Draft Local Plan consultation response: Saltford Parish Council calls for review of B&NES proposals for 1,290 houses
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Saltford Parish Council (SPC) has now approved and submitted its formal representations to Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Draft Local Plan (Regulation 19) consultation following consideration at its October meeting.
The Parish Council’s response focuses on the proposed allocations at West Saltford (Policy 3.7) and South Saltford (Policy 3.8), which together would provide approximately 1,290 new houses on currently undeveloped Green Belt land around the village.
The Parish Council notes that this would represent a substantial increase in housing provision for Saltford and would have long-term implications for the village’s character, landscape setting, transport network, public services and Green Belt.
Read Saltford Parish Council’s full representations
The full representations submitted by Saltford Parish Council can be downloaded below:
These documents set out in detail the Parish Council’s concerns regarding Green Belt release, landscape impact, transport, infrastructure, planning policy, legal compliance and the soundness of the proposed allocations.
They also explain why the SPC considers the proposals would result in significant and disproportionate impacts on Saltford.
The representations conclude that the proposed allocations are not legally compliant and are not sound.
SPC has also requested the opportunity to take part in the Planning Inspector’s hearing sessions during the examination of the Draft Local Plan.
SPC recognises that information in its own full representations may be of use to residents. A copy of SPC’s continuity paper as attached to both ‘Policy 3.7 – West Saltford’ and ‘Policy 3.8 – South Saltford’ (above) can be downloaded (in Word) at: B&NES Draft Local Plan (Reg 19): Continuation Sheet from Saltford Parish Council
Residents encouraged to respond to B&NES Council
The Draft Local Plan consultation remains open until 5.00pm on 30 October 2026. Residents, businesses and community organisations can submit their own representations directly to B&NES Council.
The Draft Local Plan consultation portal is available here:
B&NES Draft Local Plan Consultation Portal
Every representation submitted to B&NES Council will be considered as part of the independent examination process. Individual representations matter because they may contain evidence, local knowledge or concerns that would not otherwise be before the Planning Inspector.
Further information on proposals for Saltford can be found in our article ‘B&NES Draft Local Plan Consultation: What it means for Saltford and how to have your say‘.
Understanding the ‘Regulation 19’ consultation
This ‘Regulation 19’ Draft Local Plan consultation is different from earlier stages of the Local Plan process.
At the Regulation 19 stage, comments should focus on whether the Draft Local Plan is:
- ● Legally compliant
- ● Sound
Should the Draft Local Plan be resolved at B&NES Council’s Cabinet meeting in December 2026 to be submitted, a Planning Inspector appointed by the Government will then assess the Plan against these tests during the independent examination.
A Local Plan is considered sound if it is:
- ● Positively prepared – providing an appropriate strategy to meet identified needs;
- ● Justified – based on proportionate evidence and reasonable alternatives;
- ● Effective – capable of being delivered and supported by infrastructure and partnership working; and
- ● Consistent with national policy.
For that reason, residents may find it helpful to frame any concerns around issues such as Green Belt policy, transport capacity, infrastructure provision, sustainability, landscape impact, reasonable alternatives and the evidence supporting the proposed allocations, rather than simply stating whether they support or oppose development.
B&NES advises that representations should explain which part of the Plan is being commented on, why it is considered unsound or legally non-compliant, and what changes are sought.
Specific detail on Saltford proposals can be found in B&NES’s document ‘Chapter 3 – Bristol to Bath Corridor‘.
West Saltford (Policy 3.7): page 78 onwards
South Saltford (Policy 3.8): page 88 onwards
Saltford Parish Council resolution – 6 October 2026
At its October meeting the Parish Council resolved to:
- ● Approve and submit its formal representation to the Draft Local Plan consultation;
- ● Include objections and representations relating to Policies 3.7 (West Saltford) and 3.8 (South Saltford);
- ● Request that Bath & North East Somerset Council review the Saltford allocations and provide further evidence demonstrating that the Draft Local Plan is legally compliant, sound and consistent with national planning policy;
- ● Request that Saltford Parish Council be invited to participate in Planning Inspector examination hearing sessions where appropriate;
- ● Submit the approved representations before the consultation deadline; and
- ● Publish the final submissions on the Parish Council website.
The representations were submitted to B&NES Council and copied to Saltford’s B&NES Ward Councillors, the B&NES Cabinet Member for Built Environment, Housing and Sustainable Development, the MP for North East Somerset and Hanham, Keynsham Town Council and the Mayor of the West of England Combined Authority.
Saltford Parish Council considered it important that key elected representatives and neighbouring Keynsham Town Council were made aware of the concerns raised in its submission given the strategic significance of the proposals and their potential implications for the wider Bristol to Bath Corridor.
Chair of Planning Committee’s Summary of the Parish Council’s Response
At the Parish Council meeting on 6 October 2026, the Chair of the Planning Committee presented a summary of the principal issues raised in Saltford Parish Council’s Draft Local Plan (Regulation 19) representations before the Council approved their submission.
The summary provides an accessible overview of the Parish Council’s assessment of the proposed allocations at West Saltford and South Saltford, including concerns relating to Green Belt release, transport and infrastructure impacts, the cumulative effects of development along the Bristol to Bath Corridor, and the wider implications for Saltford’s community and environment.
Residents who would like a concise explanation of the Parish Council’s position, alongside the full technical representations, can download the Chair’s summary below:
Key conclusions of SPC’s consultation response
The Parish Council’s representations conclude that the proposed allocations at West Saltford and South Saltford have not been adequately justified and that significant concerns remain regarding Green Belt release, landscape impact, transport, infrastructure provision and the cumulative scale of development proposed for Saltford.
Among the principal points raised are:
Green Belt
Saltford Parish Council argues that Saltford’s Green Belt contributes significantly to all five Green Belt purposes identified in national planning policy and performs an important strategic role in maintaining separation between Bristol, Keynsham and Bath. It contends that exceptional circumstances have not been demonstrated to justify the scale of Green Belt release proposed.
The Council’s response also challenges the classification of the proposed development land as “Grey Belt”, arguing that the relevant Green Belt parcels continue to make a strong contribution to Green Belt purposes and should not be reclassified.
Cumulative development along the Bristol–Bath Corridor
The Parish Council argues that the proposed developments in Saltford cannot be viewed in isolation. It considers that the impacts of the wider Bristol–Bath Corridor growth strategy, including substantial housing growth proposed elsewhere along the corridor, should be assessed cumulatively.
Transport and infrastructure
A major concern identified in the response is the existing congestion experienced on the A4 through Saltford and the effect of additional housing growth on an already constrained transport corridor. The Parish Council argues that transport impacts need to be assessed strategically and cumulatively, rather than site by site.
The response also raises concerns regarding healthcare provision, school capacity, drainage, utilities, public services and the ability of existing infrastructure to accommodate development at the scale proposed.
Brownfield-first development
The Parish Council maintains that the Draft Local Plan should place greater emphasis on the redevelopment of previously developed land and under-utilised urban sites before considering significant releases of undeveloped Green Belt land. It recommends a phased “brownfield first” approach to future development.
Community, landscape and wellbeing
The response highlights the importance of the countryside surrounding Saltford to residents’ health, wellbeing and quality of life. Saltford Parish Council argues that the scale of development proposed would significantly alter the rural setting of the village and reduce access to nearby countryside that many residents value and use regularly.
Distribution of housing growth
Saltford Parish Council also questions whether the overall distribution of housing growth across Bath and North East Somerset is appropriately balanced. It argues that affordable housing should be located closer to centres of employment and supported by the infrastructure necessary for sustainable communities.
Participation in the Planning Inspector examination process
As part of its submission, Saltford Parish Council has requested the opportunity to participate in Planning Inspector hearing sessions relating to the examination of the Draft Local Plan.
The Council’s representation states that its local knowledge places it in a strong position to represent the interests of Saltford residents and assist the examination process should issues relating to Saltford be considered during the hearings.
Further information
Further information about the Draft Local Plan, supporting evidence documents and the consultation process can be found on the official B&NES consultation website:
B&NES Draft Local Plan Consultation Portal
All representations must be submitted directly to Bath & North East Somerset Council before the consultation closes on 30 October 2026 at 5.00pm.
Further Background and Guidance for Residents
Residents who would like a more detailed explanation of the Draft Local Plan proposals affecting Saltford are encouraged to read Saltford Parish Council’s earlier article:
B&NES Draft Local Plan Consultation: What it means for Saltford and how to have your say
This guide was prepared to help residents understand both the consultation process and the proposals affecting the village. It includes:
- ● An overview of the Draft Local Plan and the proposed allocations at West Saltford and South Saltford;
- ● An explanation of why the current Regulation 19 consultation differs from earlier consultation stages;
- ● Guidance on what the Planning Inspector will consider when examining the Local Plan;
- ● An explanation of the tests of legal compliance and soundness;
- ● Information about the scale of development proposed for Saltford and its relationship to the wider Bristol to Bath Corridor strategy;
- ● Signposts to key documents, evidence papers and consultation materials published by B&NES Council;
- ● Information about how to submit representations and what information B&NES Council advises residents to include in their responses; and
- ● Background information on previous responses submitted by Saltford Parish Council during earlier stages of the Local Plan process.
The article also contains links to the relevant sections of the Draft Local Plan, supporting evidence documents, consultation questions and B&NES Council guidance.
Residents who are considering making their own representation may find it a useful starting point before preparing and submitting comments to B&NES Council.
SPC’s article explains how comments are likely to be most effective when they identify specific policies or site allocations and explain why they are considered legally non-compliant or unsound, supported by evidence where possible.
What happens next?
Following the close of the consultation on 30 October 2026, B&NES Council’s Cabinet will meet in December and resolve whether to look to submit the Draft Local Plan, supporting evidence and all duly made representations to the Secretary of State for independent examination (by 31 December).
Should this action be resolved by B&NES Council, Planning Inspector will then consider whether the Plan is legally compliant and sound. The Inspector may recommend modifications before the Plan can be adopted by the Council.
Further details of the examination process will be published by B&NES Council in due course. SPC will aim to raise awareness of the process as it progresses. An emerging Local Plan development timeline is available on B&NES Council’s website.
Have your say on Saltford’s future
Please note that all submissions must be made directly to B&NES Council using the information provided on its Draft Local Plan portal page. Comments or views submitted through other channels are unlikely to be considered by B&NES Council.
B&NES Draft Local Plan Consultation Portal
When submitting comments, remember to:
Identify the policy, site or section you’re commenting on
Explain why it is unsound or legally non-compliant
Provide supporting evidence where possible
State any changes you’d like to see made
To ensure your views are taken into account, comments must be submitted directly to B&NES Council by the consultation deadline: 5pm on 30 October 2026.
Whether residents agree or disagree with the Parish Council’s position, SPC encourages everyone with an interest in the future of Saltford to review the proposals and submit their own representation directly to B&NES Council before the consultation closes.
Images taken from information on the B&NES Council Draft Local Plan consultation page, showing the West Saltford allocation (left), South Saltford allocation (right) and Chapter 3 front page of the section that includes Saltford.