2,500 new houses set for site near Long Ashton
Council proposes Yanley Lane / Woodspring Golf Course as 'strategic growth location'
North Somerset Council has now published its preferred options for accommodating the 20,085 dwellings it is being forced by central government to accommodate over the next 15 years. Although Failand has avoided inclusion a significant development of 2,500 homes is proposed next to Long Ashton on and around Woodspring Golf Course. Significant development is also proposed for Nailsea and Backwell.
The map of Long Ashton below, taken from North Somerset Council documents, shows the potential location of the Woodspring Golf Course development.
Council forced to allow development in the Green Belt
As the report makes clear 'one of the principal issues facing North Somerset is the scale of the housing challenge'. The report goes on to say that government requires us to accommodate 20,085 new dwellings over the next 15 years, this represents a 20% increase and is about the size to two Clevedons.
Providing for this number of houses is particularly difficult here in North Somerset as we have a number of significant land constraints; namely green belt, low lying land subject to flooding, and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is because of this that North Somerset Council is being forced to allocate Green Belt land for development.
What does this mean for Long Ashton?
Although I completely accept the need for more housing I was always hopeful that development in the Green Belt could be avoided. I have been working with North Somerset Council staff over the past 2 years to ensure that the Local Plan, when issued, does not adversely affect us all here in Long Ashton.
In my presentation to Long Ashton Parish council in April 2021 I set out my approach:
These principles have remained central to the way I have approached the issue and, although I am disappointed that such a large development is likely to happen, I am nonetheless partly reassured to see the above map and following statement in the report:
"A mixed-use strategic site at Yanley Lane (Woodspring Golf Course) to accommodate 2,500 dwellings, 10.2 ha employment, a local centre and other facilities. This will be a distinct community located on the north of the A38 and south of the railway development to a high level of sustainability with an emphasis on walking and cycling to local facilities and benefitting from high quality public transport into Bristol"
Going forward it is absolutely key that we ensure a strategic gap between Long Ashton and any new development. My view remains that in order to protect the character and setting of Long Ashton we must limit any growth of the village.
I am also concerned about the size of any nearby development. Any development larger than Long Ashton is presently would, I believe, be wrong. Developers will undoubtedly want to see even more houses, even as many as 5,000. We need to continue to resist this. We must not become a suburb of Bristol.
Public consultation on proposals
Public consultation on the 'preferred options' will take place over a 6 week period in March and April. This consultation is our opportunity to discuss the proposals with North Somerset Council and to influence the final Local Plan.
I am currently liaising with Council staff about a date for a public meeting during this consultation period. Given the impact on us locally it is imperative that we all have a chance to voice our concerns. I will announce this date as soon as possible, please sign up for my newsletter below if you wish to be informed.
In the meantime if you have any specific concerns or queries please let me know.
If you want to keep up to date on local issues in and around Long Ashton, Failand, Wraxall, and Leigh Woods then please sign up to my newsletter. If comes out roughly every other month and is a summary of all the articles I post on this website and social media.