B&NES DRAFT LOCAL PLAN

Following public consultation in 2025, B&NES Council has now published their Draft Local Plan. The rural section pertaining to Bathford can be seen at the following link:

https://haveyoursay.bathnes.gov.uk/localplan/

The public are invited to submit their individual comments online via the link above by the deadline of 17:00 on 30 October 2026.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Parish Council's response to the previous stage of the consultation can be found below...

Bathford Parish Council

Response to B&NES Consultation on

Options for the Local Plan

Introduction

Our priority as Bathford Parish Council is to maintain the integrity and beauty of our unique village on the far east side of B&NES but having a responsibility to our residents to provide them with the housing and infrastructure they require and deserve.

1. We support increased housing numbers to maintain the viability of community assets and amenities such as the school and community shop, with minimal impact on the AONB.

2. We support the decision to withdraw the Bathford Nurseries North site on the grounds that the landowner never submitted the land for development, and it will be put into trust. We object on the grounds of the excess of density of dwellings proposed and the disturbance caused by access routes through Meadow Park. The requisite number of dwellings will be met by Bathford Nurseries South.

3. Provision must be made for biodiversity net gain.

4. The importance of the development to assist the viability of Bathford School should be noted. The school has sufficient capacity to accommodate additional pupils. This available provision ensures that the development can be integrated into the community without placing pressure on local educational infrastructure.

5. Affordable housing needs to be defined in the Local Plan along with recognition that the numbers refer to dwellings rather than houses.

6. Overall, in the Options consultation, the following conditions should be applied:

· All housing developments, without exception, contain 40% affordable/social dwellings.

· No 4-plus bedroom houses.

· Provision of 2-bedroom houses or apartments for first-time buyers, families and people down-sizing.

· All dwellings must be provided with two off-street parking spaces and allow adequate provision for visitors. EV charging facilities must be included.

7. To enhance sustainability, developments must employ a multi-faceted approach that prioritises energy efficiency, sustainable materials, water conservation, sustainable urban drainage and waste reduction throughout the building's lifecycle. E.g. Dwellings should be fitted with air source heat pumps, PV panels to generate electricity and solar thermal panels to provide hot water/heating and batteries for energy storage.

8. Developers must work with BANES Highways to mitigate the impact of additional traffic and to address difficult junctions.

Bathford Nursery South:

· Woodland belt/landscape mitigation needs to be on both the east and west sides of the site which should be centrally positioned, and the vehicular access moved accordingly.

· Dwellings should be set back from the road to allow screening from the A4.

· We would prefer these dwellings to be owner-occupied or shared ownership.

· It is essential that CIL monies are used to improve infrastructure, including communal green space.

· The Movement Strategy for Bath includes a ‘Freight Consolidation Strategy’ to reduce freight traffic through Bath city centre, potentially increasing the volume of HGVs/LGVs and coaches along the A4 Box Road. It is imperative as part of the approved development that BANES works with Bathford Parish Council to plan and initiate road safety/traffic calming measures the length of the A4 from Wiltshire to the A4 roundabout and specifically at the point of access to the site to mitigate the increase in traffic.

· Improvements between the Bathford Nursery South site and the road leading to the school along Box Road, comprising the following: signal-controlled pedestrian crossing to the footpath opposite; an improved access tunnel under the railway; footpath surface improvements; low-level lighting; a raised section over the flood plain and the replacement of kissing gates to facilitate ease of access by pedestrians, including those with cycles and/or pushchairs for the full length of the footpath to Titan Drive.

Titan Drive/Bathford Hill extension:

· There is concern over the access onto Bathford Hill by increased traffic movement.

· Easement or compulsory purchase will be required to ensure access.

· The road surface will need a bitumen macadam dressing and lights and drainage added.

· Extend the tarmacadam down the bridlepath and provide additional parking on the sports ground side for those engaging in sporting and leisure activities.

· The development could allow for an alternative designation of change of use with a view to protecting community assets.

Ashley Road:

· There is concern over the increase in traffic that will arise, especially at the corner of Ashley Road and New Road.

· With more pedestrians and particularly children walking to school, mitigation for pedestrian access/movement is required.

· Consider addressing the problems of access to and from the High Street by creating a one-way system (anticlockwise) incorporating New Road.

· Resurfacing of the road will be required after housing construction and road improvements have been completed.

Bathford Parish Council

(The response above was sent on 14 November 2025)

Contact

Reach out for local help anytime

Email

Phone

clerk@bathford.net

01225 858 220