New social rented flats approved for Keynsham

The new housing will be built in the heart of the town

Planning permission has been granted to build 10 flats in a town centre.

The social rented housing will be built across two blocks behind the Old Bank pub, in Keynsham, on council-owned land currently used for spare parking.

Bath and North East Somerset Council's planning committee approved the plans at a meeting on 8 May.

Chris Beaver, from council-owned building firm Aequus, said the homes "will contribute towards meeting the council’s general housing land supply".

'Concerns raised'

"More importantly will meet a clear and acute need for affordable housing in Keynsham itself," he added.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), there are more then 700 people on the social housing waiting list in the town.

The council has named building more council houses as a priority.

Built across two blocks, which will be three storeys high, six of the flats will have one bedroom and four will have two bedrooms.

Concerns were raised over noise from the nearby pub possibly affecting residents.

'What about noise?'

Cllr Eleanor Jackson said: “What would happen if the residents of this new block were to find the proximity of the pub and the noise generated intolerable.

"Would that threaten, say, live music performances or the operation of said pub?”

Council officers said residents would have to raise that later, but the noise for the new flats had been assessed as being acceptable.

The flats will also feature acoustic glass to reduce external noise.

Cllr Hal McFie said a test around noise levels had been done and a further test will be done once the buildings are completed to "prove that it is within the standard".

Chair of the planning committee Ian Halsall said it was great that there will be 100% affordable housing "right in the heart of Keynsham".