Future of Bath's valuable Green Belt hangs in the balance

It’s big week for Bath and North East Somerset Council. It’s attempting to prove to the Government’s Planning Inspector that its planning blueprint (known as the Core Strategy) is legally sound.

Under threat: Bath's South Stoke plateau

Earlier this summer Planning Inspector Simon Emerson raised serious questions about whether the council has earmarked enough land for new homes.

Mr Emerson was backing concerns from developers that the council had not taken enough consideration of the housing needs of adjacent local authority areas, because cities such as Bristol have traditionally provided jobs to people living in B&NES.

B&NES Council insists its strategy to build 12,700 homes over the next 15 years ticks all the Government’s boxes.

The Core Strategy will also determine the future of green belt land at Weston and South Stoke.

Our fear is that it if the decision is made to build on green belt, it will be open season for developers all around Bath.

Not only will this threaten Bath’s unique setting, but also our status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Here's a link to the BBC News Online version of the story http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-24123087