Options to deliver future developments including new homes, jobs and transport across Bath and North East Somerset are going out to public consultation.
Residents are being encouraged to take part in the latest stage in the creation of a new Local Plan for the district, which once adopted will form the basis for determining planning applications until 2036.
A range of options for the new planning framework are being laid out covering local planning matters from the provision of affordable homes and the identification of new housing and employment sites to the development of wind energy, provision of electric vehicle infrastructure and the siting of fast food takeaways.
People can take part in a public consultation, which runs from November 12 until January 7 2019 on the options to revise the existing planning policy framework for Bath and North East Somerset. Comments received will then be used to inform the preparation of a draft plan due to be published later in 2019.
Some of the options in the proposed Local Plan include:
- Creation of a new ‘Garden Community’ in North Keynsham delivering 1,500 new homes, including affordable homes.
- Creation of a new ‘Garden Community’ to the South East of Whitchurch, to deliver around 2000 new homes, including affordable homes and associated infrastructure.
- Introduction of restrictions on new student accommodation, requiring all new developments to be provided on campus.
- Relocation of Bath’s Household Reuse and Recycling facility to Odd Down.
- Construction of a new Link Road connecting the A4175 to the north of Keynsham with the A4 Bath Road to the east of Keynsham to help relieve congestion in the town centre
- Construction of a new Link Road connecting the A4/A4174 to the A37 and into South Bristol to help relieve congestion
- Expansion of the employment land allocation and broadening the mix of uses, both to enable the delivery of the Somer Valley Enterprise Zone.
- The introduction of new restrictions on the location of fast food takeaways to prevent them from opening near schools and youth facilities.
- A review of parking standards and provision for electric vehicles infrastructure
- A review of the policy approach for the regeneration of areas of social housing
- The proposed Clean Air Zone in Bath and its relationship with Bath Transport Strategy including additional park & ride provision
- The council’s approach to viability to ensure developers properly address the need for infrastructure in new housing.
People can have their say online or send in comments. They are also encouraged to go to a series of exhibitions and talk to officers about these and other elements of the Local Plan, as well as other projects including the Joint Local Transport Plan and in Keynsham the town centre improvements project.
In addition information will be available about the West of England Joint Spatial Plan (JSP) consultation which is looking at the high level planning policy across the whole Bristol and Bath region .The JSP establishes the strategic decisions on the amount of housing and economic growth that needs to be planned for and where it should be accommodated. It is the role of the Local Plan to provide the more detailed policies.
And they can also comment on the Strategic Transport Infrastructure which looks at a series of key transport infrastructure measures in order to deliver housing and job growth at the Strategic Development Locations.
These include a link road from A4/A37/South Bristol link, relocating Brislington Park & Ride to Hicks Gate and a North Keynsham Link Road (A4175 to A4). Both the Transport Options Assessment Reports and the Joint Spatial Plan are also subject to consultation alongside the Local Plan.
The public exhibitions are at:
Whitchurch – Community Centre (large room) 19 November (3.30– 7.30pm)
Bath – Brunswick Room, The Guildhall 20 November (3.30 – 7.30pm)
Keynsham – Civic Centre Community Space 22 November (3.30 – 7.30pm)
Paulton Village Hall 23 November (3.30 – 7.30pm)
Midsomer Norton – Town Hall (Assembly Room) 30 November (3.30 – 7.30pm)
Councillor Bob Goodman, Cabinet member for Development and Neighbourhoods, said “The Local Plan will shape the future of Bath and North East Somerset for the next two decades so it’s really important that it works for all our communities. We’ve asked residents for their views at every stage of its development and this consultation is another opportunity to comment on these options and inform the next step which is the preparation of a Draft Plan setting out the council’s proposed site allocations and policy for developments.
“In addition to our Local Plan people are also being asked for comments on the wider Joint Spatial Plan which affects planning for homes and growth across the region and transport plans which would deliver the infrastructure to make future new developments possible.”
All consultation documents, background evidence will be available from 12th November via this link http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/localplan2016-2036. The Local Plan Options document can also be viewed at the following locations during opening hours:
- Council offices
- The One Stop Shop, Manvers Street, Bath, BA1 1JG
- Midsomer Norton Library & Information Service, The Hollies, Midsomer Norton, BA3 2DP
- Keynsham Library & Information Service, Civic Centre, Temple Street, Keynsham, BS31 1LA
- All public and community libraries in the District, including the mobile library
- Drop-in sessions (details below)
People can make comments on-line using the consultation portal http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/localplan2016-2036. Alternatively email completed comments form to Local_Plan2@bathnes.gov.uk or send completed forms to Planning Policy, Bath & North East Somerset Council, PO Box 5006, Bath BA1 1JG.
Please note all documents are on line but the hard copy locations are different.
- The LP documents can be seen in offices in Bath, Keynsham and Midsomer Norton and in all public and community libraries in the district.
- The JSP documents can only be seen in offices and main libraries in Bath, Keynsham and Midsomer Norton.
