LIBERAL Democrats in Bath are under fire from some of their own councillors in a row over a “tidal wave of development” about to hit Keynsham, Saltford and other parts of North East Somerset.
The government has told Bath and North East Somerset Council that it needs to find space for 27,340 new homes to be built across the district over the next 18 years. A plan drawn up by the council would see about a quarter of that new housing growth take place in Bath, despite the city accounting for around half of the district’s population.
Members of the Liberal Democrat council cabinet – all bar one of whom represent wards in or next to Bath – say it is not possible to build more in the city because of its UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
Instead, they propose that villages and towns across North East Somerset grow disproportionately to take the homes – generating fury from councillors outside the city.
As the council cabinet met on September 10 to agree on sending the draft Local Plan out for a final public consultation, backbench Liberal Democrats were among the North East Somerset councillors who raised objections to the plan.
The plan sets out space for 5,900 new homes to be built in Bath. But Keynsham, which has an estimated population almost five times smaller than the city, would be expected to take almost as many – 5,700 – in addition to having the new town of Hicks Gate built next door.
Liberal Democrat councillor for Keynsham East, Andy Wait, accused the council of “poor planning” for failing to work with UNESCO to modify the city’s World Heritage Site listing in time.
He said: “I can blame the Labour government for more than doubling the housing numbers, or WECA for designing a Bristol-Bath corridor as a growth zone. I could point out that recent legislation has reduced the powers of local authorities; they have also crippled the once powerful green belt by creating a ‘grey belt.’ However, this is B&NES’ plan.”
The Liberal Democrats dominate B&NES Council, with 38 of the 59 councillors, but when it comes to the Local Plan, the council administration says it has been left little choice over what to do by the Labour government.
Matt McCabe (Bathavon South, Liberal Democrat), the council cabinet member responsible for planning and housing, said: “This Labour government has unleashed a tidal wave of development that we are powerless to stop.”
The council had been drawing up a plan for around 14,000 homes but, in 2024, the new government doubled its housing target to 27,340, which Mr McCabe called “shockingly high.”
This means the council is now behind its target, reducing its ability to turn down inappropriate housing developments until it has an up-to-date plan in place. Several huge planning applications have already been submitted ahead of the plan coming into force.
Initially, the council had proposed allocating land between the edge of Twerton and the Globe Roundabout for a 2,000 home westward suburban expansion of the city, but it was told by the government’s planning inspectorate that the plan would be rejected if this was included without the support of UNESCO.
Bath’s UNESCO World Heritage Site listing specifically includes its setting in a “hollow in the hills,” meaning that any suburban expansion of the city could see it lose the coveted status – something neither the council nor the government is prepared to allow.
Mr McCabe said: “I believe that this plan offers the best opportunity for our residents to defend their communities against speculative development.”
Leader of the council’s opposition Labour group, Robin Moss (Westfield), said in a statement: “We have repeatedly asked why the Lib Dem administration thinks World Heritage status stops them from building homes, but got no reasonable answer. UNESCO is proud of other World Heritage Site cities where the locals aren’t priced out.”
Allocating a site for development in the Local Plan does not mean there are current plans to build there, but any planning applications that align with developments proposed in the plan will almost certainly be approved.
A six-week public consultation on the Local Plan began on September 18 and runs until October 30. This is the final opportunity for people to comment on the plan before it is submitted to the government for approval. Once approved, it will establish the rules by which planning applications are decided until 2043.
The public consultation on the draft Local Plan began on September 18 and runs until 5pm on October 30.
To explore the plan and submit your comments online, you can visit https://haveyoursay.bathnes.gov.uk/localplan/
Hard copies of the main consultation documents will also be available for inspection at council offices and libraries.
John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporting Service
Pictured, Hicks Gate is a location favoured for new housing because it is next to the A4
Fury at ‘tidal wave’ of new homes for Keynsham and Saltford
