Strolling through Backwell, it’s impossible to miss signs pleading “save our fields” and “save our village” outside residents’ homes. This North Somerset village, home to approximately 2,000 households, is bracing for an influx of around 800 new homes—one of the largest housing projects outside the district’s main towns. For many locals, this scale of development is overwhelming and unwelcome.
Mum-of-two Wendy sums up the sentiment: “The percentage of what they are putting in Backwell is bananas—absolutely bananas and absolutely not fair.” She recalls a recent walk with her family near a new construction site next to the village playground, where dust suppression sprays were carried by the wind, soaking them unexpectedly. “I can’t believe I got splashed with stuff just walking to the local park,” she said.
This beloved village park, nearby the famous Strawberries and Cream Tree—one of only two in the UK to bloom in both white and pink—is now fenced off to protect it from construction traffic. Locals have adorned the fencing with painted signs and picnic blankets expressing their sorrow: “R.I.P. our little village.”
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The stretch of development approved could take up to a decade to complete, according to the local councillor. Wendy fears road safety amid the construction: “We are going to get lorries; we are going to see massive increases in cars on roads with schools. It’s so dangerous.”
Backwell prides itself on its proactive approach to growth. When the government introduced neighbourhood plans in the 2010s allowing communities to designate preferred housing sites, Backwell was among the first to adopt one. Approved by a 96% referendum, the village initially managed controlled development. Lorraine Hopkinson, a local resident, recalls, “People have been very proud of that.”
However, ten years on, all designated land has been developed. Developers are now targeting green spaces once protected by the plan—most notably Farleigh Fields, the village’s “green lung.” After resisting for decades, Persimmon won a 2022 appeal to build 90 homes there. Newly begun construction now defines the landscape with mounds of earth and display homes.
Further permissions followed quickly: Persimmon obtained approval for an additional 125 homes on Farleigh Fields, while Taylor Wimpey secured plans for a massive 515-home estate on Grove Farm at the village’s edge. Jennifer, a 41-year resident, expresses frustration despite supporting housing: “I don’t know anyone who’s got children that have stayed in Backwell after leaving home. We need more flats and downsizing options to keep the community sustainable.”
Lorraine highlights the nuance residents seek: “Backwell wants proportionate and sustainable housing. We’ve consistently called for more bungalows and affordable homes to allow families to grow and stay.” Yet she warns that newly reintroduced government housing targets could flood the village with developments beyond reason. “Backwell is on the tipping point of being completely overwhelmed.”
Wendy stresses fairness: “Every town and village should do its part, but Backwell feels unfairly burdened.” North Somerset Council faces a statutory target to build approximately 23,500 homes by 2040. Without a current local plan to manage this, the council’s power to reject unsuitable developments is diminished, fueling the recent approvals.
Backwell’s appeal stems from its proximity to the first railway station outside Bristol and its location next to the green belt. Historically, developers struggled to gain a foothold here. But as the council lags in supplying housing land, planning committees are compelled to apply a “tilted balance” favoring development. At a recent meeting approving the Grove Farm project, a resident described feeling “under siege.”
Planning committee member Stuart McQuillan candidly noted, “It is frustrating to feel so powerless without a local plan, facing a government set on forcing development.” The approved scheme includes commitments to 35% affordable housing and ongoing local oversight.
An unprecedented 1,291 locals objected to Grove Farm’s application, yet concerns were largely overlooked amid the race to meet targets. Lorraine lamented the disregard for unique local factors like topography, floodplains, and protected green spaces.
North Somerset is drafting a new local plan that will prescribe development areas, including lands near Long Ashton and possibly more farmland around Backwell. This includes high-grade agricultural green belt east of the village, currently eyed for up to 400 homes by developer Rubix Land, which is seeking community input ahead of formal applications.
Residents like Lorraine feel overwhelmed and heartbroken. “We worry about our trees, wildlife, food security, climate, social fabric, and infrastructure,” she said. “Housing is essential, but it must be balanced, proportionate, and sustainable. The government claims to protect our best land, yet it’s being sacrificed for yet more homes.”
Backwell’s future hinges on this delicate balance as the village confronts unprecedented growth and the challenge of preserving its cherished character.