Public consultation has started on the Draft Concept Statements produced for each of the three sites that will be vacated by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) at Ensleigh, Foxhill, and Warminster Road.
The Council will be working with the MoD, Council partners, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and the community to ensure that any redevelopment is of the highest quality, delivers economic, social and environmental benefits, and captures the aspirations of the local community.
Councillor Tim Ball (Lib-Dem, Twerton), Cabinet Member for Homes and Planning, said, “The sites at Ensleigh, Foxhill, and Warminster Road represent an excellent opportunity to provide new homes for local people and support our ambitions for local economic growth. Bath & North East Somerset Council and its partners, including the MOD, are encouraging people to have their say about the guidance that developers will follow when they plan to build on these sites.
“It is crucial that all three sites provide homes that are appropriate for our residents and reflect local need. The most effective way for local people to help us ensure this is by giving their views at this first step of the process.”
The Statements provide guidance to developers explaining the aspirations for each site, the key planning priorities, requirement for new developerment, and process setting out how developers should engage with local communities once the sites have been sold. They were approved for consultation by the Cabinet on 11th April 2012.
How to have your say…
People have until 30th May 2012 to give their comments. The Statements and comment forms are available at Council Libraries in Bath and http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/mod-conceptstatements.
There will be consultation events at venues local to each site, where people will be able to find out more, talk to council officers and comment on the Draft Concept Statements. The first is at Foxhill at St Andrews Community Church Hall, Hawthorne Grove on Friday 27th April between 3-7pm and Saturday 28th April between 9 – 12pm.
Further events will take place in May 2012, including at the Bath City Conference being held on May 2nd 2012 – details about these events will be posted on the Council’s website and on Twitter @bathnes.
