Plans to build 170 homes in the small village of Timsbury, North East Somerset, have met strong opposition from local residents who argue that the village’s infrastructure cannot support such growth.
Developer Waddeton Park Ltd proposes a mix of 1 to 4-bedroom houses and apartments on Emlett Field, with 40% designated as affordable housing. The application to Bath and North East Somerset Council highlights plans for ample public open space and parkland. However, the community’s response has been overwhelmingly negative.
Eighty-seven objections have been submitted through the council’s online portal, with no recorded support. Residents express concerns about the impact on local services and traffic congestion. Madeleine Havell Rogers remarked, “The village cannot cope with the level of traffic it currently has. The High Street is tiny, a bottleneck, and a nightmare at the best of times. Adding 120 houses will only worsen the problem.”
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She further noted that despite having a well-regarded school, many families are choosing alternatives due to worsening traffic. Ben Parsons echoed these concerns, highlighting increased pressure on schools, GP surgeries, and infrastructure, stating, “It feels like profit is being prioritized over residents’ wellbeing.”
The developers maintain the project “will be complementary to the locality, providing new homes with generous associated open space that would add positively to the local area in a manner sensitive to the immediate and wider setting.”
This application seeks outline planning permission, confirming the feasibility of housing at this site, with detailed design matters to follow in a reserved matters application.
One objector, Mr. Coalfield, criticized the proposal, stating, “There is no local demand for houses in Timsbury. Any demand in B&NES is due to student population growth and government-imposed targets forcing unsuitable developments.”
This pressure stems from the Labour government’s mandated target of 27,000 new homes in Bath and North East Somerset by 2043. The council has indicated that most new housing must be constructed in North East Somerset since Bath’s UNESCO World Heritage Site status limits suburban expansion. In response, local Labour opposition has called for a review of Bath’s UNESCO designation.