Agenda item

The report seeks approval of a reset Local Plan options document for consultation commencing in October.

(1)  To approve the Reset Local Plan Options document (Appendix 1 of the report) for public consultation for a period of six weeks from 3^rd October to 14^th November 2025, subject to the amendments set out in the schedule to the revised officer recommendation.

(2)  To agree and authorise the Executive Director for Sustainable Communities, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Built Environment, Housing and Sustainable Development and Communications and Community, to issue communications relating to the reset Local Plan Options and to undertake consultation as summarised in section 10 of the report and outlined in the communications and engagement plan (Appendix 2 of the report).

(3)  To delegate authority to the Executive Director for Sustainable Communities, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Built Environment, Housing and Sustainable Development, to agree textual changes to the Options document (Appendix 1 of the report) prior to its publication for consultation.

Cllr Matt McCabe, Cabinet Member for Built Environment, Housing and Sustainable Development, introduced the report, moved the updated officer recommendation and made the following points:

• Thanked officers for producing the consultation document within a compacted timescale.
• An options consultation had been launched last year but the change in government had resulted in a new housing calculator being brought forward.
• There had been an increase in housing targets for Bath and North East Somerset from 700 houses per year to 1500 (27,000 over 18 years).
• Anyone who had responded to the consultation last year would have their comments assessed as part of the new consultation.
• The new targets resulted in the Council’s 5-year land supply for housing being reduced to 2.7 years.
• The Council needed a robust Local Plan with a 5-year land supply for housing to avoid speculative development.
• The refreshed Local Plan would replace the existing plans and establish the framework in which planning decisions would be made until 2043. 
• The options document set out the spatial options for the local plan.  Four large strategic sites were being put forward by the Council: Hicks Gate, Keynsham North, West of Bath and Somer Valley.
• Identifying larger sites would allow a focus on infrastructure and sustainable development.
• All sites need to be tested against local knowledge and residents were encouraged to respond to the consultation to ensure the right houses were built in the right places.
• New policies were also proposed in relation to Retrofit First policy and HMO restrictions in Bath to protect affordable family homes.

Cllr Manda Rigby seconded the motion and emphasised that the consultation would be inclusive and focus on hard-to-reach groups.  This would include a ‘van with a plan’ which would be touring the area to host drop-in sessions, publicise the consultation, facilitate and encourage participation. She clarified that the consultation did not imply preference for any specific site.

Cllr Paul May acknowledged that the housing target was a huge challenge for Bath and North East Somerset.  He recognised the restrictions for developments within the city of Bath and spoke in support of larger developments to help unlock investment and benefit communities.  He agreed with the need to consult on all options but expressed concerns about developer proposals around Whitchurch Village which would change the character of the village. 

Cllr Sarah Warren emphasised the environmental benefits of the Local Plan reset including policies on Retrofit First, climate adaption, district heating, renewable energy, regenerative farming and the increase of biodiversity net gain from 10% to 20%.

Cllr Joel Hirst welcomed the approval of the options document for consultation and highlighted the need for appropriate transport infrastructure, building communities which had a balance of employment opportunities and appropriate social infrastructure and ensuring that affordable family housing was available across the district.

RESOLVED (unanimously):

(1)  To approve the Reset Local Plan Options document (Appendix 1 of the report) for public consultation for a period of six weeks from 3^rd October to 14^th November 2025, subject to the amendments set out in the schedule to the revised officer recommendation.

(2)  To agree and authorise the Executive Director for Sustainable Communities, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Built Environment, Housing and Sustainable Development and Communications and Community, to issue communications relating to the reset Local Plan Options and to undertake consultation as summarised in section 10 of the report and outlined in the communications and engagement plan (Appendix 2 of the report).

(3)  To delegate authority to the Executive Director for Sustainable Communities, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Built Environment, Housing and Sustainable Development, to agree textual changes to the Options document (Appendix 1 of the report) prior to its publication for consultation.