What we are we proposing to do
Land supply assessment and its role in the Local Plan
Assessing the land which may be available for future development in our area, to meet anticipated needs, is an important part of strategic planning. We regularly update our assessment of the supply of suitable land for housing, employment, economic development and settlement (known as the Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment, or HELAA, an important part of the evidence base of our Local Plan).
Land supply assessment includes a review of potential sites to meet current and future need for Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople accommodation in B&NES. Our Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA), provides a robust consideration and identification accommodation need. We currently meet these accommodation needs with a combination of private sites and our one public site, Carrswood View in Bath.
Projected needs and how we can meet them
The GTAA 2025 identifies an overall need for 23 pitches for gypsy and travelling families, over the whole period covered by our emerging Local Plan (2025 to 2043). The expansion or intensification of current privately-owned Gypsy and Traveller sites, and the continued use of a criteria-based policy approach within the Local Plan, could meet more than half of this need. However, our assessment suggests that there will still be a need for up to nine new pitches on public sites. Although we are exploring the possibilities of expansion or intensification at Carrswood View, it is unlikely that this would be sufficient to provide the extra pitches.
We are now making a targeted ‘call for sites,’ aimed at Gypsy and Traveller communities and representative organisations that manage gypsy and traveller sites. We aim to identify locations, in agreement with landowners, which are suitable and could be made available for rent as public sites. We will assess all proposed sites for their suitability, and this work will form part of the evidence base to inform the Local Plan.
The technical assessment of sites will consider their suitability, availability and achievability for development as sites for the Gypsy and Traveller communities. The process does not affect the planning status of any land which is assessed.
How to respond
This targeted call for sites will start on 17 December, and run for 8 weeks, until 11 February 2026.
However, you can submit a site at any time, either as a potential location for a Gypsy and Traveller site, or for other development purposes, as part of the wider HELAA process.
Before you submit a site
We recommend discussing the site's potential with its owner, and researching the planning history of the site before submitting the site. The more information you supply about the site, the more easily we can assess it.
Please note we will carry forward any sites already proposed. There is no need to resubmit a proposal, unless you would like to update any details about the site, such as a change of ownership, or the suitability for a site already mentioned for development of Gypsy and Traveller accommodation. If a site you previously submitted is no longer available for development, you should also let us know.
How to use our mapping tool
Click on 'Draw an area'
Select the hexagon on the right-hand side of the map to draw a shape
Click on the screen in the area you want and connect points to draw your shape
Click the 'Finished drawing' button, and answer the questions about the site
If you want to make a planning application for your proposed site
If you're submitting a proposed site, with a view to submitting a planning application, you may want to use our expert advice service to help you.
Read more about the support we can offer, and service fees
Through the online form, you can also request a meeting with the Planning Policy 'place lead' for your area, where you can discuss a development proposal for your site. We'll also provide you with a planning constraints map and any available site history from our Policy Team.
Our submission discussion service provides you with valuable guidance and support from experienced professionals, helping you to navigate the planning process with greater confidence. If our initial advice is that your project has potential to be included in the emerging Local Plan, you may want to consider the best way forward.
Fees for submission discussions are as follows:
£300 for an initial discussion
£250 per meeting, for any subsequent meetings
We offer a processing time of 25 working days, from your first request for this service, if you are asking about development at a single location. If you're requesting advice about multiple locations, this will take longer, and we'll be in touch to let you know a reasonable timetable.
Once the Local Plan has progressed and you have a scheme worked up, you may want to use our pre-application advice service, provided by our Development Management Team. Using the pre-application service, at the appropriate time, can help ensure a smoother application determination process.
Next steps
We periodically take stock of the sites we are aware of at a given date, so that we can produce an updated assessment. We will publish updated HELAA and GTAA reports, alongside each stage of the Local Plan development process.
You can check our most recent land supply documents at any time:
GTAA document (Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs and proposed sites)
HELAA document (Housing and Economic land availability)
Contact us
If you have a question about the site proposal process, GTAA, HELAA or Local Plan, please email planning_policy@bathnes.gov.uk.