B&NES Council is hoping this week that its Core Strategy, which will guide the long-term planning needs for the area, will finally be ready to adopt, following an independent inspection. The next step is for the Council to consider the Inspector's report, along with his recommendations and whether the Core Strategy should be adopted. This will be considered at a meeting on 10th July.

The Council says its Core Strategy focuses development on brownfield sites as far as possible and seeks to limit the use of green belt land to achieve homes target to support local need. Once in place, it will be the key guide for residents, developers and the Council for the next fifteen years.

The Core Strategy has now been assessed by an independent Inspector and moves forward to the final stage. The conclusion is that the strategy is fit for purpose, subject to some modifications:

• An increase in the overall housing requirement to around 13,000 dwellings.

• The allocation of four strategic sites for housing to be removed from the green belt at Odd Down, Bath, East Keynsham, South West Keynsham and Whitchurch.

• The site proposed by the Council at Weston is not recommended to be included in the plan.

• The removal from the green belt of additional land at East Keynsham as safeguarded land.

• Setting different targets for the provision of affordable housing in different parts of the district to reflect the evidence on viability.

Bath and North East Somerset Council says it has been proactive in getting the strategy to this key stage, so some of these modifications have already been proposed by the Council, gone out to public consultation and been accepted.

Cllr Paul Crossley (Lib-Dem, Southdown), Leader of the Council, said: "Adopting the Core Strategy will have a number of benefits for Bath and North East Somerset Council and the wider community.

"It gives a clear policy for residents and developers on the location and size of new developments, which means we are better placed to resist harmful planning applications.

"It also helps encourage housing and economic growth in the right places and for the Council to put in place.

"Finally, it helps us implement the Community Infrastructure Levy, which goes towards funding the roads, schools and other services which are impacted by new developments."

Cllr Tim Ball (Lib-Dem, Twerton), Cabinet Member for Homes and Planning, said: "Once we have the strategy adopted, we can move forward with our Placemaking Plan, which will allocate specific sites for development and we can update local plan policies. It means communities across the district will have a clear guide on what can be built where." The Inspector's report is available on the Council's website at: http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/corestrategy">www.bathnes.gov.uk/corestrategy and to view at the Council's main offices and all public libraries.

Councillor Gerry Curran (Twerton), Chair of the Development Control Committee, commented: "It's hard to overestimate quite how important the adoption of a sound Core Strategy is for the future of B&NES. Without it, the implication is that developers would virtually have free range to build."

Once the Core Strategy is finally adopted, subject to the meeting on 10th July, residents will hopefully be able to breathe a sigh of relief against unsuitable, large developments. But for communities such as Charlton Park and Monger Lane, in Midsomer Norton, Greenlands Road, in Peasedown St John, and Haydon, which is awaiting the outcome of a planning appeal, it may be too late.

Councillor Barry Macrae, (Cons., Midsomer Norton North), who has been particularly involved in campaigning for infrastructure before housing, said this week: "We have been saying for many years that our town could welcome small scale, (infill) sites, with perhaps 4–5 houses, but with priority being given to meeting the needs of our existing and local residents, especially youngsters needing their first house, or the elderly, to meet particular local needs. That view was, and still is, the right approach for all of the various villages across the entire Somer Valley.

"During this recent hiatus our local rural environment has been bombarded with developers seeking to turn us from a coherent community into an overfill site for both Bath and Bristol.

"This is primarily why I have been personally so anxious to encourage the development of the Welton Bag site, entirely for meeting local employment purposes, not retail or yet another large commuter estate.

"I sincerely hope that B&NES can, all, now support the entire plan and get it adopted quickly. We have faced the damaging and costly consequences of the last year's prevarications and delays. Midsomer Norton more than most.

"The new plan is by no means perfect. I remain concerned about the Inspector's continued insistence on destroying even small areas of AONB and green fields. I am unconvinced that our 'local' rural environment should ever be built on, simply in order to help provide extra houses for Bristol's growing population.

"It is make or break time. I hope that common sense will lead to a positive conclusion across the Council Chamber – one that is OK for Bath, as well as vital for Midsomer Norton."