Nine allotments at Parcel 4234 Combe Hay Lane, Combe Hay, Bath
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Bath Planning Committee on 17 Dec 2025.
The site
The site is in Derrymans Field between Odd Down Park and Ride and Sulis Down, within the Green Belt, National Landscape and an SNCI.
“REPORT The application site is located within Derrymans Field, a roughly triangular piece of land to the East of the Odd Down Park and Ride and to the West of the phase 1 Sulis Down development.”
“It lies within the Cotswolds National Landscape (formerly known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty), the Bristol and Bath Green Belt and It also forms part of the Fuller's Earth Works - Southstoke complex Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI). The is just outside the strategic site allocation B3a - Land adjoining Odd Down and also falls within the indicative extent of the Bath World Heritage Site setting.”
Officer report
Who spoke
Parish council representatives and a representative of a local alliance objected, the agent supported the application, and the ward councillor expressed reservations but accepted approval reluctantly.
Members debated
Members discussed the location, environmental designations, ecology, timing, facilities, demand and why the allotments were not placed within the phase one development.
“Cllr Halsall opened the debate and acknowledged the concerns around the proposed location of the allotments but considered that, on balance, the benefits of providing allotments outweighed concerns about the location and he moved the officers recommendation to permit the application. This was seconded by Cllr Simon.”
“Cllr Warren raised concerns that the allotments had not been sited within the phase 1 development and questioned whether the application was fit for purpose.”
Minutes
The committee’s decision
Members first rejected the motion to permit, then carried a motion to refuse by six votes to three.
“On voting for the motion to permit the application, it was NOT CARRIED (3 in favour and 6 against).”
“On voting for the motion, it was CARRIED (6 in favour and 3 against).”
Minutes
The members' reasons
The resolution gives these reasons:
Minutes
- the proposed allotments and associated infrastructure would fail to preserve the openness of the Green Belt and represent inappropriate development.
- the proposed development would fail to conserve or enhance the natural beauty of the Cotswolds National Landscape.
- The proposed development would adversely affect the Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) and would result in a loss of habitat.
Source: the council's minutes, quoted word for word.
Sources
- Bath Planning Committee minutes, 17 December 2025
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Bath's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Committee
- Bath Planning Committee
- Council
- Bath
- Date
- Wednesday 17 December 2025
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Refused, against officer advice
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Bath committee decisions →
This committee's year
21 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 7 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.