A message from Cllr Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset CouncilIn July the Government set out its consultation on new mandatory housing targets which would see a significant uplift in the housing numbers that B&NES needs to plan for, increasing from the current 717 houses per annum to 1,466 per annum. The purpose of this increase is to address historic shortfalls in housing delivery and meeting housing needs. Over the last 13 years sound local planning policies have helped deliver nearly 10,000 new homes in B&NES and we want to ensure over the next ten years the right homes in the right places are built. So we welcome the government’s commitment to tackling the housing crisis and we want to work with the government on becoming a trailblazer for new ideas and policy changes that will deliver high-quality, sustainable and affordable housing in our area. However, the housing target set for B&NES is in my view unrealistic and I have written to the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner setting out the six key issues that have to be addressed to enable housing reform in Bath & North East Somerset. You can read the letter on the council’s Local Plan webpages which also provide an update on our current Local Plan consultation programme. One of the issues we raise is investment in the right infrastructure which includes sustainable transport. Last week the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority Committee approved a paper on the next steps for bus reform in our area. It identified various approaches including franchising. We will continue to play our part as constituent members of the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority to secure the bus services our communities need. We are running a whole series of events called IMAGINE Midsomer Norton to give residents and businesses a chance to find out about and have a say on our ambitious regeneration plans. These build on the £3.7m investment that has gone in over the last five years on the town hall, public spaces and shopfront improvements. Please get involved and tell us how you what you would like to see in Midsomer Norton for the future. You can find out more about the IMAGINE project and add your comments on the dedicated webpage, which also has full event listings and booking information. Have a good weekend. | 
