Issue details

The repayable Land Acquisition Fund (LAF) was established as part of the Investment Fund by the WECA Committee in November 2018 to support the purchase of land that would increase and/or accelerate housing delivery. At the WECA Committee in January 2021, it was agreed to increase the value of funds within the LAF in the period to 2022/23 to £10m. A delegation to approve business cases through the LAF was granted to the WECA Chief Executive in consultation with the Chief Executives of the constituent councils in February 2019.

A Full Business Case has been produced by Bath & North East Somerset Council seeking £5.975m from the LAF to acquire 75 acres of agricultural land in North Keynsham.

This location was identified as a Strategic Development Location during the Joint Spatial Plan process and B&NES are now seeking to progress the site for development through an allocation of the entire site within a Partial Update of the Local Plan.

The site could support the acceleration of 319 homes, including 111 affordable homes. The proposal has been assessed against the agreed LAF criteria scoring 61% against a pass mark of 50%.

The Chief Executives of the WECA constituent councils were consulted on this proposal and were in agreement with the decision.