COUNCILLORS have narrowly approved a developer’s plan to build 200 homes in the green belt, after warning that new government rules gave them no choice.

Bath and North East Somerset Council’s planning committee voted 5-4 on September 2 to allow Persimmon to build 200 homes on a field on the south-west tip of Keynsham.

It comes after new government rules restricting councils’ ability to turn down housing developments came into effect. Councillors were reminded of the new rules at the start of the meeting.

Planning committee member Toby Simon (Bathwick, Liberal Democrat) said: “Under the current regime, I don’t think we've got good grounds to reject this. I think the very strong steer from the government is that applications that meet the criteria […] ought to be approved.”

The houses will be built on a field just west of Charlton Road which lies within the green belt. This was one of several pockets of land which were suggested as areas which the council could allocate for housing in its new “local plan,” after the government doubled Bath and North East Somerset’s housing target in 2024.

No decision has yet been made on whether to allocate these sites, but that has not stopped developers from submitting planning applications to build on them already.

Keynsham South councillor Alan Hale (Independent Group), agreed that Keynsham needed homes but said this needed to be at the new town proposed around Hicks Gate and the proposed northern extension of the town. He said: “Keynsham South has had its fair share of development. I therefore beseech you to refuse the application you have before you.” He warned: “Enough is enough.”

The homes will be a mix of two, three, and four-bed properties, with air source heat pumps and solar panels.