Developers have put forward planning applications for almost 2,000 new homes on land potentially earmarked for housing development in the Keynsham area. Over the past year, several significant proposals have been submitted to Bath and North East Somerset Council as it prepares a new Local Plan. This crucial document will outline the council’s planning policies and designate land suitable for future development.
The new Local Plan must demonstrate how the council plans to meet the government-mandated target of delivering 27,000 new homes by 2043. A draft version of the plan is expected to be released for public consultation in the autumn, before requiring government approval. In the meantime, major housebuilders have been proactive in submitting applications on sites under consideration within the forthcoming plan.
Some local representatives have voiced concerns that these submissions bypass the thorough review process normally associated with the Local Plan. Keynsham East councillor Andy Wait criticised this approach, describing it as an attempt to circumvent due diligence. Conversely, some developers argue that including these sites in the plan is inevitable and believe that early planning applications will help alleviate the local housing crisis more swiftly.
READ MORE: Plan adopted to preserve and enhance historic Somerset village
READ MORE: McDonald’s proposes new drive-thru restaurant in Shepton Mallet car park
Five planning applications from four different developers, submitted since December, propose a total of 1,895 homes on the outskirts of Keynsham and Saltford, including areas such as Hicks Gate and a substantial expansion of Whitchurch village.
In December, Persimmon submitted plans for 200 homes on the south-west edge of Keynsham, off Charlton Road. This site corresponds closely with the “West Keynsham Option 2” allocation proposed in the draft Local Plan, suggesting potential for 300 to 400 homes. Persimmon describes their proposal as a “vibrant new development” designed to connect residents with nature.
Further south, Taylor Wimpey has proposed 105 homes adjacent to Manor Road Community Wood. This site is already included in the current Local Plan adopted in 2020 and is anticipated to remain an allocated site in the upcoming plan. Despite this, the proposal is contentious, with 298 objections largely focused on traffic concerns and impact on local wildlife, and only two expressions of support. Changes to the access road are planned to address congestion issues.
In Saltford, Crest Nicholson has applied to build 90 homes on a field adjoining a golf course. The developer acknowledges the rural character of the site but describes the development as “sustainable.” This site is listed as a possible housing allocation in the draft Local Plan, though the application notes that this remains an early stage in the planning process.
Crest Nicholson also submitted a larger proposal in July for 550 homes at Hicks Gate, a location straddling the border of Bristol and Bath and North East Somerset. This development would form the initial phase of a wider new town anticipated to include roughly 3,000 homes when completed. The site has been recommended by the West of England Combined Authority and put forward by the council as a strategic growth location, though only this initial application has so far been filed.
The most substantial application, also submitted in July, aims to establish nearly 1,000 homes within Whitchurch village. The developer, Barwood, regards housing on this site as “inevitable,” noting the urgent need to tackle the region’s housing shortage. Their application avoids specifying an exact number of homes in initial descriptions, but supporting documents confirm an envisaged total of 950 dwellings. The development is presented as a high-quality, sustainable neighbourhood integrating seamlessly with the existing village fabric.
These planning applications reflect the urgency of addressing regional housing demands but also raise questions about the planning process and infrastructure readiness. Public consultation on these proposals remains open, allowing residents to review and comment on the plans before the new Local Plan is finalised.
You can view and comment on the planning proposals through the Bath and North East Somerset Council planning portal.