Bath and North East Somerset Labour group leader Robin Moss has challenged plans that allocate most of the district’s future housing growth outside Bath.
The draft local plan must provide for 27,324 homes over 18 years. It allocates 5,900 homes to Bath, despite the city accounting for about half the district’s population.
Other proposed allocations include 4,600 homes in the Somer Valley, 2,600 in rural areas and 8,600 along the Bristol–Bath corridor around Keynsham, Saltford, Whitchurch and Hicks Gate.
The Liberal Democrat administration argues that major suburban expansion around Bath could damage the setting of its World Heritage Site. Moss said the designation should not prevent the city from housing more of the people who work there.
He said high prices were already forcing workers and families to live outside Bath, increasing commuter congestion and environmental pressures.
The draft went before the cabinet on 10 September and entered a six-week consultation beginning in the week of 14 September. Site allocation does not itself grant planning permission or confirm that a development application exists.
