Liberal Democrat councillors in Bath and North East Somerset are facing internal criticism over the council’s draft local plan, which outlines the development of 27,340 new homes across the district in the next 18 years. The plan has drawn concern from councillors representing areas outside Bath, as it proposes concentrating only about a quarter of new housing within the city despite Bath comprising approximately half of the district’s population.
The council cabinet, mainly comprised of ward representatives from Bath and its immediate vicinity, has stated that further housing development within the city is restricted due to its UNESCO World Heritage Site status. As a result, the plan directs most new housing to surrounding villages and towns, causing discontent among councillors from those areas.
At a council cabinet meeting on 10 September, backbench Liberal Democrat councillors from North East Somerset voiced objections to the proposal. The plan allocates space for around 5,900 new homes in Bath, with Keynsham-a town with a population nearly five times smaller than Bath-expected to accommodate nearly as many, alongside a new town at Hicks Gate.
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Keynsham East councillor Andy Wait criticised the council for inadequate planning and a lack of engagement with UNESCO to potentially amend Bath’s World Heritage Site designation. He acknowledged challenges including increased housing targets imposed by the government, regional growth plans, and constraints on local authority powers, emphasising, however, that the responsibility for the plan rests with Bath and North East Somerset Council.
The Liberal Democrats hold a majority on the council, with 38 out of 59 seats, yet Councillor Matt McCabe, cabinet member for planning and housing, described the council as powerless against what he termed a “tidal wave of development” mandated by the Labour government. The government’s recent doubling of the housing target from approximately 14,000 to 27,340 homes has placed significant pressure on the council to accommodate growth.
This surge has led to several large planning applications being submitted prior to the local plan’s formal adoption. Social housing demand remains high, with approximately 6,000 people on the waiting list, particularly in the Bath area where the housing crisis is most acute. The plan allocates primary development to brownfield sites along the river within Bath, supplemented by smaller peripheral sites, including the contentious South Stoke Plateau area.
An earlier proposal for a substantial housing expansion between Twerton and the Globe Roundabout was rejected by the government’s planning inspectorate due to Bath’s World Heritage Site status, which emphasises the city’s setting within a natural “hollow in the hills.” This designation precludes large suburban expansion to preserve its status.
Councillor McCabe acknowledged community apprehensions, stating, “Many will argue that by creating a local plan we look like we are endorsing what’s coming, which is not the case.” He stressed that the plan presents the best opportunity to guide development responsibly, aiming to integrate new housing into community frameworks rather than allowing unchecked commuter-focused building.
Concerns were also raised by members of other political groups. Green Party Councillor Sam Ross highlighted insufficient school capacity in Clutton, where 330 homes are proposed-a 50% increase in village size. Similarly, Farrington Gurney Parish Council warned of their village potentially doubling in size, and a Haydon resident opposed inclusion of a previously rejected development site.
Timsbury councillor Shaun Stephenson-McGall expressed doubts about supporting the plan, noting it would increase the village’s population by approximately 37%, equating growth typical of a market town.
Labour councillors representing areas outside Bath, including opposition group leader Robin Moss, have questioned the council’s position on World Heritage Site constraints, noting that other cities with similar designations maintain housing development without pricing out residents.
Paul May, the sole cabinet member representing a ward outside Bath, spoke on behalf of Whitchurch, where the plan would effectively triple the village size by allocating land for over 1,700 homes. Although he described this growth as a cause for “extreme concern,” he supported progressing the consultation to better manage development and secure necessary infrastructure, rather than facing uncoordinated planning applications.
The local plan’s allocation does not equate to immediate construction but signals where future developments aligned with the plan are likely to receive approval.
A six-week public consultation period on the draft local plan is set to commence shortly, providing the final opportunity for residents to provide feedback before submission to the government. Once approved, the plan will govern planning decisions in North East Somerset until 2043.