Timsbury community website

Facilities, local groups, parish council and business information for the village of Timsbury, near Bath

26 New Houses Approved in Timsbury

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The planning application to develop the derelict site at the corner of North Road and The Avenue has at last been approved by B&NES Council, with some conditions currently being investigated. 26 new houses will be built, plus some office spaces. There will be a new road onto North Road and pedestrian facilities. This follows much consultation by the owner with the Parish Council and the village during 2018.

The development will be called ‘Upper Conygre’ after the name of the coal mine on the site which was in use from 1791 until 1916. Since then it was ‘Wheelers Yard’ which was a cement block works. The ‘Lower’ Conygre pit was off Radford Hill. Once the conditions have been met building will start soon with completion in stages in 2022.

The development in summary will include:

  • 26 dwellings, mainly houses plus some flats, with 8 ‘affordable’ as 5 ‘social rented’ and 3 ‘shared ownership’ by the owner.
  • 70 parking spaces
  • Offices with extra parking as required in this ‘mixed use’ site in the B&NES Local Plan
  • Widening of the pavement on the Avenue up to the bend, and new pavements in North Road
  • Pedestrian access through the site from The Avenue to North Road
  • New highway entrance on North Road with a speed table
  • Extension of the 20mph zone to include the whole site
  • Protection of wildlife and some trees linked to the batch next door, plus new trees and landscaping
  • Renewable energy & efficiency on houses

Funding will be provided for ‘play & recreation’ on the Conygre Field held by B&NES Council. Also, the Parish Council will receive Community Infrastructure Levy funding to pay for facilities and services in the village.

In addition, B&NES Council will work with the Parish Council to find a way to widen the pavement on the bend on The Avenue, which is not part of this development.

The naming of the site as ‘Upper Conygre’ was requested by the village in memory of the name of the coal pit on the site, with an information board at the entrance to the site.

A Plan of the site can be seen below and on the noticeboard beside the Fish & Chip shop and the full details online at B&NES Planning Portal here.

Upper Conygre Plan Final March2020

 

 

Rethink needed for development plan to 2036

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The requirement for BANES Council to locate 700 new homes in rural areas, including Timsbury, has been called into question by the rejection of the West of England Joint Spatial Plan (JSP).

Independent inspectors appointed by the Government to examine the JSP, that visualises development until 2036, have expressed significant concerns and have cancelled further review meetings planned for the Autumn.

The inspectors consider that the problems identified are not ones which could be addressed by an early review of the plan and recommend the withdrawal of the JSP from examination.

They envisage that, overall, a very substantial amount of further work on the plan needs to be undertaken. This would be likely to involve the preparation of substantial amounts of new evidence, rounds of public consultation and significant policy decisions being made.

The inspectors suggest that this work could be most quickly and appropriately undertaken by the local Councils and West of England Combined Authority, working closely with the community and other interested parties, in respect of a new plan. They also note that nearly 60% of the plan’s overall provision for housing comprises existing commitments and will be delivered over the coming years irrespective of whether or not the JSP is adopted.