This programme is being led by the community with support from the council and our partners with a series of public consultations and co-design opportunities.
Our aim is for the 15 Liveable Neighbourhoods (LNs) in Bath & North East Somerset to reflect the needs and wishes of residents.
Expand the sections below to find out more about how we have developed our approach.
Since 2020 we have held a series of public engagements to identify issues and gather people’s ideas for improvements.
- In Autumn 2020 we asked residents across the district how they felt about LNs. 48 communities then applied to become a LN, via ward councillors.
- In Spring 2021, we prioritised 15 areas where development of LNs could start.
- In Winter 2021/22, we asked for feedback on what was good about these areas, what transport-related issues people experienced, and what improvements would make the most impact.
- In Spring/Summer 2022, we held a series of co-design workshops in each area to identify and prioritise the measures residents would like to see included in draft designs (see below).
- In Autumn 2022, we launched ongoing consultations for a minimum of six months on three through-traffic restriction trials in three areas (ahead of the wider programme).
- In Summer 2023, we will hold a public consultation on the wider designs for 15 LN areas.
View the project development timeline for more information and to read our consultation output reports.
During our early public engagements, we asked people to register their interest to keep involved in the programme and join a co-design workshop for their LN. Around 1000 residents across the area registered to keep informed of the process and around 500 people signed up to join their local workshop.
These workshops were held in Spring/Summer 2022, and the specific ideas discussed and put forward by the community will inform the draft design for each area.
We are currently shortlisting the community’s ideas to ensure they are practical and affordable. Draft designs will then be prepared for public consultation in Summer 2023.
Find out more about the co-design workshops and plans for each area
LNs are designed by communities to address the issues they face and to ensure that everyone has fair and safe access to residential streets, regardless of how they travel.
The designers who are interpreting ideas from the community work to national and local standards including government best-practice guidance on inclusive mobility.
We are also working with our local Independent Equalities Advisory Group to ensure that our approach to involving people and our draft designs work for everyone - including vulnerable people and people with disabilities.
Additionally, our partner Sustrans is helping to widen our engagement by involving people in the community with different and seldom-heard voices.
Sustrans has already engaged with several community groups in many areas, ensuring that resident feedback is incorporated into an inclusive design. They will continue this important work during the public consultation on draft designs in Summer 2023.