B&NES plan for 12,700 homes clears another hurdle

A public hearing into Bath’s planning blue print is to continue in late November after Planning Inspector Simon Emerson decided to proceed with Bath and North East Somerset Council’s Core Strategy.

Mr Emerson has been assessing whether the draft core strategy is legally sound and there had been concerns that the plan did not take into account the housing needs of other areas such as Bristol.

The Core Strategy, which earmarks sites for 12,700 homes over the next 15 years, includes Green Belt at Weston and South Stoke.

Councillor Tim Ball (Lib-Dem, Twerton), Cabinet member for homes and planning, said: “The Core Strategy focuses development on brownfield sites as far as possible and seeks to limit the use of Green Belt land to achieve our homes target to support local need.”

The South of Bath Alliance supports the focus on brownfield sites, but we believe the Green Belt should be non-negotiable and Bath should be treated as a special case.

D-Day for Bath’s Core Strategy next Wednesday

The Bath Chronicle is reporting that there will be a ruling next week about whether a blueprint for the future of development across the Bath area needs to be ripped up and started again.

The Chronicle says “Simon Emerson, who is assessing whether Bath and North East Somerset Council’s draft core strategy is legally sound, has raised a series of questions about whether the authority has earmarked enough land for new homes”.

BBC Points West reported on  Mr Emerson’s  September 17 meeting with B&NES on that night’s programme and reporter Ali Vowles filmed a piece on South Stoke plateau.

Link: http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Inspector-rule-week-Bath-homes-blueprint/story-19811024-detail/story.html#ixzz2fL2TylEk

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

South Stoke plateau art on tour

There's another chance to see artwork by local artists inspired by the South Stoke plateau this Saturday.

Watercolour by Mary Liddell

Organiser Sally Muir will have a stall at South Stoke Village Hall between 11am-5pm .

The aim is to draw attention to our campaign and demonstrate what Bath will be losing if the housing development goes ahead.

The paintings will be sold at a later date (proceeds going to the campaign to save South Stoke plateau).

If you haven't signed our petition, visit http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/protect-precious-green-belt-in-bath-from-a-300-home-development