The first phase of the hearings into the Joint Spatial Plan, which proposes thousands of new homes in our area, has concluded this week in Bath.

Last week was spent looking at whether the councils have done everything they legally need to do in preparing the plan. This included discussing whether the councils had co-operated with their neighbours and whether the Sustainability Appraisal was adequate. They also spent one day looking at whether the housing numbers were right.

Claire raised a number of concerns including people’s perception that the councils hadn’t been consistent when assessing which sites were the most sustainable for development.

All three days this week were taken up with discussing whether the councils had shown there were Exceptional Circumstances that justified taking land at places like Coalpit Heath and Engine Common out of the Green Belt, whether the approach to identifying the locations for the major developments was right, and whether the spatial strategy was justified and could be delivered.

As well as highlighting inconsistencies in the arguments put forward for which sites should be developed, Claire also argued that the councils hadn’t shown there were Exceptional Circumstances for taking the particular sites out of the Green Belt. Tristan queried whether if the developers didn’t deliver the required number of homes on the land released,even more Green Belt would be released.

The councils have been asked some very challenging questions and as early as the second day came back with a proposed change to one of the policies to explain their spatial strategy better. It’s difficult to judge how the hearings are going at this stage. The Inspectors are asking difficult questions and really probing all the controversial aspects of the plan, but that’s their job. This plan will shape our area for the next few decades so it’s vital these hearings are thorough.

All the hearings are being recorded. You can listen to them on the hearings website. The second phase is due to start in September, with the major developments in our area being discussed in detail in October.