Weston Big Wood, an ancient woodland and designated site of special scientific interest in Portishead, is facing the possibility of being encircled by new housing developments as North Somerset Council aims to meet a high housing target. The nature reserve, cherished by the local community for its ecological value and recreational appeal, has prompted strong opposition, with 8,000 people signing a petition urging the council to protect the area from encroaching construction.
The petition is intended to be submitted to Downing Street next month, highlighting significant public concern. Local visitor Tom Henley addressed the council on 8 September, emphasising the woodland’s value: “On the hottest days in June, my wife Susan and I walked there because it was the coolest place we could find.”
The council’s draft Local Plan proposes releasing land adjacent to the woodland, specifically the Tower Farm site and the Black Rock site, for the construction of 400 and 100 homes respectively. These sites currently form part of the Green Belt but the council considers them as “grey belt” within its strategy to meet increased housing targets-now set at 23,500 new homes by 2040 following revised governmental guidelines post the 2024 general election.
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Tom Henley pointed out an inconsistency in the council’s approach, noting that it had previously helped draft a regional nature recovery strategy that describes Weston Big Wood as a “crown jewel” and calls for the establishment of new hedgerows and woodland in the surrounding area. The same strategy also records a 96% decline in populations of swifts and cuckoos across the West of England.
Sadik Al-Hassan, Labour MP for North Somerset, has also expressed concerns by writing to the government and the council’s cabinet member for planning, Annemieke Waite. While he supports increased housing and reforms to the housing system, he stresses the importance of balancing development with environmental preservation, particularly of ecologically vital habitats like those found at Weston Big Wood.
The woodland and surrounding fields serve as habitat for various wildlife species, including buzzards, roe deer, and greater and lesser horseshoe bats. However, recent assessments by Natural England have noted decline in the wood’s health, partly due to ash dieback and honey fungus, intensifying the need for conservation and reduced pressure from development.
Council leader Mike Bell has indicated that a public inquiry will be part of the approval process for the Local Plan, offering residents an opportunity to challenge the proposals. No formal planning applications for the housing developments near Weston Big Wood have been submitted yet. While inclusion in the Local Plan does not constitute immediate approval for building, future applications consistent with the plan are likely to be granted.
In addition to the sites near Weston Big Wood, other areas being removed from Green Belt designation for housing include the former Woodspring Golf Club, earmarked for a new town, where a planning application was submitted in August.
Tom Henley concluded his address by clarifying that his opposition is not to new homes per se but to their proposed locations, advocating for careful consideration of the environmental consequences.