Locals are being invited to have their say on updates to a plan which will influence critical planning issues across Bath & North East Somerset.
The Guildhall in Bath
The Local Plan is the basis for determining planning applications across B&NES, and decides how sites are allocated for development.
Bath & North East Somerset Council has said the plan is also vital to help meet its climate and ecological emergency goals.
Ahead of a full review of the Local Plan scheduled for 2023, the council is carrying out a Partial Update to address urgent issues including the climate and ecological emergencies, housing land supply, potential sites for non-residential development and Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
An online consultation is giving people the chance to have their say on potential new approaches the council could adopt.
The plan will address planning policies affecting renewable energy generation, sustainable construction and parking standards.
Housing requirements set by the B&NES Core Strategy are that around 13,000 homes need to be built from 2011 to 2029 across the district, but the council has identified that the current housing supply shortfall for the area is around 1,200 homes.
The Local Plan Partial Update needs to identify and allocate sites to deliver these homes in order to meet the 13,000 target on schedule.
Other potential development sites for non-residential development are also detailed, including creating a more vibrant and diverse part of Bath city centre at Milsom Quarter, transport interchanges and wider uses at the Park & Ride sites, and redeveloping the Bath Community Academy site for education and community use.
For student housing, the council has said that its preferred approach is that student needs are met in purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) where possible, in place of further conversion of family homes to HMOs.
The consultation can be viewed by clicking here and comments are being welcomed up until 18th February.
Councillor Tim Ball, cabinet member for Housing, Planning and Economic Development, said: “Planning policy can be a challenging process to make sense of, but it has a huge impact on all our lives.
“The Local Plan guides the progress of Bath and North East Somerset and decides how sites are allocated for development. It’s also vital in helping us meet our climate and ecological emergency goals.
“Ahead of the full Local Plan update in 2023 we want to address the most critical issues, so don’t miss the chance to help shape policy for where you live and work.
“Please view our consultation document, share your ideas and let us know what is important to you.”
As well as via the consultation portal, comments can be submitted by email at [email protected] or in writing to: Local Plan Consultation, Bath & North East Somerset Council, Manvers Street, Bath, BA1 1JG.
