Councillors in Bath and North East Somerset council have voiced frustration over recent government-imposed changes to their housing plan, claiming they have been effectively “trussed up” by central authorities. The local plan, a critical document dictating development and planning policies for the next 20 years, is now under pressure to meet new government mandates with limited opportunity for proper scrutiny or local influence.
Originally, the council’s housing target was set at 13,000 new homes across the plan’s timeline. However, the government’s revised requirements have forced this figure to more than double to 27,000 homes. This significant increase has placed added strain on council resources and planning capabilities.
Councillor Hal McFie (Keynsham East, Liberal Democrat) expressed concern during a scrutiny panel meeting on May 20, stating: “They have just trussed us up. There’s no way about it, it’s very difficult for us to do anything impactful.” McFie highlighted that while a large volume of new material is being incorporated into the plan, councillors are given insufficient time to thoroughly examine it.
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Environmental protections have also been diluted due to government restrictions. The council had hoped to implement a 20% biodiversity net gain—a sustainability standard double the national requirement—for new developments. Although this aspiration is now curtailed, council officers believe they have identified potential workarounds to uphold some of these environmental measures for select projects.
The scrutiny panel was presented only a summary of the updated local plan, with the full document scheduled for publication alongside its review by the council cabinet. While there will be a public consultation phase, its primary audience appears to be the government inspectors responsible for the plan’s approval, limiting local councillors’ influence over its final content.
Independent panel member Grant Johnson (Paulton) remarked, “It does feel like this meeting is a bit of a waste of time […] because it does not seem like we are really able to scrutinise much.”
Council officers emphasized that the submission deadline is immovable, set by the government for the end of the year. Missing this deadline would delay adoption of the plan indefinitely. This rigid timetable constrains the extent of public engagement and internal review the council can feasibly conduct.
The revised plan also directs most new housing developments away from Bath itself, aiming to protect the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Site status by placing most growth in other parts of the district.
Ultimately, councillors warn that these government-driven requirements and limits severely restrict the council’s ability to shape effective, sustainable, and locally appropriate housing and planning policies.