Developers planning a sizeable new housing project next to the M5 motorway have devised a noise mitigation strategy that involves constructing blocks of flats directly adjacent to the motorway. Lands Improvement has submitted a planning application to build 186 homes in Easton-in-Gordano, North Somerset, on a field bordering Pill and the M5’s Gordano Services.
Concerns have been raised about the proximity of some homes to the motorway—some as close as 80 meters—and the potential noise impact on future residents. However, the developers’ strategy includes placing three-storey apartment blocks nearest the M5 to serve as a physical noise barrier, effectively shielding the rest of the development and nearby existing homes from traffic sounds.
According to the application documents: “Using buildings to block off noise from the M5 is the best and most effective way to mitigate noise impacts. The proposals include several small apartment buildings, up to three storeys, positioned on the northern edge of the site. These homes will feature enhanced soundproofing and ventilation systems designed to shield much of the site and surrounding residences from motorway noise.”
Illustrative plans show additional vegetation planting along the motorway boundary and an attenuation pond just beyond the blocks of flats, further reducing noise and visual impact. The developers are currently seeking outline planning permission from North Somerset Council, with more detailed plans to be submitted at a later reserved matters stage.
The development includes 45% affordable housing, children’s play areas, and a community orchard. A public footpath connecting Easton-in-Gordano to Gordano Services, which crosses the site, will be preserved.
While the site is currently designated green belt, it has been identified in North Somerset Council’s draft local plan for housing development following an increase in the council’s housing target from 15,200 to 23,500 new homes by 2040. The developers have argued that the site functions as a “grey belt” rather than traditional green belt land.
The planning statement highlights the potential benefits: “The site offers the opportunity to deliver a high-quality residential extension to the west of Easton-in-Gordano, providing a variety of house types and tenures within a development designed to enhance the living experience of both current and future residents for generations to come.”