Bath and North East Somerset Council faces mounting pressure to accommodate 27,000 new homes over the next 18 years, a government mandate aimed at addressing the region’s housing shortage. However, a contentious debate has arisen around how and where these homes should be built, with Bath’s iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site status fueling significant challenges.
Matt McCabe, the council’s cabinet member for the built environment, housing, and sustainable development, firmly dismissed calls to relinquish Bath’s UNESCO designation to enable suburban expansion. “There is no political appetite within Bath for giving up our World Heritage listing — it is a complete non-starter,” McCabe stated during an October 23 scrutiny committee meeting.
Criticism also came from within the council ranks. Andy Wait, chair of the scrutiny committee and Keynsham East councillor, challenged the proposal that concentrates most housing development in North East Somerset, despite higher housing demand in Bath itself. “It is unjust for North East Somerset to bear the brunt of housing needs that primarily arise from Bath,” Wait said. He highlighted a disparity between government projections and local plans, noting that while the government suggested 14,000 new homes in Bath and 13,000 in North East Somerset, the council’s current plan allocates just 7,000 to Bath and 21,000 to North East Somerset.
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Wait also expressed concerns regarding the environmental and infrastructural impact of the plan. Given Bath’s greater employment opportunities, limiting housing there could increase commute distances and congestion, undermining the council’s climate emergency goals.
McCabe countered by explaining that Bath’s strict building restrictions, tied to its UNESCO heritage, limit expansion options. He criticized the government’s uniform housing targets as rigid and lacking nuance, describing them as a “clunky calculator” approach ill-suited for Bath’s unique context.
The council is in the midst of consulting on its upcoming local plan, a critical document that will set development policies until 2043. The plan’s approval is vital, as it will grant the council stronger authority to manage and direct future developments. Local areas such as Keynsham and the nearby village of Saltford are considered potential sites for new housing, stirring debate about balancing development with preserving community character.
Bath’s World Heritage Site status is internationally significant, recognizing its Roman Baths, Georgian architecture, and its inclusion in the Great Spa Towns of Europe designation. Many residents and officials view this heritage as non-negotiable, despite pressures to expand housing stock.
The consultation on the local plan options is open until November 14, with the council actively seeking community input through events hosted in a nostalgic 1990 Mr Whippy-style ice cream van touring the area.