AN inquiry will decide the fate of a proposed 290-home development on the southern edge of Bath.

In April, Bath and North East Somerset Council rejected plans for 290 homes on the South Stoke plateau. The Hignett Family Trust, behind the proposal, has since appealed to the government’s planning inspectorate, claiming the council's decision was "chaotic" and "unreasonable."

An inquiry will be held in January to review the rejected plans. The Hignett Family Trust called the proposed homes, with 40 per cent affordable housing, a “beautiful addition” to Bath, while locals warned of severe traffic issues.

The council’s planning officers recommended approving the plans, but councillors first requested more information. When the plans were reviewed again in April, more than 100 people attended the meeting, and a protest was held outside.

After three and a half hours was spent discussing the plans, councillors on the committee rejected it 7-1. But in their statement of case, the Hignett Family Trust said: “Both committee meetings were conducted in a somewhat chaotic manner in part due to the engagement of the public in attendance.

“The appellant accepts that a local planning authority is not bound to follow the professional advice of the officers of the council, provided that they have good reason to do so. However, in this case the council has displayed unreasonable behaviour in its decision-taking by rejecting their officer’s recommendation without good reason for doing so.

“Whilst the appellant will carefully consider the council’s evidence to consider whether it has been able to justify its stance, based on the information to hand, it has been concluded that it should give rise to a full substantive award of costs in favour of the appellant.”

The then chair of the planning committee, Duncan Hounsell (Saltford, Liberal Democrat) had warned in the meeting that refusing the plans would be setting the council up for an appeal. He told councillors: “We have always got the Big Brother — if you like — looking down. Which is what would the planning inspector think on appeal if we go against a strategic policy and a strategic site in our development plan?”

Now the council will find out what the planning inspectorate thinks. The inquiry, to be held before inspector T Gilbert-Wooldridge, will begin sitting at 10am, January 28, 2025. Bath and North East Somerset Council will be arranging a venue for the case to be held.

It is a fight that opponents of the plans had been prepared for. Speaking directly after the plans were refused in April, Ned Garnett, of the South of Bath Alliance, said he was “delighted” with the planning committee’s decision. He said: “The planning committee has listened to the arguments and the very strong feelings of the community.”

More than 1,200 people had objected to the homes being built, while just 18 people had commented in support. The homes are the third and fourth “phases” of the Sulis Down development.

Now the appeal in January will test whether those arguments hold up — or whether the homes should be built.