Speaking out on housing plans

On Monday plans for 1,800 homes at Coalpit Heath and hundreds more just up the road to the north west and west of Yate were discussed by the West of England Joint Committee in Bath. Local councillors Claire Young and Pat Hockey and VALID representative Peter Connors attended, with Claire and Peter both speaking out on the plans. Despite the concerns they raised, and despite both the Leader of North Somerset and the Mayor of Bristol saying they hadn't had time to read the document, the West of England leaders voted to recommend the Joint Spatial Plan (JSP) to the four councils.

The BBC asked if anyone would be available for filming the next day in Coalpit Heath. They were expecting one or two people and were astonished by the crowd that turned out at such short notice. They were left in no doubt about the level of concern and while they were there also filmed the danger signs around the old mine shaft that has been fenced off in the corner of the field.

The Joint Spatial Plan will be considered by the South Glos Cabinet at 2pm on Monday (not 10am like we previously reported) and then by all councillors at a meeting at 7pm on Wednesday 8th November in Kingswood Civic Centre. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

If South Glos and the other three councils all approve the JSP for consultation, you will be able to have your say from 22nd November to 10th January. We'll give you more information on how to do this when the consultation starts.

Housing plans - Coalpit Heath and Yate area

The housing plans for our area made it into the Bristol Post earlier this week - but what they didn't make clear is that this is not a done deal. There is still a chance to have your say.

What the draft Joint Spatial Plan (JSP) says

You can read the full draft JSP here. The key points for Coalpit Heath are:

• Around 1,800 new homes by 2036
• Up to 5ha of employment land
• Vehicular access off Badminton Road/Frog Lane, Roundways and Woodside Road
• New local centre including one, possibly two, primary schools, a local retail outlet and community facility
• Contributions to a new or expanded secondary school in the wider area

In the Yate area it proposes:

• A minimum of 2,000 homes, with at least 1,000 to be built by 2036, to the north west of Yate, stretching round from Engine Common to Nibley.
• New employment land west of Yate, stretching from the Badminton Road down to the double railway arches on the edge of Westerleigh.

The site to the south of Chipping Sodbury is now being held as "contingency" - so if homes aren't being built quickly enough elsewhere, it could be released at one of the 5-yearly reviews of the plan. Planners say around 1,500 homes could be built here, up to 775 before 2036. The site to the north of St John's Way is now considered to be too small to be a strategic development location, but developers have already put forward plans for part of it.

Transport

The developments at Coalpit Heath and north west and west of Yate would be expected to provide or contribute to a strategic transport package including:

• Metrobus extension to Yate and Chipping Sodbury
• A432 Park and Ride
• Yate Rail Station enhancement
• Winterbourne and Frampton Cotterell Bypass
• strategic cycle route
• local bus services. 

The Yate development would also be likely to require an on-site rail crossing and a new rail bridge across Nibley Lane. There is no mention of a Yate link road to any new motorway junction.

Chances to speak up

The JSP is currently going through a process of being approved for consultation. Members of the action group VALID and your local Focus Team attended the Infrastructure Board meeting on Monday to speak and will be in action again at the West of England Joint Committee meeting in Bath this coming Monday.

There will also be chances to speak at both the South Gloucestershire Cabinet meeting at 2pm on 6th November and the Council meeting at 7pm on 8th November (both at Kingswood Civic Centre).

Have your say in the consultation

If the consultation goes ahead, it's expected to run from 22nd November to 10th January. When it starts, we'll let you know how to have your say.

Housing plans - Buckover, Charfield and Thornbury

The housing plans for our area made it into the Bristol Post earlier this week - but what they didn't make clear is that this is not a done deal. There is still a chance to have your say.

What the draft Joint Spatial Plan (JSP) says

You can read the full draft JSP here. The key points are:

• Around 3,000 homes would be provided in a new garden village at Buckover, with at least 1,500 of them being delivered by 2036.
• Around 1,200 homes in a number of developments at Charfield
• Another 500 homes at Thornbury before 2036 plus around 5ha of additional employment land on land at Crossways east of Morton Way

Transport

All of these developments would make financial contributions towards local and strategic transportation schemes, including potentially:

• M5 J14 improvements
• Charfield rail station re-opening
• local bus service improvements
• local highway, foot and cycle improvements.

Buckover and Thornbury developments would also contribute towards:

• Metrobus Extension to Thornbury & Buckover Garden Village
• A38(N) Park & Ride

It says in the policy for Buckover that "Consideration will also be required to ensure the A38 can continue to act as an effective relief road to the M5 without detriment to the new resident’s health & wellbeing."

The Charfield developments would also contribute towards "a comprehensive Wotton Road environmental enhancement scheme, new and improved foot and cycle connections through the village and to key local destinations such as Renishaws, KLB school and Wotton-under-Edge, and including a new Charfield circular public right of way route".

Chances to speak up

The JSP is currently going through a process of being approved for consultation. Members of the action group TRAPP'D and your local Focus Team attended the Infrastructure Board meeting on Monday to speak and will be in action again at the West of England Joint Committee meeting in Bath this coming Monday.

There will also be chances to speak at both the South Gloucestershire Cabinet meeting at 2pm on 6th November and the Council meeting at 7pm on 8th November (both at Kingswood Civic Centre).

Have your say in the consultation

If the consultation goes ahead, it's expected to run from 22nd November to 10th January. When it starts, we'll let you know how to have your say.

STOP PRESS - Draft Joint Spatial Plan published

The latest Draft Joint Spatial Plan has been published. You can read it here.

The plans include:

• 1,800 new homes at Coalpit Heath
• 1,000 homes plus employment land on the edge of Yate, at Engine Common, Nibley and down to Westerleigh
• 1,200 at Charfield
• 1,500 at a new garden village at Buckover
• 500 at Thornbury

We will keep you updated and will let you know how to have your say when the consultation starts.

Have your say on changes to Policies, Sites and Places Plan

Following the hearing sessions on the Policies Sites and Places Plan (PSP Plan), a number of Main Modifications to the plan are now being released for public consultation. You have until 24th July 2017 to have your say using the official response form. You can only make comments on the Main Modifications, not on any other part of the PSP Plan.

The Schedule of Main Modifications, a response form, along with supporting information are available to view online here.

 The Planning Inspector for the examination will consider comments received on the Main Modifications, before publishing her Report on the overall soundness and suitability for adoption of the PSP Plan.

Time running out to have your say on plan

Time is running out to have your say on the revised Policies, Sites and Places Plan. You have until 7pm on Thursday 8th September to have your say.

The plan provides detailed planning policies that the council will use when making decisions on planning applications and also protects some of our much valued open spaces by designating them Local Green Spaces but not all.

Time to have your say on Local Green Spaces

At the start of the month we reported that South Glos Council had approved a revised Policies, Sites and Places Plan to go out for consultation. That consultation is now available online and you can comment up until 7pm on 8th September.

The plan provides detailed planning policies that the council will use when making decisions on planning applications and also protects some of our much valued open spaces by designating them Local Green Spaces. Others that were nominated as Local Green Space are not being taken forward at this stage, including Woodlands Farm. This consultation is your chance to comment. Further green spaces could be designated in the new Local Plan, which is due to be completed during 2018 and will also allocate new land for housing and provision for travellers.

Revised plan approved for consultation

On Wednesday South Gloucestershire Council approved a revised Policies, Sites and Places (PSP) plan for public consultation.

The plan provides detailed planning policies that the council will use when making decisions on planning applications and also protects some of our much valued open spaces by designating them Local Green Spaces. There will be a formal consultation on the plan over the summer before it is submitted to the Secretary of State in October. A planning inspector will then consider it at an examination in February/March 2017, with the plan expected to be adopted in May next year.

Some of the open spaces that were nominated as Local Green Space could not be taken forward at this stage, including Woodlands Farm. There will be a chance to make further comments during this summer's consultation. Further green spaces could be designated in the new Local Plan, which is due to be completed during 2018 and will also allocate new land for housing and provision for travellers.

For more information about the PSP visit www.southglos.gov.uk/policiessitesandplaces.

Devolution and planning document on the agenda

On Wednesday South Gloucestershire Council will be debating the proposed West of England devolution deal, which would result in a Metro Mayor. North Somerset have already rejected the deal so if it did go ahead it would only cover South Gloucestershire, Bristol and Bath & North East Somerset. Also under consideration at the meeting is the revised draft Policies, Sites and Places plan.

You can read more in the agenda papers online. If you attend the meeting you can speak for up to 5 minutes under Items from the Public.

Continuing risk to countryside

Houses are still not being built quickly enough on the major sites in South Gloucestershire that were supposed to provide the new homes we need. This means developers are likely to get permission for houses on land intended to be protected. It’s already happening in Thornbury, which is rapidly expanding across green fields towards the A38.

Strategic planning documents are never an easy read, but it’s vital for all our futures that new housing is properly planned and in the right place. So a huge thank you to everyone who waded through the draft Policy, Sites and Places (PSP) planning document for South Glos and the draft Joint Spatial Plan (JSP) for the West of England and made comments.

Your input will be needed again!

Overall housing numbers for the West of England, including South Gloucestershire’s share, are currently being reviewed as part of the draft Joint Spatial Plan (JSP). Planners are currently analysing the hundreds of responses to the first round of consultation earlier this year and you can find out more on the emerging themes on the West of England website. The first draft of the JSP including recommended transport investment is due to be published for consultation in September.

In June, councillors will be making a decision on the next steps for the Policy, Sites and Places (PSP) planning document. The PSP was originally intended to provide both detailed planning policies to be used when making decisions on planning applications and allocations of additional land for houses. The planners are now recommending it should just focus on the policies, with the additional land being allocated through the new Local Plan after the numbers and broad locations have been identified in the Joint Spatial Plan (JSP). You will get the chance to have your say on the Local Plan later this year and next and it will be completed during 2018. For more information about the PSP visit www.southglos.gov.uk/policiessitesandplaces.

How to have your say on housing

Your Focus Team has been contacted by residents who have found it difficult to access the latest consultation on the Policies, Sites and Places Plan. This is your opportunity to have your say on how the council should allocate land for an additional 1,500 houses in the next 5 years.

The council would like you to use their online response form. To do this, you first need to register with the council’s consultation system on this page and log in. You can then go directly to the consultation document here. There are questions set out in the text with boxes to type your answers. You can answer some or all of them.

To read through the document from beginning to end in order, use the “Next” link with an arrow at the bottom of each page. You can go straight to a specific section by clicking on the links down the left hand side of the page. If you have comments to make but are not sure which section they apply to, you can put them in response to question 12 in Section 22.

• How to make representations, Question 1 – Fill this in if you are commenting on a particular site or community.
• Section 3, Question 2 – If you agree that the council should deal with its shortfall in housing over a longer period, because developers cannot feasibly build enough houses each year to do it over a shorter period, say so here.
• Section 4, Questions 3 and 4 – These questions are about Yate, Chipping Sodbury and Thornbury.
• Section 7, Question 5 – This is a question about how the council works with other authorities.
• Section 13, Question 6 – This is about the size of sites the council will consider. South Glos is arguing that the developers will not be able to deliver lots of homes on any one site in the next 5 years and so they will only consider sites up to 150 homes. This is your opportunity to say whether you agree or think the sites should be smaller.
• Section 16, Question 7 – The council is suggesting that sites should be considered in the following order: 1) Sites that are in the existing built up areas 2) Sites on the edge of Yate, Chipping Sodbury and Thornbury outside the Green Belt 3) Sites on the edge of sustainable villages within the rural areas outside the Green Belt 4) Sites on the edge of the main urban area in the Green Belt 5) Sites on the edge of Yate, Chipping Sodbury and Thornbury 6) Sites adjoining on the edge of sustainable villages within the rural areas in the Green Belt.
• Section 17, Questions 8 – Fill this in if you think any other village should be assessed to see whether it is a sustainable place to build.
• Section 17, Question 9 – This asks if you agree with the range of facilities and services the council is looking at when assessing whether a community is a sustainable place to build new homes.
• Section 18, Question 10 – The council has gone on to use the assessment in the previous section to rank the towns and villages by their access to different facilities. Question 10 allows you to agree or disagree with this.
• Section 19, Question 11 – This looks at step 2 of the process, where the impact a new development would have on the character of a town or village is considered. If you want to comment on this, respond to Question 11.
• Section 22, Question 12 – Your chance to make any comments you have that don’t fit into the other boxes.

If you have any queries, you can contact the Strategic Planning Policy Team at PlanningLDF@southglos.gov.uk or on 01454863469.

Have your say on approach to identifying extra land for housing

As we previously reported, South Gloucestershire Council has to identify more land for housing - around an extra 1,500 homes over the next 5 years. The council has now started a consultation on the process it proposes to follow to do this.

You can find the consultation document, supporting documents and response forms at:

www.southglos.gov.uk/PSPconsultation

You have until close of business on Friday 8th January 2016 to make your comments.

You can also find out more and have your say on the proposed process at a public drop-in event between 4pm and 8pm on Monday 14th December at Kingswood Civic Centre.

What about the Local Green Spaces?

Because a number of sites proposed for Local Green Space (LGS) designation have also been proposed as potential housing sites, work on identifying additional housing allocations and on designating LGS needs to be considered together. An update is available at www.southglos.gov.uk/lgsd15.

What happens next?

After the consultation has finished, officers will consider all the responses and prepare a revised draft PSP Plan for the council to consider. If the council decides to submit this revised draft, there will then be a formal public consultation, planned for summer 2016.

What about the comments I made in the summer?

If you commented during the summer on the Proposed Submission version of the PSP Plan (dated March 2015), your representations will be made available with all the others online at www.southglos.gov.uk/PSPpublication and will still be taken into consideration. At the formal consultation stage the council will write to all respondents asking for confirmation that they still wish their comments to be considered by the Inspector, so you won't need to re-submit them.

More new housing

South Glos Council has been warned that until it identifies extra land for new housing, developers are likely to get planning permission to build on land currently intended to be protected. This could mean loss of some Green Belt and Woodlands Farm.

In November and December, the council will be asking for your views on how to identify these extra sites. We’ll provide a link to this consultation on this blog when it's available. The sites will be included in a revised version of the Draft Policies, Sites and Places Document for further consultation next spring/summer.

Confusingly, there is also another major planning consultation already underway - on a Spatial Plan and Joint Trasnport Strategy for the West of England (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Glos). It will say where the 85,000 homes currently predicted to be needed in the region between now and 2036 should go. That’s an extra 29,000 homes over those already planned by the four councils.

At this stage they are asking how the homes should be provided - Urban Intensification, Urban Extension, Town Expansion (for example Yate), New Settlement, Other Settlement Locations (Winterbourne, Frampton Cotterell and Coalpit Heath are named as examples) or Dispersed (adding a small amount to all our villages). You can find out more and have your say at https://www.jointplanningwofe.org.uk/consult.ti before January 29th 2016. Planners will use the answers to help draw up the Draft Joint Spatial Plan for consultation next summer.

We know many are in desperate need of a home, especially young people struggling to get on the housing ladder. How best can new homes be delivered, while making sure our villages keep their identities and we continue to have access to the much-valued countryside? Please let your Focus Team know your views.