North Somerset Council has expressed frustration, stating that the government has effectively “forced our hand” by mandating increased housing targets that compel development on protected greenbelt land.
The council’s latest local plan, a crucial document outlining the locations for new housing developments, proposes thousands of new homes on areas currently safeguarded as part of the Bristol greenbelt. Councillors explain that this decision comes in response to the government raising the 15-year housing target for the area from 15,000 to 24,000 homes under the new Labour administration in 2024.
During a council webcast Q&A session in December, Annemieke Waite, cabinet member for planning and environment (Winford, Green), detailed the limited options available. “North Somerset has a significant amount of land below sea level, posing flood risks. Additionally, large swathes in the south are part of the Mendips National Landscape, which is completely off limits for development. That essentially leaves the greenbelt as the only viable option,” she said.
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Waite stressed, “I am afraid the government forced our hand.”
The proposed developments include increased housing density east of Weston-super-Mare and new allocations primarily on greenbelt sites between Nailsea and Backwell, around Pill, and an extension over the former Woodspring Golf Course—effectively expanding Bristol’s footprint.
“These greenbelt areas are precisely where, given any alternative, we would choose not to build,” Waite noted. “But due to government demands, these locations are considered the most sustainable because of their proximity to transport links and urban centers.”
The Woodspring Golf Course site, located along the A38, offers promising opportunities for public transport and cycle connections to Bristol. The government also encourages councils to focus development near railway stations. Waite highlighted that Nailsea and Backwell have easy train access, and with the upcoming Portishead to Bristol railway line, Pill will soon be well connected by train as well. “The government is pushing us towards these areas for development,” she added.
Importantly, new developments along the A38 corridor will have a minimum requirement of 50% affordable housing, ensuring that the new homes address local needs rather than catering exclusively to larger, less-needed properties.
Waite concluded, “In an ideal world, none of us would want to build on greenbelt land. But given our constraints, the next best thing is to build as sustainably as possible and provide homes that meet actual community demand.”
A six-week public consultation on the proposed local plan ran from October to December. Next, the plan will be submitted to the government for approval before coming into effect. While the government’s target requires North Somerset to deliver 24,000 additional homes by 2040, officials warn that meeting this goal will demand unprecedented construction rates and may strain the local builder workforce.