CSPC response to B&NES Draft Local Plan

Draft Local Plan consultation response: Chew Stoke Parish Council calls for review of B&NES proposals for Hedgehogs

• Posted on October 8, 2026

Chew Stoke Parish Council (CSPC) 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 allocation at Hedgehogs, Chew Lane, which would provide approximately 100 new houses on currently undeveloped Green Belt land on the edge of the village.

The Parish Council notes that this would represent a 25%  increase in housing provision for Chew Stoke and would have long-term implications for the village’s character, landscape setting, transport network, public services and Green Belt.

Read Chew Stoke Parish Councils representation here: CSPC response to B&NES Draft Local Plan – October 2026

The full representations submitted by Chew Stoke 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 and the soundness of the proposed allocation.

CSPC has also requested the opportunity to take part in the Planning Inspector’s hearing sessions during the examination of the Draft Local Plan.

CSPC recognises that information in its own full representations may be of use to residents.

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.

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.

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. CSPC 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 Chew Stoke’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.