North Somerset is preparing for significant growth, with detailed plans for nearly 25,000 new homes set to progress to the next stage. North Somerset Council, responding to a government directive, must identify sites for 23,475 new dwellings — a sharp increase of 8,175 from its previous Local Plan target of 15,275 homes.
The revised Local Plan, covering a 15-year period, proposes 24,010 new homes alongside approximately 70 hectares designated for employment uses. Council officers will present these plans to North Somerset Council’s Cabinet on Wednesday for further consideration and approval of additional potential development sites.
Should Cabinet endorse these recommendations, officials will advance towards preparing a comprehensive pre-submission Local Plan (Regulation 19) slated for Cabinet review in September. Following that, the plan will be submitted to the planning inspectorate for independent examination.
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Integral to the housing proposals is the provision and improvement of infrastructure such as roads, schools, healthcare, employment, and public transport. However, delivery of some infrastructure enhancements will depend on government funding.
Planning for this new Local Plan began in 2020, including several rounds of public consultation. The latest consultation, conducted between February and March 2025, focused on community feedback regarding potential housing sites in light of increased government housing targets.
Cllr Annemieke Waite, Cabinet Member for Planning and Environment, emphasized the importance of balancing housing needs with preserving Somerset’s valued countryside and landscapes. “This Local Plan will significantly impact communities across the area,” she said. “I’m grateful for the strong community response supporting a strategy that concentrates development in towns, strategic locations, and larger villages. This approach will help meet housing demands while fostering sustainable communities with strong employment and transport links.”
Among the highlights are four major strategic growth areas poised to deliver thousands of homes and employment opportunities:
- Wolvershill, north of Banwell: 3,300 homes
- South-West Bristol (Woodspring): 3,730 homes
- Nailsea and Backwell area: approximately 3,700 homes
- Pill and Easton-in-Gordano: 1,100 homes across five sites
Additionally, smaller allocations are proposed in Portishead, Weston-super-Mare, and surrounding villages like Hutton and Locking.
Key locations and proposed housing numbers include:
Weston-super-Mare: The town remains the primary focus for growth despite flood risk constraints. Proposed new homes include sites such as South of Manor Farm (40 homes), Greenways Farm (78 homes), and Leighton Crescent (81 homes).
South West Bristol: A large development on the former Woodspring Golf Course aims for 4,000 homes, alongside smaller parcels near Barrow Wood with another 230 homes combined.
Nailsea & Backwell: Leveraging excellent transport links, several sites north and east of Nailsea and Backwell project over 2,500 homes, including land east of Backwell accounting for nearly 1,000 dwellings.
Other communities from Clevedon to Yatton also feature multiple sites earmarked for homes ranging from small infill developments to larger estate proposals.
This comprehensive plan sets a new direction for accommodating housing demand in North Somerset while striving to protect the environment and maintain community wellbeing.