Date published: 2026-09-18 | Category: Housing, Local Plan
Residents, businesses, community groups and other stakeholders are being invited to take part in the final six-week consultation on Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Draft Local Plan before it is submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for independent examination.
If approved, the plan will help shape where new homes, jobs and infrastructure are delivered up to 2043 and will play a key part in meeting the area's growing need for housing.
The draft plan has been shaped by feedback received during previous consultation stages and thousands of comments have helped inform the policies, site allocations and proposals that are now included.
This consultation is different from earlier stages. Previously people were asked what they thought the Local Plan should include to help shape the draft. This stage is about reviewing the finished draft and commenting on whether it is ready to be independently examined.
The consultation is an opportunity for people to comment on whether the draft is legally compliant and ‘sound’, that is whether they think it has been prepared properly and is supported by the right evidence. Comments can support, challenge or suggest changes to the plan. Every response received will be submitted directly to the Planning Inspectorate alongside the Draft Local Plan
Councillor Matt McCabe, Cabinet Member for Built Environment, Housing and Sustainable Development, said: "Residents, businesses, community groups, developers, landowners and other organisations all have an important role to play in shaping the future of Bath and North East Somerset. We want to hear from everyone with an interest in how our area grows and develops in the years ahead, but it’s important that people understand this consultation is different from previous stages.
“Earlier consultations helped us develop the Draft Local Plan whereas this stage is asking people to review the plan we've produced and comment on whether it is supported by the evidence and has been prepared properly, before it is independently examined. That's why we are providing guidance to help people understand how to respond and make their comments count."
Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of the Council, said: “Bath and North East Somerset needs more homes, but homes do not exist in isolation. New development must be supported by the schools, healthcare, transport links, community facilities and infrastructure that help communities thrive. While the government has set a target of 27,324 new homes over 18 years, a figure we had no choice over and which does not fully reflect the constraints of our area, including our World Heritage status and Green Belt, the reality is that significant growth is coming and we have to strike the right balance.
“Our choice is whether we plan for that growth or leave decisions to developers. The Local Plan gives us the opportunity to shape where homes are built, what type of homes are delivered, particularly affordable homes for local people, and how the infrastructure needed alongside them is provided. It is about striking the right balance between meeting housing needs, protecting what makes Bath and North East Somerset special, and ensuring development is sustainable and supported by the services residents rightly expect
To take part in the consultation you can visit the website, explore the Draft Local Plan and submit your comments online. Whether you want to support, challenge or suggest changes to a policy, you will need to explain your reasons so they can be considered as part of the independent examination. The consultation runs until 30 October.