The fascinating and important debate that local people are having about Bath and North East Somerset Council's housing plans has produced many passionate responses.

For the most part, however, this passion has been somewhat one-sided.

People have put forward excellent, well-argued reasons about why certain areas should not be developed for new homes – but few have offered concrete ideas as to where the new housing should be placed instead.

That is why we are impressed by the idea put forward on our front page this week by local Liberal Democrats to look again at the issue of student housing.

The need to house our students is obviously a major one in a city with two universities and a thriving college.

Students are an integral part of local life and if a way was found to provide specific homes for them so the housing stock they use now is available to help local families, then that is one that must be taken seriously.

That is not to say, however, that a plan to home all first and third year students in purpose-built accommodation is without flaws.

Inevitably, more student homes on existing campuses would cause concerns for local residents in areas such as Claverton Down and Newton St Lowe.

And, in addition, we have to think of the students themselves.

When they choose a college to attend there are many factors affecting their choice but quality of life is certainly one of them.

Many students from this country and abroad love the idea of living and studying in Bath, but would they be quite so keen if they felt that in their third academic year they would lose the freedom and independence of their previous 12 months by being asked to stay in university-owned accommodation for a second time?

Despite these objections, at least this idea shows that some people are asking new questions and offering fresh responses to the issues the Core Strategy raises.

We all accept the city does need more housing in the future, and we need more ideas like this to ensure every avenue has been explored before we risk making massive decisions which could affect our precious green belt.