Bath & North East Somerset Council

Core Strategy

The Core Strategy Examination is currently taking place.

The Hearings commenced on 17th January 2012.

Click here for more details.

The Draft Core Strategy - click here to view the document

Contents

The background to the draft Core Strategy

The Draft Core Strategy Consultation

The Submitted Core Strategy

The Core Strategy Examination

Further Information

The background to the Draft Core Strategy

The Draft Core Strategy sets out the policy framework for the location and level of new housing and other development and is one of the Council's key policy documents that seeks to build upon the area's strong foundations which include the emerging creative industries, success of local Universities, and vibrant retail and tourist offer.

Through its vision and strategy for the district it aims to tackle tough challenges over the next 15-20 years such as the low wage economy, affordable housing shortages, the lack of modern flexible accommodation, the need to tackle climate change, poor local infrastructure and to avoid long term decline.

Using the land in the district as effectively as possible is crucial if Bath & North East Somerset is to unlock the future economic potential of the area.

You can read about the history of the Core Strategy, consultation and previous stages in the development of the document here.

The Draft Core Strategy Consultation

The consultation on the Draft Core Strategy closed on 3rd February 2011. You can view the draft Core Strategy Consultation Document and Summary Information here. The Council has now considered the issues raised in representations and has proposed some changes to the Draft Core Strategy - the Schedule of Proposed Changes and other related documents can be viewed by clicking here.

All of the duly made representations on the Draft Core Strategy are available to view online via the links below. Hard copies of these representations are also available to view at the Guildhall Council Connect Office in Bath from Friday 18th March 2011. You can view and search these representations by respondent or by subject by clicking here.

The Submitted Core Strategy

The Council submitted the Core Strategy to the Planning Inspectorate for Independent Examination on 3rd May 2011. The submitted documents as required under Regulation 30 can be viewed by clicking here.

The Core Strategy Examination Hearings and beyond

The Draft Core Strategy is currently subject to examination. The Examination Hearings are scheduled to take place in January 2012. The dedicated page for the Core Strategy Examination can be accessed by clicking here.

Once adopted the Core Strategy will set out the long term spatial vision for Bath & North East Somerset up to 2026 and the broad locations for new housing, jobs and other strategic developments. It will also focus on the delivery of policy objectives and any infrastructure requirements. The Core Strategy will provide the policy context for other Development Plan Documents (DPDs) in the Local Development Framework (LDF).

Further Information

The Core Strategy is supported by a number of Information papers and appraisals which are available here. It is also supported by further evidence/studies. These include the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA).