Jacob Rees-Mogg backs our cause

Constituents from South Stoke village and members of the South of Bath Alliance met Jacob Rees-Mogg MP in Bath today.

Mr Rees-Mogg, who represents the land we're trying to save from a housing development at South Stoke Plateau, was given a copy of our petition which he plans to present to Parliament.

The final consultation on the core strategy – Bath and North East Somerset's council's planning blueprint for the next 15 years – was completed in December and more than 900 people responded.

Planning inspector Simon Emerson is due to hold an Examination in Public on the controversial Green Belt aspect of the Strategy at the end of March.

Do we need more unaffordable homes?

A recent survey revealed Bath is the most expensive place to live in the South West, with house prices climbing by 34% over the past 10. The average property in the city now costs £265,771.

Chronicle focuses on Bath's great housing debate

This week's Bath Chronicle is running a spread giving all sides of the planning debate in our city.

The Bath Chronicle's planning coverage

The paper reports that more than 900 people responded to the public consultation at the end of 2013 asking for views on where new housing and other development should take place in the Bath area.

Not surprisingly, plans to change the boundary of the city's green belt at South Stoke and Weston, so hundreds of homes can be built on fields surrounding the city, proved to be a divisive topic.

The article contains arguments from a planner, developer, politician, first-time buyer and a green belt campaigner from the South of Bath Alliance.

Bath and North East Somerset's planning blueprint, the Core Strategy, is due to be examined in public by independent planning inspector Simon Emerson at the end of March.

Here's a link to the article: http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Green-light-red-homes-bid/story-20419374-detail/story.html