A small village in Bath and North East Somerset, where planning permission for 115 homes was recently refused, is now proposed as a site for up to 140 new homes in the council’s latest local plan.
In August, Bath and North East Somerset Council’s planning committee rejected a development proposal by housing association Curo to build 115 homes on a field in Haydon, describing the plan as “overdevelopment.” Yet, the new draft local plan allocates the very same field as a location for approximately 140 homes over the next 18 years.
The local plan is a key policy document guiding where housing developments should be built in the district, setting growth targets and land allocations. Haydon, a small village near Radstock, currently has around 250 homes.
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At the August 5 planning committee meeting, councillors voted 4-3 against Curo’s application, citing concerns from residents about existing water supply challenges, the presence of wildlife such as red kites and skylarks in the area, and insufficient local jobs and facilities to support further housing. Committee member Shaun Hughes noted, “We have an obligation here to protect communities and expecting a community to absorb a 50% increase is unrealistic.”
However, the council’s housing target was doubled earlier this year, with government guidance requiring the district to plan for 27,324 new homes over the current plan period. The draft local plan aims to meet these demands by focusing development primarily around Keynsham and the Somer Valley, avoiding expansion near Bath’s World Heritage Site to preserve its status.
The Haydon field is included among the sites earmarked for housing, with the council suggesting it could support around 140 homes. Notably, the planning committee operates independently of the council administration and was not involved in drafting the local plan.
The draft plan will be reviewed by the council cabinet on 10 September before a six-week public consultation is launched starting the week of 14 September. This will be the final opportunity for residents to provide input before the plan is submitted to the government for approval, governing planning decisions until 2043.
Local Radstock councillor Lesley Mansell (Labour) encouraged residents to participate in the consultation, emphasising the need for “fair say in how future development is planned,” and highlighting existing constraints and infrastructure gaps in the area. Meanwhile, Council Leader Kevin Guy (Bathavon North, Liberal Democrat) reiterated concerns over the government-imposed housing target, stating that the council’s unique features such as green belt and World Heritage status had not been fully considered.
He added, “A large number of homes are likely to be built in our area. Our only choice is whether we plan for that growth or leave ourselves at the mercy of developers. Without a local plan, there is less influence over where homes are built, what type of homes are built and how the infrastructure needed alongside them is delivered,”