Lib Dem councillors in B&NES have expressed their disappointment following a planning committee decision to permit the proposed development of 171 houses at Sulis Down in Bath.
Bathavon South Councillor Neil Butters said: “I am saddened by this decision. Development of the South Stoke Plateau has been on the cards for many years, but there have always been many constraints to make high numbers of housing very difficult.
“The 171 dwellings which are now being allowed will have severe impacts on local residents, traffic congestion, services and protected characteristics such as the Bath World Heritage Site setting, the green belt and the AONB.
“The developer’s ambitions for future phases could bring the number of units as high as 450 or even 500, which would be staggering. This is all without any proper masterplan having been produced.
“The planning committee has ridden roughshod over the wishes of local residents, several Parish Councils and local campaign groups.”
Odd Down Councillor Steve Hedges commented: “I opposed this development as Odd Down residents will be the most affected. Along with Mulberry Park, this will bring 871 additional homes to the area, with the possibility of a over 300 more in future phases.
“The strain on local facilities is already showing. Traffic is a particular concern to local residents and too little attention has been paid to this problem.
“We are going to see total gridlock in Odd Down and Combe Down, with rat-running along residential streets that are not set up for busy traffic.
“I’m very concerned about the potential impact on schools on the St Martin’s Hospital site, which will be surrounded by queueing traffic for hours at a time. This could really damage local children’s health.”
Both councillors spoke at the Development Management Committee meeting on Wednesday afternoon, calling for the application to be refused or deferred.
However, the committee members voted by 6 to 4 in favour of the application. The three Liberal Democrat Councillors on the Committee voted against the application.
