PROPOSALS have been revealed for about 200 new homes on green-belt land on the edge of Keynsham.
Persimmon Homes Severn Valley wants to develop just over nine hectares of arable land to the west of Charlton Road.
A belt of woodland is proposed along the site’s western boundary to create a visual buffer between the new estate and the village of Queen Charlton, about 300 metres away.
The developer’s agents, Nexus Planning, have asked Bath and North East Somerset Council whether they will need to submit an environmental impact assessment (IEIA) before making a planning application.
EIA development is defined under regulations as “development likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue of factors such as its nature, size or location.”
Nexus say that the proposed development would not give rise to any “unacceptable” landscape and visual harm.
Although there are no detailed proposals at this stage, it is envisaged that 45% of the new homes would be “affordable”.
Two access roads are proposed – one from the existing three-arm Charlton Road/Linnet Way roundabout and another about 25 metres north of the Aesop Drive junction. Access for pedestrians and cyclists would be confirmed in due course.
Nexus says that a proposed transport assessment is expected to show that the extra traffic generated by the development can be absorbed “without detriment to the operation of the highway network in the vicinity.”
The agents add that the site is not within a conservation area and there are no listed buildings within or adjoining it.
It does have an ancient tree, around which an illustrative masterplan would create an exclusion zone of almost 22 metres.
A high-pressure gas main that crosses the site from north to south would also be protected, with no development allowed six metres feet either side of it.
Although there are no public rights of way within the site, there is a footpath running along its northern boundary that connects to the wider public-rights-of-way network within Stockwood Vale.
The Environment Agency Flood Map identifies a small area of land as being at risk of surface water flooding in the east of the site.
The development would have open green spaces, allotments, a community orchard, equipped play areas and an informal kick-about area to the south-west of the site.
Construction would take between one to two years.
Land to the north of the site has already been earmarked for potential development of up to 300 new homes in B&NES Council’s Local Plan Options Document.
The Draft Local Plan will undergo a public consultation this autumn before its formal adoption, which is expected in spring 2026.
200 homes proposed for western edge of Keynsham
