West of England Joint Spatial Plan

The West of England Joint Spatial Plan was a plan, published by the English authorities of Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, of where new housing and other facilities should be built within the former Avon county area. In 2019 it failed to be accredited by the Planning Inspectorate, leading to the possibility of the plan being withdrawn.

Background

The plan outlined the need for 105,000 new homes to be built in the West of England area by 2036.[1] The plan was submitted to central government in April 2018 for scrutiny, with a final decision said to be due in 2019.

Based on the spatial strategy, the supply would have been distributed between the unitary authorities,[2] with Bath and North East Somerset responsible for 14,500 dwellings, Bristol City for 33,500, North Somerset for 25,000, and South Gloucestershire for 32,500 dwellings.

In August 2019, the Planning Inspectorate advised that the plan be withdrawn from examination after finding that "fundamental aspects of the plan" were not sound,[3] and that the current Strategic Development Locations and the overall spatial strategy were said by inspectors Malcolm Rivett and Steven Lee not to be "robust, consistent and objective".[4]

Locations

Twelve strategic development locations had been identified as part of the plans for new homes as follows:[5]

Criticism

North Somerset

The plan attracted criticism in regard to the locations presented, particularly in North Somerset.[6] The proposal for thousands of homes in Churchill were rejected by existing residents, with Councillor John Crockford-Hawley stating that the plan would lead to houses being built "where nobody wants them". Concerns were raised by residents that "the council failed to adequately consult on planned garden villages they fear will destroy their way of life and decimate the landscape."[7] The proposal for 700 new homes in Backwell have concerned residents who believe the village would be "decimated" by the development.[8]

Bath & North East Somerset

Residents of Whitchurch also voiced concerns over the extra homes planned for the area, along with the new proposed link road.[9]

South Gloucestershire

The Buckover Garden Village proposal attracted significant criticism,[10] with constraints on the transport network noted as an argument against the development.

References
  1. "Plans for 105,000 homes in and beyond Bristol and Bath green belt go under the microscope". Somerset Live. 2 July 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  2. "WEST OF ENGLAND DRAFT JOINT SPATIAL PLAN" (PDF). 30 October 2017. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  3. "Inspectors advise withdrawal of West of England joint spatial plan". Planning Resource. 2 August 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  4. "Inspectors recommend West of England plan be withdrawn". The Planner. 2 August 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  5. "This is where 105,000 new homes will be built in and around Bristol". Bristol Post. 21 October 2017. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  6. "Building 25,000 homes is 'entirely wrong' idea - scrap 'garden villages'". North Somerset Times. 24 March 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  7. "105,000 homes strategy 'unsound' because of North Somerset's 'flawed' contribution, say opponents". Somerset Live. 16 June 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  8. "Plans for 700 extra homes would 'decimate' Backwell". BBC News. 7 January 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  9. "South Bristol link road and housing plan 'insulting'". BBC News. 28 November 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  10. "Have 3,000-home garden village plans already been confirmed?". Gazette Series. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
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