About this page
How this part of the Local Plan Options Document works
These Development Management policy option pages contain the following sections:
Policy background
- Relevant national policy or regulations
- National or regional trends
- Local situation and needs
- Relevant pieces of national or local policy, or evidence base document links
- How we have dealt with this issue in the past
- The thinking behind the policy
Discussion questions
We'll ask one or more broad questions which may cover:
- the wording of the policy
- comparing the policy with other elements of council policy or strategy
- asking for suggestions for alternative approaches or ideas
Policy context note
- Where decisions about this policy may affect how we approach other policies (or vice versa), we will add a note to explain
Read the Housing topic paper, Local Housing Need Assessment (LHNA) and B&NES Boat Dwellers Accommodation Assessment for in-depth focus about this topic, and the evidence which informs our policy. Visit our library of Local Plan Options supporting documents to learn more.
9.124 The NPPF encourages local planning authorities to deliver a wide choice of high-quality homes, widen opportunities for home ownership and create sustainable, inclusive and mixed communities. It is recognised that houseboats contribute to increasing diversity of homes within the District. The NPPF further sets out that in determining the minimum number of homes needed, strategic plans should be based upon a local housing need assessment conducted using the standard method in national planning guidance. The housing needs of all groups should be assessed.
9.125 Provisions set out in the Housing and Planning Act now include a duty (under Section 8 of the 1985 Housing Act that covers the requirement for a periodical review of housing needs) for local authorities to consider the needs of people residing in, or resorting to, their district with respect to the provision of sites on which caravans can be stationed, or places on inland waterways where houseboats can be moored.
9.126 Placemaking Plan Policy H6 covers development proposals seeking new moorings. The policy seeks to guide proposals to the most sustainable locations where there is easy access to necessary services and facilities. These include education facilities and as such the need for additional school places must be considered when assessing proposed sites for moorings.
9.127 There is an evidence-based current need for 6 permanent/ licenced moorings and a Modelled maximum need for 17 moorings based on an estimated 100 live aboard boats across the district. This need is in addition to existing moorings.
9.128 Read the Housing topic paper, and Local Housing Need Assessment (LHNA) for in-depth focus about this topic, and the evidence which informs our policy. Visit our library of Local Plan Options supporting documents to learn more.
9.129 The waterways that are used for moorings primarily lie within the Green Belt (other than within the city of Bath). Appeal decisions and Court judgements have confirmed that marinas and moorings related development is inappropriate development in the Green Belt, unless it preserves the openness of the Green Belt. Given the limited scale of need for moorings and that most of the waterway lie within the Green Belt it is proposed to take forward a criteria-based policy approach within the Local Plan in addition to National Planning Policy requirements, as well as to consider the potential for additional moorings as part of the development location option at North Keynsham (see also chapter 6). The criteria-based policy would include consideration of intensification of private traveller sites given local requirements.
9.130 The criteria-based policy would be based on adopted Policy H6. The existing policy sets out that development involving new and additional moorings will be permitted provided they are located outside the Green Belt. As noted above most waterways situated within Bath and North East Somerset are located within the Green Belt. The adopted policy presents limitations for delivering moorings especially considering there are exceptions to development within the Green Belt set out within the NPPF.
9.131 Adopted policy presents no issues or concerns arising from development management officers in its implementation. No evidence to suggest major changes are required. We therefore propose to retain the policy with amendments, as follows:
Question 1
Make amendments to the supporting text/policy relating to moorings development in the Green Belt. In line with national policy, it will be made clear that some limited moorings development might fall within one of the exceptions to inappropriate development within the Green Belt i.e. a material change of use of land that preserves the openness of the Green Belt.
What is your opinion of this approach, and why?
Question 2
We are proposing to take forward a criteria-based policy approach with amended references to the Green Belt, as well as considering the potential for additional residential moorings as part of the development options at North Keynsham.
What is your opinion of this approach, and why? What criteria should we consider?