North Somerset Council has approved plans that could see thousands of new homes built on green belt land, marking a significant expansion of housing in the area around Bristol. Despite a strong desire to preserve the green belt, the council says government mandates leave them no alternative but to permit development on protected land.
Last year, the Labour government increased North Somerset’s housing target from 15,200 to 23,500 homes by 2040, requiring the council to find room for over 8,000 additional homes. In response, the council cabinet agreed on June 18 to allocate several new housing sites in its updated local plan, which will guide development for the next 15 years.
New developments are planned for Portishead, Pill, Nailsea, and Backwell, but the largest proposed project involves extending Bristol’s urban boundary into the green belt near Long Ashton – referred to as “South West Bristol.” This area includes the former Woodspring Golf Course and would see around 4,000 homes constructed, pushing Bishopsworth closer toward Long Ashton.
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Local residents such as Long Ashton parish councillor Amanda Barrett expressed concerns about the village feeling overwhelmed, especially following recent approval for Epic, a healthcare technology firm, to establish a large headquarters on green belt land nearby.
Annemieke Waite, the council’s cabinet member for environment and planning, admitted the tough position council members face: “We wanted to protect our green belt, but government legislation requires us to use green belt land if no alternatives exist to meet housing targets. I deeply regret having to make this decision.”
About a third of northern North Somerset is green belt, intended to prevent sprawl from Bristol, while the southern area is protected by the Mendip Hills National Landscape status. Much of the remaining land between these zones is flood-prone, adding constraints to development options.
North Somerset had already planned for increased housing density east of Weston-super-Mare and the Weston Villages, adding roughly 500 homes in these existing zones. However, most new housing will be located in the newly designated areas around Portishead, Pill, and Nailsea and Backwell.
Councillor Waite acknowledged the strain on northern communities, including her own ward, from previous developments. “Our roads are congested, public services stretched, and communities justifiably want infrastructure improvements before more homes are added,” she said. “I understand why these proposals face opposition.”
Former planning portfolio holder Mark Canniford said a council needs assessment indicated the extra homes were unnecessary but that the government forced higher numbers nonetheless. “We’re being compelled to build homes we don’t need and may never be sold,” he said.
Without an up-to-date local plan allocating development sites, the council risks losing control over developers’ proposals, even in unsuitable locations. In a recent example, developer Persimmon won approval on appeal to build 190 homes in a flood zone at Yatton, with the planning inspector noting that some flood-risk sites may be necessary to meet housing demand. North Somerset Council is challenging this ruling in the high court.
The council has worked on the local plan for four years amid shifting government targets—first allowing fewer houses under Conservative leadership, then demanding more under Labour.
Following a “call for sites” in October 2024 and a public consultation earlier this year, the council will finalize the plan and present it again in September before submitting it for Secretary of State approval.