LESS than a week remains for the public to have their say on major housing plans across the West of England before they are sent to the government.

The West of England Joint Spatial Plan (JSP), which outlines housing targets for South Gloucestershire, Bristol, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset up to 2036, is in its third and final draft, having been under development for the past two years.

With the region needing to create at least 105,000 new homes by 2036, each local authority has been allocated a set amount, with South Gloucestershire needing to build 32,500, second only to Bristol.

Among the development targets proposed for South Gloucestershire in the plan are 500 new homes in Thornbury, 1,200 in Charfield and 1,800 in Coalpit Heath.

The controversial 3,000-home Buckover Garden Village has been promoted within the plan, which outlines the potential for 1,500 homes to be complete by the end of the JSP period, with reference to “a permanent strategic gap” between the village and Thornbury.

A further 2,000 homes have also been earmarked for Yate, with 1,000 expected to be complete by 2036.

Full details of the draft plan and how to take part in the process are available online at www.jointplanningwofe.org.uk.

All submissions made will be considered alongside the JSP, when they are passed to the Government’s planning inspectorate later this spring, where it will be examined and a report will be sent back to the local authorities, with any proposed amendments.

Alongside the JSP, the four councils are taking forward the findings of the Joint Transport Study (JTS), which is designed to help the region meet the growing infrastructure demands that new growth will bring, including public transport, cycling and walking infrastructure to reduce reliance on cars and highway improvements to tackle congestion.