Row over where homes in South Gloucestershire could be built

South Gloucestershire Council launched a public consultation in December seeking views to help inform its new draft Local Plan. 

The draft Local Plan is a housing and industry blueprint setting out where the authority thinks 20,490 homes should be built up to the year 2040.

Of these, the authority has had to find land for more than 9,000 that did not already have planning permission or sites allocated to them in previous versions of the blueprint.

The plan has not yet been finalised with SGC urging residents to take part in their ongoing consultation phases. 

The proposed allocation includes 100 homes in five sites in Alveston, 775 homes in two sites in Charfield as well as 235 homes in three sites in Winterbourne. 

Other sites which have been highlighted for expansion include Coalpit Heath, Cromhall, Easter Compton, Engine Common, Frampton Cotterell, Hawkesbury Upton, Hortham, Marshfield, Olveston, Pucklechurch, Rangeworthy, Siston and Wick.

However, many residents have expressed concerns about overdevelopment, a lack of supporting infrastructure, and the impact on wildlife. 

Thornbury and Yate MP Luke Hall has described the current Local Plan by SGC as "poorly thought-out". 

He has also called on the authority to push Bristol harder to take a fair share of housing and to prioritise brownfield development across the region.

According to Mr Hall, he also launched a survey, the results of which show that 90 per cent of respondents are against the housing plans.

Luke Hall MP standing in Buckover with residents from Thornbury, Alveston, Frampton Cotterell, Chipping Sodbury, Almondsbury, Latteridge and Yate (Image: Luke Hall MP)

Mr Hall said: "We cannot allow the council to give the green light to overdevelop our villages, which would put our roads, GP services and schools under huge pressure.

"Together we defeated the deeply flawed plans for a Buckover 'Garden Village' and the 35 per cent expansion of Chipping Sodbury, and told the council to build on brownfield land. 

"If we fight these poorly thought-out plans by SGC together, I know we can make them see sense once again."

Siston parish councillor Steve Reade said: "The greenbelt is there for a very clear purpose. It is to protect from urban sprawl. 

"I have had literally hundreds of local residents express very deep concern that South Gloucestershire Council may facilitate its loss and destruction. 

"Not to mention the massive detrimental impact on wildlife in the area."

Chris Willmore, SGC cabinet member for planning, regeneration and infrastructure, said: "I would like to remind Mr Hall that these housing targets are dictated by his government. 

"Either he doesn't know his own government's policy or is trying to pass the blame. 

"It's also noteworthy that our local plan commits fewer houses to these villages than the previous Conservative plan."

South Gloucestershire Council say its local plan will prevent the area being left at the mercy of speculative developments (Image: Doug Fowler)

A SGC spokesperson said: "The recent consultation process asked for feedback on an emerging, that is to say draft, local plan. 

"No decisions have been taken and prior to the local plan being adopted, there will be a further phase of consultation where the public will be able to share their views on an updated version, which will be drafted once we have been able to process the feedback received this time.

"The new local plan will also need to be reviewed by the government's planning inspectorate, which will ensure that the plan meets its statutory requirements. 

"While some potentially difficult decisions may be needed in order to meet the housing numbers we have been set, we also want to make sure the new plan is good for local people now and into the future.

"We value the feedback we have received already and look forward to continuing constructive discussions as we get closer to finalising our new local plan. 

"This will help us decide locally where new homes are built, so that we are not left at the mercy of speculative developments, which we know can cause harm to communities and our wider area."