North Somerset Council’s planning committee has narrowly approved a housing development that will fill the small field separating the village of Banwell and the hamlet of Knightscott. The decision, made on November 19, allows for the construction of 27 homes, including eight affordable units, despite concerns the project will blur the unique identities of these neighbouring communities.
Though only just over 100 metres apart, Banwell and Knightscott have long been recognized as separate settlements, each with its own character preserved by the open countryside between them. The parish council emphasized in a statement that this green gap is vital to maintaining their distinctiveness and warned that new housing would turn the area into “one ribbon of housing,” visually merging the two places.
“We are not opposing development outright,” the parish council clarified. “We support growth and housing needs, as shown by our backing of a nearby large development of 3,000 homes. However, good planning requires selecting sites that accommodate growth without causing irreversible damage. Developing this site will permanently absorb Knightscott into Banwell, erasing its unique identity.”
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The field in question previously hosted a rejected application for 155 homes in 2016, denied on the grounds of preserving the rural gap. This new proposal is smaller, and developer Woodstock Homes’ representative Harry Landers argued it includes significant design features to mitigate harm. These include setting the homes back from Knightscott Road, incorporating landscaping, sustainable drainage, and public green spaces that maintain views towards Banwell Hill and retain a physical buffer between the villages.
Currently, the 110-metre stretch between Banwell and Knightscott consists of a hedge and open field. Under the new plan, this gap would narrow to roughly 40-50 metres, made up of a road access and public green areas. Local councillor Joe Tristam acknowledged the change but emphasized that green spaces within estates feel fundamentally different from agricultural land, resembling open parks rather than rural fields.
Committee member Chris Blades expressed concerns over losing the “strategic gap” that separates the villages, although council officers clarified that no formal policy currently designates this space as such. Liberal Democrat Robert Payne supported the application, stating he saw no significant harm from the new development.
The planning committee ultimately voted 6-4 to grant outline permission, establishing that building 27 homes on the site is acceptable. A subsequent reserved matters application will be required to finalize design and construction details.