Dear Resident,
Welcome to the latest edition of my e-newsletter for Blagdon and Churchill residents. This edition highlights the next phase in the development of a new local plan for North Somerset.
As always, I am keen to hear from you, so please drop me an email or keep in touch via Facebook or Twitter.
Regards,
Patrick
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Local Plan Update
The next draft of the local plan will be considered by the North Somerset Council Executive on 2 February.
Delivering a plan to meet the house building targets imposed by government in a sustainable way was always going to be challenging, but I think this draft plan hits the right balance - and gets rid of some of the worst parts of the last administration's failed approach.
There is still room for improvement, however, to make sure this plan works for the villages, and I look forward to hearing residents' views.
This (draft) document sets out in much more detail the principles behind the new plan, as well as beginning to allocate sites for potential development.
You can see the proposed list of sites - as well as the detail of the plan that will be discussed by Council leaders - in this document (from page 13): https://n-somerset.moderngov.co.uk/documents/g782/Public%20reports%20pack%2002nd-Feb-2022%2014.30%20Executive.pdf?T=10&fbclid=IwAR1n82ArHbvk51Qg6cuHSaJHL5LV9cD4VZogwYbMSnpDI3xlh1Lz5EH1Mcc
I'm pleased to see - that following lobbying by myself and local residents - the bulk of the development will be allocated in the North Somerset towns, with new large sites also proposed for near Banwell and on the edge of Bristol. It makes sense to develop housing close to jobs, services and transport links.
I am also pleased to see that the plan explicitly rules out the "Garden Village" plan that had created so much concern in the previous and unlamented joint spatial plan.
Of course we need homes in the villages and some sites are proposed in our area.
The numbers proposed for Langford are larger than had initially been briefed, however, so I will be pushing back against these and seeking to better understand the thinking behind these proposals.
I am especially uncomfortable with the idea for more houses on Ladymead Lane.
Do note that this document is not the end of the process- it must still be approved by executive, subjected to further consultation, approved by Full Council and then reviewed by Government, so we still have many opportunities to engage with the development of the plan.
But its really positive that a lot of the comments residents made in the first consultations have been reflected in this draft plan.
The document is fairly lengthy, so I shall be working through it in more detail in the coming days and will provide additional updates.
Do let me know what you think as well!
It's also important to remember that this plan is in response to housing targets set by central government, so if you have concerns about the overall level of development, do write to our MP.
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