THOUSANDS of new homes have been earmarked for South Gloucestershire in the final draft of the West of England’s housing plan, which has been published today.

The Joint Spatial Plan (JSP) sets out the policies and principles across South Gloucestershire, Bristol, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset in determining “appropriate and sustainable” locations for development up to 2036.

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.

As well as the JSP, a joint transport study (JTS) is also being carried out, assessing the transport infrastructure in the region.

The JSP will be discussed by the West of England Joint Committee on Monday, with each local authority set to consider the proposals.

South Gloucestershire is first of the four, with the discussion taking place on Wednesday, November 8, and, subject to their approval, public engagement is planned this winter before the document and feedback received is sent to the Secretary of State for examination next year.

In a joint statement, the leaders of the four councils, including South Gloucestershire Council leader Cllr Matthew Riddle, said: “Each of the councils in the West of England face a key challenge: To ensure there are sufficient new homes, jobs and infrastructure to accommodate a growing population, while at the same time protecting and enhancing our unique built and natural environment.

“This is not just a local issue, the UK as a whole is struggling to meet growing demand for new homes. We have joined forces to prepare a different type of plan to tackle this challenge.

“The JSP aims to build a common understanding of the need for new housing and the benefits that new development will bring, including transport improvements and more opportunities to link our communities with homes and jobs.

“Of course the impact of growth will vary in different communities, so it is important that people understand why the strategy is being proposed. The JSP includes the locations that would be sites for sustainable growth. It also spells out the policies and evidence, which we have already consulted upon, that has guided these decisions.

“People have talked constructively, taking into account that development in one part of our region impacts the others, about meeting the increased demand for services and infrastructure that housing growth brings and, because we are looking ahead for the next 20 years, about protecting our natural environment for the long-term.

“We have the power through long-term and evidence-based planning to address key economic and social imbalances in the region and to support inclusive growth.  We need to ensure the homes that are built meet people’s needs; they need to be the right size, in sustainable communities, available to rent and to buy and in locations that people and businesses need.

“Businesses should be able to locate where they can be most efficient and create jobs, enabling people to live in places which are accessible to where they work. Transport and infrastructure provision needs to be in place up front or keep pace with development to support sustainable growth.

“People feel passionately about where they live and the impact new growth might have on their local communities. We share the value they place on their local environment, landscape and biodiversity because it is part of what makes our region the place we want to live.

“We are committed to this plan-led approach to provide certainty to our communities, in order to secure high quality, sustainable growth for the West of England.”

The draft Joint Spatial Plan can be found online at: https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/so-welep-uploads2/Item%209%20-%20Joint%20Spatial%20Plan%20COMBINED%20DOCs.pdf