Date: January 2023.
Background: Currently the Bristol Local Plan is out for consultation. The consultation closed on the 20th of January 2023. Thank you for everyone who objected to this green belt land being removed from the local plan. There is no need to object anymore. But we will keep this page up as record of what we did and why we did it.
There is a lot to be praised in the local plan. Sensible things about moving towards net zero, affordable housing and food sustainability. Of course, these policies could be even stronger. But there are many positive steps forward.
However, the local plan still suggests building on green belt and green sites – including Ashton Vale. Despite the importance of green belt land, green space and its benefit to people, the planet and wildlife.
We need people to object to the removal of the Ashton Vale site from the green belt. The more people and organisations who object, the better.
Some people might ask – but hasn’t planning permission already been granted for Longmoor Village? Isn’t it all over? Not at all. So far only “outline” planning permission has been granted for Longmoor Village and only from Bristol City Council, not North Somerset who also needs to grant permission. There is still a long, long way to go. Remember, back in 2011, full planning permission was granted for a 30,000-seater stadium on this site (see here). But people stood up, worked hard, and nothing was built.
How to object
You can object online here, or you can object by emailing: blp@bristol.gov.uk.
The documents associated with the consultation can be found at the link above, or here. Ashton Vale is on page 68 of the main document (section 11.7) if you want to read more.
In your objection make sure you quote the name of the site and the paragraph number you are referring to, we tell you how below. If you e-mail, make sure you provide your full name and address. You also have to do this in the online form.
Your objections can be short. You just need to say why you object to the site being developed and provide the site name and paragraph number (“Land west of Silbury Road, Ashton Vale, 11.7”).
Finally, while SAVE’s main focus is Ashton Vale, please mention the other green belt and green spaces that are under threat (see below). We stand together to protect Bristol’s green belt and green spaces.
Grounds to object
Look at all the possible grounds for objection below. But please use your own words and focus on what is important to you. Remember to say you “object” to development “Land west of Silbury Road, Ashton Vale, 11.7”.
- Lack of exceptional circumstances. Building on the green belt requires exceptional circumstances. There aren’t any. Houses can be built elsewhere
- The site is still performing its purpose as a green belt, so its status should remain
- Bristol should build on brownfield and previously developed sites only
- It is an important space for wildlife (including protected species), biodiversity, nature recovery. It is all a wildlife corridor and also contains a Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI)
- Building on green space ignores the climate and ecological emergency which Bristol City Council declared
- In September 2021, Bristol City Council passed a golden motion to protect the green belt and its green spaces
- The land floods, covering it with concrete and tarmac will make flooding worse for this site and the surrounding area.
- It is an important space for people’s health, mental health, well-being and recreation
- It contains public rights of way
- The land is used for grazing cows. Building houses on it will reduce our food sustainability and security
- The proposed housing adds no new local amenities so will increase pressure on local infrastructure and services such as GPs and schools
- It will create traffic congestion near the park and ride and worsen air quality
- It will be an isolated development, not integrated with the rest of Ashton Vale or Bedminster
- Affordable housing targets aren’t high enough and numbers will likely be reduced once developers start to explore the landfill under the site
- The site is a landfill site and unsuitable for housing development
- Houses will be built too close to ETM recycling who are doing good work for Bristol, but one that naturally causes noise and dust
- Building houses on this land will reduce the likelihood of the Portishead line being reopened – a more sustainable way to live and travel between Bristol and Portishead.
Other green sites under threat in the local plan
If you have any additional time please also comment on the other proposed development allocations on green belt or green space in Bristol. You can do it in the same form or email.
We will not be divided and focus on one site, ignoring the others. We are working together to protect our green spaces in Bristol.
For some sites we object, for others, we approve / agree – as some communities have fought to protect their spaces and the council has now agreed with them. Yes, communities have changed the minds of the council and we will continue to do the same for all our sites. See below.
- 11.4-11.6 Bath Road, Brislington – We object. This site should remain in the green belt.
- 11.8 Elsbert Drive, Bishopworth – We object. This site should remain in the green belt. North Somerset is no longer looking to develop the adjacent land.
- 11.12-11.13. Yew Tree Farm. We “agree”. This site should remain in the green belt.
- 11.18-11.19 Western Slopes. We “agree”. This site should be removed from the local plan, and any current planning applications should be turned down.
- 11.20-11.22 Brislington Meadows. We “agree”. This site should be removed from the local plan, and any current planning applications should be turned down.
The projected number of houses from “Green field sites arising from proposed Green Belt boundary changes” add just 1,150 houses between now and 2040. That’s 1,150 homes out of 34,700. Just 3.3% of the total projections. This figure (1,150) represents the smallest contributor to the housing number total (Figures from appendix 1, table 2, page 78). So let’s just drop those numbers, and protect Bristol’s Green Belt and Green Spaces knowing that in the time between now and 2040 other currently developed sites will appear which will allow us to meet our housing figures.
Next steps
Once you’ve objected, please tell your friends and neighbours to object too.
Also, join our Facebook group here.
And follow us on Twitter here.