HOUSING plans across the West of England are set to go out to public consultation having been approved by councillors.

The Joint Spatial Plan (JSP), which has been approved by the four West of England Local Authorities, South Gloucestershire, Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, and North Somerset, proposes thousands of new homes across the region up to 2036.

A target of 32,500 new homes has been allocated to South Gloucestershire, with targets for development including 500 more homes in Thornbury, 2,000 in Yate, 1,800 for Coalpit Heath and 1,200 for Charfield.

Provision for the controversial 3,000-home Buckover Garden Village proposed by the Tortworth Estate has also been included, with councillors voting in favour of the plans despite the revelation last week that planners might have “fudged” early proposals for the village to make them appear more attractive.

With the four authorities having agreed to endorse the JSP, there will now be a final round of public comment before the plan is submitted to the Government.

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South Gloucestershire councillors discussing the JSP plans last week

The public and other stakeholders will be invited to comment on the JSP from November 22 until January 10, after which the plan along with all submissions received will be passed to the Planning Inspectorate.

The plan will then be examined in public by an Independent Planning Inspector, who will then make a report back to the local authorities, which may include proposed amendments.

Once satisfied that the plan meets all planning rules and laws, the four councils must adopt the plan, giving it statutory authority. At that point the approved JSP would sit above and guide the review of the councils’ own Local Plans.

Alongside the JSP, the first such joint planning approach in the UK, is the Joint Transport Study (JTS) which will assess transport infrastructure and the projects that could accommodate for the increase in homes.

The JSP document, supporting evidence and details of how to make a submission as part of the engagement process will be published online at www.jointplanningwofe.org.uk on November 22.