Bath and North East Somerset Council has launched an innovative outreach initiative using a converted 1990 Mr Whippy-style ice cream van, now brightly painted in orange, to engage the public on a major consultation about where to build more than 27,000 new homes by 2043. The “van with a plan” is traveling to 56 locations over 18 days throughout the district to raise awareness and encourage community input on the council’s local plan options document.
Councillor Matt McCabe, cabinet member for built environment, housing, and sustainable development, emphasized the importance of public participation: “We want to create as many opportunities as possible for residents to have their say, both online and in person.” The council’s new local plan will guide development and planning policies until 2043 and is currently under consultation.
The plan addresses the urgent need for affordable housing, noting that average house prices in Bath and North East Somerset far exceed local wages, with Bath’s average house price being nineteen times the average workplace earnings. The local plan also aims to protect the district’s unique character, promote sustainable communities, and respond to climate and ecological challenges.
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This consultation follows a previous one in 2024 but includes new potential development sites after the government doubled the housing target. To meet these demands, Bath and North East Somerset Council must allocate large areas for housing development, enhancing its ability to influence where homes can be built.
The council has proposed four major sites for development:
- Hicks Gate: An “exemplary” development west of Hicks Gate Roundabout that would link with land Bristol City Council plans to develop.
- Keynsham North: Plans to construct housing between the railway and the Avon River on the town’s western edge, possibly including student accommodation, schools, and leisure facilities.
- West of Bath: A carefully considered site east of the Globe Roundabout, near Bath’s green land and World Heritage Site, where development would require a high standard to mitigate impacts.
- North of Midsomer Norton: Located on a plateau with existing narrow roads needing upgrades, this site includes green buffers to preserve the town’s natural setting.
The consultation document also includes additional proposals from developers for areas such as Whitchurch, Radstock, and Saltford, sparking local debates, particularly due to concerns about merging villages with nearby cities.
Residents can find information at local events hosted by the council and village councils, and responses to the consultation are welcomed online until November 14. The ice cream van “Vanessa,” rented from marketing agency iMP, is a creative and approachable way to make the complex planning process accessible to the community.
Councillor McCabe highlights that these planned developments align with the West of England’s growth strategy focused on the A4 corridor between Bristol and Bath and the Somer Valley, aiming to unlock infrastructure investments to benefit residents throughout the region.