A CAP on housing for Thornbury, with a target of 600 in the next 20 years, has divided opinion within the town.

The figures from the latest draft of the West of England Joint Spatial Plan, which looks at forecasts for necessary housing development, indicate that the region will need to provide 105,000 homes by 2036, an increase of 39,000.

Of this additional amount, 9,200 have been designated within South Gloucestershire, in areas which have been considered “strategic” for development. 

Conservative councillors in South Gloucestershire have backed the figures presented in the draft for the West of England Joint Spatial Plan (JSP), claiming that it will offer Thornbury a ceiling on housing, giving the town a chance to catch up.

In a joint statement with the leaders of the West of England bodies, South Gloucestershire Council leader, Cllr Matthew Riddle, said: “The challenge we face as a region that is continuing to grow, is to continue to develop our economic prosperity in a way that benefits all our communities and protects the planet.

“We’re responding to the needs of our growing population; increasing demands for homes and jobs, and seeking to address the issue of affordability for people on lower salaries wanting to buy or rent their own home.

“There is a significant gap between the cost of houses and the level of income and whilst we cannot narrow the gap alone, we want to give more people the opportunity to get onto the housing ladder.

“No decisions have been made at this stage, but we are in agreement that affordable housing is a high priority that will mean the next generation can live and work in the West of England and benefit from growing business and employment opportunities.”

But Liberal Democrat town councillors have criticised the JSP, suggesting that prospective developments for the edge of the town, as well as the garden village proposed for Buckover, will be all but confirmed, with the latter being outlined for 2,200 homes.

Thornbury town councillor Maggie Tyrrell said: “If we had a debate about whether a new village was appropriate, then we might have said it was a good idea, but we are simply being told we are to be given them.

“The fact is that no decision has been made on the proposed developments in Thornbury, and consultation hasn’t even begun for Buckover, but it feels like we are being told they will go ahead.”

Also criticised in the JSP are suggestions that the MetroBus scheme, which is currently under construction in Bristol, could extend as far as Thornbury to support the transport infrastructure.

Cllr Tyrrell said: “It appears that this extension of the MetroBus is simply reactive to the development, rather than being part of an overarching plan. 

“This is the first time we have heard about it. It has clearly been thrown in as an afterthought but there is nothing to say that it will be happening.”

Other areas across South Gloucestershire that will be taking on additional development are Charfield, with an additional 1,000 homes, the Yate and Chipping Sodbury area with 2,600 homes and the North and East Fringe area, which includes Patchway and Filton, taking on 1,300 new houses. 

The JSP will go to public consultation between November 7 and December 19, alongside the Joint Transport Plan, with submissions expected to be made to the Secretary of State in spring next year.