BATH and North East Somerset council has received more than 7,500 comments on the proposed options for future development needs across the city and district.

The Local Plan Options consultation gave people the opportunity to add their comments about where B&NES Council should plan for the delivery of new homes and jobs and what policies are needed for addressing the climate and ecological emergencies.

The options were approved by council’s cabinet earlier this year and support the council’s corporate strategy and economic strategy, which aim to deliver a fairer, more prosperous and sustainable economy.

A key objective for the Local Plan is to maximise the delivery of housing that is more affordable and the government’s standard assessment suggests an estimated need for 14,500 additional homes up to 2042. Of those, more than 6,000 will be built on sites, mainly brownfield sites in Bath, which are already committed for development via planning permission or allocated in the current Local Plan.

The website included links to a series of videos, explaining the process and giving guidance for commenting or outlining the proposed options in each of the locations that could be developed in Keynsham and Saltford, Hicks Gate, Whitchurch, Bath and the Somer Valley.

It will then be submitted to the Secretary of State and examined by an independent planning inspector. Once approved, it will be adopted by the council and the Local Plan will guide planning decision until 2042.

More information can be found on the council website