Thousands more homes for Bristol area
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.”
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