Controversial housing proposals set for approval

Plans for a major housing development in Bath – which were refused a number of years ago – are going back before committee next week with a recommendation for approval, despite coming up against further opposition.Mactaggart and Mickel Homes is behind the proposals, which concern a site on Bath Road comprising about 25.5-acres of greenfield land at the eastern extent of Keynsham.The application seeks outline permission for residential and related development, comprising approximately 213 homes.Also lined up are replacement sports pitch to facilitate an expanded primary school, associated open space, landscaping, access roads, footways/cycleways and infrastructure works. All matters are reserved except for access.The application is a resubmission of a previous outline application, which was refused in 2018. An appeal against that decision was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate but was then subsequently withdrawn.A planning statement submitted to Bath and North Somerset Council noted that circumstances are “materially different now from those that prevailed at the time of the previous refusal”.The plans – which are set to go before the council’s planning committee on 4 May – have been objected to by Keynsham Town Council and Saltford Town Council, while 587 objections have also been received from neighbours and third parties.The vast majority of concerns related to the impact of the proposals upon the A4 Bath Road and the “increase in traffic which would arise from the development”.However, the application has been recommended for approval.