A wholly affordable development could bring 15 homes to Bath despite past fears for the green belt.
15 affordable homes are planned in Deadmill Lane | Image © Millen Homes
After unsuccessfully appealing the refusal of its plans to build 18 affordable properties off Deadmill Lane, Millen Homes is having another go.
It says scaling back its proposals will reduce the pressure on site and allow a greater degree of openness and permeability through the site.
Bath and North East Somerset Council previously denied planning permission due to the impact on the green belt and conservation area, and concerns about flooding and the access route.
Dismissing the appeal, planning inspector Neil Pope said the development would “result in the loss of the unspoilt, green open qualities of the site and erode the pleasing contribution the site makes to the landscape setting of this part of Bath”.
He said the social and economic benefits of the new homes did not outweigh the harm to the World Heritage Site.
The location of the planned development at the junction of Ferndale Road and Deadmill Lane | Photo © Bath Echo
Millen Homes said in its new application: “As was clearly understood by the inspector as part of the appeal there remains an extant need for affordable housing consisting of over 100 persons in the locality.”
It said providing affordable homes for the local community meant it was not an inappropriate development in the green belt, and the two grass fields that would be lost were not a key feature of the conservation area.
Millen Homes said in its application: “The proposed dwellings would incorporate a number of sustainable measures including renewable energy, rain water harvesting and thermally efficient envelopes meaning the buildings would be affordable in respect of utility bills and help fight climate change.
“The provision of 15 new homes for solely affordable purposes is considered to carry significant weight in the planning balance and hence planning permission should be approved without delay.”
B&NES Council will consider the outline application, reference 21/04746/OUT.
Stephen Sumner, Local Democracy Reporter
