Date published: 2024-10-14 | Category: Delivering for local residents, Local Plan, Planning
Parish and town councils are being encouraged to continue working closely with Bath & North East Somerset Council on its re-set of the Local Plan following the announcement of new government housing targets.
A letter sent to the parish and town councils, has outlined how the government’s new mandatory housing targets would have ‘very significant implications’ for Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Local Plan and asked them to continue working closely with the council to re-set the plan.
Councillor Matt McCabe, Cabinet Member for Built Environment and Sustainable Development, has set out in the letter the proposed revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the revised housing figures that would increase the B&NES housing requirement by 104% from 717 per annum to 1,466. Proposed revisions to the NPPF also indicate other significant national policy changes.
Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Local Plan Options document, which was consulted on earlier this year, was based on planning for around 14,500 homes by 2042. Although the government’s proposed revisions are still in draft form, the revised housing target could double that requirement.
Councillor McCabe said: “The proposed revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework and revised standard method housing figures have very significant implications for our Local Plan. Given the scale of the challenge presented to us by the government it is important that we continue to work with the parish and town councils as representatives of our local communities. Community input is essential in helping to ensure that the re-set plan addresses important local issues and helps to ensure that we live in sustainable and healthy places.”
Council leader Councillor Kevin Guy, has also written to the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner setting out six key issues to enable housing reform in the area.
While the government’s proposed revisions are still in draft form, the council has begun work on re-setting its Local Plan.
Councillor McCabe said: “The full programme for preparing the re-set Local Plan is still being developed, but the work already carried out including responses received during the earlier Draft Options consultation and stakeholder engagement on the plan will inform the re-set and further work will be undertaken looking at potential new sites as well as consultation.”
Visit the council website for the latest information on the Local Plan or watch a video on our YouTube channel that explains how the proposed revisions will impact the Local Plan.
To read Councillor Guy’s letter, go to the council’s Local Plan webpages and to listen to the recent B&NES cabinet meeting on the National Planning Policy Framework, visit our YouTube channel.
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ENDS