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Somer Valley Enterprise Zone Local Development Order

 

 

The Council/LPA is promoting a Local Development Order (LDO) at the Somer Valley Enterprise Zone (SVEZ) to enable delivery of this long-standing employment land allocation, via a master planning process.
This item brings forward the LDO for a decision on its adoption by Cabinet. A formal consultation period on the LDO commenced on 16th January 2023 and concluded on 23rd February 2023. A revised statutory consultation commenced on 22nd September 2023 and concludes on 20th October 2023.
Rationale for Decision
The Council is looking to deliver a mixed used regeneration project in the Somer Valley, predominantly on the land forming part of the Somer Valley Enterprise Zone (SVEZ) which is held in five different ownerships. The SVEZ has been allocated for mixed use development in the Council’s local plan since 2007 but has not been bought forward by the private sector. In addition to the development of the SVEZ, there are a number of highways works that will be necessary in order to deliver the project, including a new access from the A362 and network junction interventions.
The LPA is promoting a LDO across the SVEZ, and highway enabling works to assist in bringing the site forward. The formal LDO documents were published on 16th January 2023 and the formal public consultation concluded on 23rd February 2023. Following the initial statutory consultation, the project team attended workshops with Development Management to address comments received and revised documents were submitted back to the LPA. The revised statutory consultation began on 22nd September 2023 and concludes on 20th October 2023.
A decision on whether to adopt the SVEZ LDO is required by the Council’s Executive, via Cabinet.
Financial and Budget Implications
The SVEZ has WECA IF programme funding to deliver the LDO alongside s.106 contributions. An Outline Business Case + is being prepared to secure funding for the project, submission targeted for January 2024. A funding bid will be made to the Investment Fund to support land acquisition.
Other Options Considered
The land has been allocated since 2007 without the private sector bringing the site forward. The Council is promoting the LDO and land acquisition to enable delivery.

Decision type: Key

Reason Key: Affects more than 1 ward;

Decision status: Approved

Wards affected: Paulton;

Notice of proposed decision first published: 28/09/2023

Decision due: 16 Jan 2024 by Corporate Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel

Decision due: 1 Feb 2024 by Cabinet

Lead member: Councillor Robin Moss, Labour Group Leader Robin_Moss@bathnes.gov.uk Cabinet Member for Economic and Cultural Sustainable Development

Lead director: Director of Capital & Housing Delivery

Contact: Richard Holden, Head of Corporate Estate and Development Email: Richard_Holden@bathnes.gov.uk Tel: 01225 47 7655 Email: simon_martin@bathnes.gov.uk.

Consultation process

The project team and its consultants have been in regular dialogue with the landowners over the last 24 months. The project reports into the Cabinet Member and a Key Stakeholder Group.
An informal public engagement was held in May-June 2022. The LDO documents were published on 16th January 2023 and the formal statutory consultation concluded on 23rd February 2023. Following the statutory consultation, the project team attended workshops with Development Management to address comments received and revised documents were submitted to the LPA. A revised statutory consultation began on 22nd September 2023 and concludes on 20th October 2023. Prior to the revised statutory consultation, the project team attended the Farrington Gurney Parish Council meeting on the 18th September and the Somer Valley Forum on 20th September 2023.

Consultees

The informal public engagement in May/June 2022 consisted of a public webinar, consultation boards in local libraries and hard copy and online surveys. Engagement events were undertaken at Westfield Parish Council, Radstock Town Council, Paulton Parish Council and a residents meeting in Paulton, and Somer Valley Forum. Both statutory consultations were hosted on the Planning Portal, with a dedicated webpage on the B&NES site that described the documents uploaded and then directed through to the Planning Portal for comment. Statutory consultees were contacted directly by Development Management to inform them of the application being published for comment. The project reports into the Cabinet Member and a Key Stakeholder Group.

EFP Reference: E3486

Decisions

Agenda items