Liberal Democrat councillors in Bath and North East Somerset are engaged in a heated debate over a substantial increase in housing development expected across the district. The government has mandated the council to allocate land for 27,340 new homes over the next 18 years, a figure that doubles previous targets and has sparked concern among elected officials.
The council’s draft local plan proposes that approximately one quarter of these new homes be constructed within Bath, despite the city comprising around half of the district’s population. Due to Bath’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the council argues that significant expansion within the city is constrained, leading to proposals that many new homes be situated in surrounding towns and villages.
This strategy has drawn criticism, particularly from councillors representing areas outside Bath. Keynsham, for instance, a town with an estimated population nearly five times smaller than Bath, is expected to accommodate nearly as many new homes - around 5,700 - alongside the development of the new town of Hicks Gate nearby.
Andy Wait, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Keynsham East, criticised the council for “poor planning,” highlighting the failure to collaborate with UNESCO to potentially adjust Bath’s World Heritage status parameters. He pointed to broader challenges, including increased housing targets set by the Labour government and legislative changes reducing local authority powers.
Matt McCabe, the council’s cabinet member responsible for planning and housing, acknowledged the pressure exerted by the government’s housing demands. He described the current situation as a “tidal wave of development that we are powerless to stop,” referring to the doubling of housing targets in 2024 from 14,000 to 27,340 homes.
The council is now behind in meeting these targets, limiting its ability to reject unsuitable development proposals until the local plan is finalised. Several significant planning applications have already been submitted in anticipation.
Social housing demand is particularly acute in Bath, with around 6,000 people on the waiting list. However, the council notes limited capacity for urban expansion due to heritage constraints. Growth within the city is largely focused on brownfield sites along the river and smaller peripheral areas, such as the contentious South Stoke Plateau.
Initial plans for a 2,000-home expansion near Twerton were rejected by the government’s planning inspectorate unless UNESCO approval was secured, as Bath’s World Heritage designation specifically includes its unique “hollow in the hills” setting. Neither the council nor the government is willing to risk losing this status, effectively preventing large suburban growth.
Councillor McCabe emphasised that adopting the local plan is not an endorsement of the scale of development but a necessary step to manage it. He said the plan provides the best opportunity for residents to guard against speculative developments and ensure new housing integrates well within communities.
Concerns have been raised about infrastructure adequacy, such as school capacity, in villages designated for significant growth. Clutton and Farrington Gurney, for example, face potential increases in size by 50% and 100%, respectively, prompting objections from local councils and residents.
Some councillors, including Liberal Democrat Shaun Stephenson-McGall from Timsbury, have expressed reservations about the scale of growth in their areas, with Timsbury slated for a 37% population increase.
Opposition Labour councillors have challenged the council’s position on Bath’s World Heritage status, noting that other cities with similar designations accommodate development without pricing out local residents.
Paul May, a Liberal Democrat cabinet member representing Whitchurch on Bristol’s outskirts, highlighted concerns over plans that would effectively triple the village’s size. Nonetheless, he supported proceeding with the consultation to better control development and associated infrastructure needs.
While inclusion in the local plan does not guarantee immediate building, future planning applications aligned with the plan are likely to be approved.
A six-week public consultation on the draft local plan is set to begin this week, offering residents a final chance to contribute before submission for government approval. Once adopted, this plan will guide planning decisions in Bath and North East Somerset until 2043.