SAVE are still fighting to protect the green belt in South Bristol around Ashton Vale, between Silbury Road, David Lloyd and the Park and Ride.

This area of land, known to residents as Ashton Vale Fields, is under threat as the owners want to sell off one of the fields to build “Longmoor Village“.

During 2022, outline planning permission was granted to build 510 homes up to 5 storeys high (5th of October 2022; Bristol Post, Bristol 24/7). At the start of 2023, local people objected to this site being removed from the green belt and included for development in the Bristol Local Plan.

But there is a long way still to go. And local people are still fighting to save the green belt and protect our green open spaces.

This is not a new battle. These fields have been fought over before. Local groups like “Ashton Vale Heritage” and the original “SAVE” (Save Ashton Vale Environment) helped get part of this land designated as a town and village green, even after full planning permission was granted in 2011. Click here to read more about the timeline of events between 2007 and 2013.

The proposed site in sunshine.
The proposed site in sunshine

We are not against the proposed new Sporting Quarter at Ashton Gate, which was granted full planning permission at the same meeting in October 2022.

We also agree that Bristol needs more sustainable and truly affordable housing. But that does not mean building Longmoor Village on green belt land, especially when there are so many brownfield sites available.

To learn more about the grounds local people used to object to the development click here (planning permission) and here (local plan).

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The proposed site at sunset
The proposed site at sunset