The Bath and North East Somerset Council Cabinet is scheduled to meet on 25 September 2025 to discuss and approve a reset Local Plan options document for public consultation, and to approve the development of a Movement Strategy for Bath. The meeting will also cover questions and statements from the public and councillors.

Reset Local Plan Options Document

The Cabinet will consider a report seeking approval for a reset Local Plan options document, with consultation scheduled to commence in October. The report pack states that the consultation period is planned to run for six weeks, from 3 October to 14 November 2025.

The need to reset the Local Plan arose from significant changes to national planning policy issued by the government in 2024, including a revised standard method figure for housing need, which more than doubled the figure for Bath & North East Somerset. The report pack says that the council must test and consult on all 'reasonable alternatives' to meet the increased level of housing need.

The report pack includes the following recommendations:

• Approval of the Reset Local Plan Options document (E3636 - Reset Local Plan Options Document.pdf) for public consultation.
• Agreement to authorise the Executive Director for Sustainable Communities, in consultation with Councillor Matt McCabe, Cabinet Member for Built Environment, Housing and Sustainable Development, and Councillor Manda Rigby, Cabinet Member for Communications and Community, to issue communications and undertake consultation as outlined in the communications and engagement plan (E3636 - Appendix 2 - Communications and Engagement Plan.pdf).
• Delegation of authority to the Executive Director for Sustainable Communities, in consultation with Councillor Matt McCabe, to agree textual changes to the options document prior to publication.

The report pack also includes the Reset Local Plan Options document itself (E3636 - Appendix 1 - Local Plan Options Document 2025.pdf), which outlines various options for meeting the increased housing need, associated job growth, and new policy approaches. It presents options for development across the district, including strategic sites in Bath, the Bath to Bristol corridor, and the Somer Valley, as well as local development in some villages.

The report pack notes that the council is working with the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) on a Local Growth Strategy, which is intended to provide the broad strategic direction for other relevant strategies and plans.

The report pack also refers to the council's spatial priorities for the Local Plan, which include:

• Maximising the delivery of housing that is more affordable.
• Creating a fairer, more prosperous, and sustainable economy.
• Enabling Bath and North East Somerset to become carbon neutral by 2030 and deliver a climate-resilient district.
• Protecting and enhancing nature through facilitating nature recovery.
• Improving health and well-being outcomes for all.
• Reducing the need to travel unsustainably and enabling improved connectivity for all.
• Respecting, conserving, and enhancing heritage assets and their landscape settings.
• Aligning the timely provision of infrastructure with development.

The report pack includes an Equalities Impact Assessment (E3636 - Appendix 3 - Equality Impact Assessment.pdf) which states that preparation of the Local Plan to date, including the Reset Options document has been subject to an Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) which ensures that the council understands the implications for people with protected characteristics of each of the options presented for consultation.

The Movement Strategy

The Cabinet will also be asked to approve the development of a Movement Strategy for Bath, along with proposed arrangements for public consultation. The Movement Strategy proposes a shift away from car dependency by improving alternatives such as walking, wheeling¹, cycling and public transport.

The report pack states that transport accounts for over 30% of carbon related emissions within Bath and North East Somerset Council, impacting the Council goal to achieve Net Zero by 2030.

The report pack includes the following recommendations:

• Approve the development of a Movement Strategy.
• Agree the strategic objectives for the Movement Strategy.
• The objectives are creating a great quality place, improve travel choices and reduce private vehicular traffic.
• Approve proceeding to public consultation from Tuesday 14th October to Friday 28th November.

The report pack states that a Movement Strategy is required to reimagine how we use, and view, our streets and should aim to rebalance the city's transport network to better serve residents, businesses and visitors, while supporting our climate goals.

The report pack includes an Equalities Impact Assessment (E3649 - Appendix 1 - Equality Impact Assessment.pdf) which recognises the proposed transport interventions will consider the equality impact throughout their development.