Nine thousand more homes than expected will have to be built

in the West over the next 18 years – the vast majority of them

in Bristol.

A report out today says the figure of 106,350 new homes

which the four councils in the old county of Avon area had

expected to have to find room for has been upgraded.

Ministers now want to see the West of England authorities

find space for 115,350 homes by 2026.

None of the extra housing announced today will be in North

Somerset, where the new housing figure will remain 26,750.

But in Bath and North East Somerset the figures have been

revised upwards, from 18,800 to 19,300.

In South Gloucestershire the increase is from 30,800 to

32,800.

But it is Bristol that bears the brunt of the government's

demand that the West builds more to answer housing needs.

The city council area alone – where just over 400,000 people

live today – had been expected to make way for 30,000 new

homes.

That figure has rocketed to 36,500 – an increase of more

than a quarter (25 per cent).

The government has for some time been ratcheting up the

pressure on local communities to accept more new homes in their

areas.

The other three councils will come under particular pressure

to release areas of countryside, the green belt, for

development.

In Bristol, the heat is on city council planners to allow

building on so-called “brownfield” sites – old industrial

works, wasteland and eyesore buildings.

The new figures are revealed in the latest version of a

document called the draft South West Regional Spatial

Strategy.

Following a long period of consultation in the region it is

described by the government as “the South West's vision to

tackle climate change, address housing shortages and strengthen

the region's economy”.

The proposals cover an area from Gloucester to Land's End

for the next 18 years.

A revised version of the original draft is now going out for

a 12-week period of consultation in the region, which will end

in October.

Final decisions on policies and figures outlined in the

report will be made by Secretary of State for Communities and

Local Government Hazel Blears.

An increase of almost 30 per cent in housing provision

across the region is proposed to address housing shortages,

affordability issues and take account of under-performance on

building in the past.

The additional homes are expected to match anticipated job

growth, says the report.

It says: “The latest household projections forecast that

over 28,000 new households will form each year in the region up

to 2026.

“The South West is already the only region with

above-average house prices and below-average incomes.”

Projected economic growth will help deliver 484,500 jobs

across the region, the report says.

It also includes plans to promote sustainable public

transport, walking and cycling.

It seeks the promotion of efforts “to tackle congestion

problems in our main urban areas, particularly around

Bristol.”

Bristol City Council – in common with the other councils in

the region – has only just received copies of the report.

A spokeswoman said: “The council will read the report

thoroughly before commenting.”