using the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Site status as a reason to limit new housing development within Bath itself.
The council has been instructed by the central government to provide 27,324 new homes over the next 18 years. A recently published draft of the local plan outlines proposed locations for these homes. Despite Bath comprising around half of the district’s population, the plan allocates only about a quarter of new housing within the city.
Instead, the Liberal Democrat-led council proposes that the majority of new homes be built in areas such as Keynsham and the Somer Valley. The council argues that expanding suburbs around Bath could jeopardise its World Heritage Site status.
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Labour opposition leader Robin Moss, representing Westfield ward, has challenged this rationale, stating: “We’ve repeatedly asked why the Lib Dem administration believes World Heritage status prevents them from building homes, but we have received no reasonable answer. UNESCO takes pride in other World Heritage Site cities where residents are not being priced out.”
Bath’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site applies not only to its iconic landmarks like the Royal Crescent and Pulteney Bridge but also encompasses the overall character of the city, including its unique location within a “hollow in the hills.” This designation has effectively prevented extensive suburban expansion, focusing development primarily on brownfield sites and very limited peripheral land.
The draft plan proposes 5,900 new homes in Bath, 4,600 in the Somer Valley around Midsomer Norton and Radstock, and 2,600 in rural areas of the district. Additionally, 8,600 homes are earmarked for the “Bristol and Bath corridor,” including Keynsham, Saltford, Whitchurch village, and a new town at Hicks Gate.
It is important to note that inclusion of areas in the local plan does not guarantee immediate construction; rather, it indicates that future planning applications for those sites would likely be approved. Notably, the council considered but ultimately excluded a large site stretching from Twerton to the Globe Roundabout for 2,000 homes due to concerns over significant harm to the World Heritage Site and the Cotswolds National Landscape.
Labour councillors, representing former mining communities in the Somer Valley, have at times suggested Bath consider relinquishing its UNESCO status to enable greater housing development. However, given the negative connotations of losing this status-as seen with Liverpool in 2021-this is regarded as an undesirable prospect.
Robin Moss added: “Too many people who work in Bath can only afford to live elsewhere, increasing commuting pressures and environmental impacts. This approach merely shifts the housing problem beyond the city boundaries, rather than addressing it.”
Council leader Kevin Guy (Liberal Democrat, Bathavon North) responded: “The government mandated a housing target of 27,324 homes over 18 years without adequately considering our area’s unique features, including World Heritage status and green belt protections.
“Our responsibility is to plan for this growth thoughtfully rather than cede control to developers. Without a local plan, we would have less influence over housing locations, types, and supporting infrastructure.”
The draft local plan is set to be reviewed by the council cabinet on 10 September, followed by a six-week public consultation starting the week of 14 September. This will be the final chance for residents to have input before submission to the government for approval. Once adopted, the plan will guide planning decisions until 2043.