Politics & Council · Bristol
South Gloucestershire Council to Fight 450-Home Coalpit Heath Development Appeal
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
Local councillors have unanimously voted to oppose a major housing development plan, setting the stage for a six-day public inquiry this November.
South Gloucestershire Council has formally moved to oppose plans for 450 new homes in Coalpit Heath, as the local authority prepares to defend its position at an upcoming planning inquiry. Councillors on the strategic sites delivery committee voted unanimously to contest the development, which they argue would cause significant harm to the area's greenbelt and infrastructure.
The application, submitted by Bloor Homes, proposes a large-scale extension of the village. Although the council initially failed to reach a decision within the required timeframe, leading the developer to launch an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, the committee used their latest meeting to confirm they would have refused the application had they still possessed the authority to do so. A six-day public inquiry is now scheduled to begin on 24 November.
Central to the debate is the contentious issue of greenbelt land. Local representatives, including ward councillor Jon Lean, described the proposal as a potential disaster for the community. The development site, located between Roundways, Woodside Road and the nearby railway line, is currently seen as a vital buffer that prevents the merging of Yate with the cluster of villages comprising Coalpit Heath, Frampton Cotterell, and Winterbourne. Planning officials noted that the scheme would reduce the green gap between Yate and Coalpit Heath by approximately one-third, shrinking it from 2.3km to 1.6km.
Cllr Lean highlighted that over 450 residents had raised objections to the scheme, with only two public expressions of support. Concerns raised by the community include the scale of the expansion, which could increase the village size by 50 per cent, and the potential impact on local infrastructure. Particular emphasis was placed on road safety, with residents voicing alarm that the proposed access point is situated opposite a busy primary school.
During the committee session, Conservative councillor Paul Hughes criticised the plan's environmental impact, noting that 27.8 hectares of the site currently consist of high-quality agricultural land. While council officers argued that parts of the land would be repurposed for public open spaces and that the site meets the government's criteria for 'grey belt' classification, some councillors remained unconvinced that this outweighed the loss of rural space.
The council's stance is further complicated by the recent rejection of a separate application for 124 homes at nearby Hicks Common, where planners cited the necessity of protecting the greenbelt to prevent the sprawl of dormitory settlements. The outcome of the November inquiry is expected to have significant implications for future planning in the region, particularly as another developer, Edward Ware Homes, has already submitted plans for a separate 860-home development at nearby Frog Lane.
Source: Bristol Post · View original