North Somerset Council’s (NSC) revised draft Regulation 19 Local Plan is now live on the cabinet agenda for 15th October, item 6:
https://n-somerset.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx…
The plan highlights Backwell along with Nailsea as a strategic area for growth with almost 4000 homes between us. This draft plan includes the proposal for another 1000 houses on East Backwell (EB) on top of 800 already consented, more than DOUBLING the size of our village in the next 10 years.
NSC must now fund 24k new homes in response to the Government’s algorithm-generated housing target. We know it is not good practice to grow communities this quickly – especially without major infrastructure investment first. To date, there is no investment to show for the houses already consented.
Backwell Parish Council (BPC) is working with Backwell Residents Association and Backwell Resistance to challenge this scheme. This proposal is NOT a sustainable model, it is financially unviable, and it is being built on Green Belt – which includes Grade 1 agricultural land, of which only 7% remains in North Somerset.
🚨 We MUST work together as a community to make a stand!
A consultation for residents to have their say will go live towards the end of the month.
We CAN influence; East Backwell CAN be removed from this draft. We CAN make our case direct to Government Inspectors if EB goes forward in the final plan.
Yes, we need a Local Plan to protect us against further speculative planning applications, but these numbers for Backwell are disproportionate and unreasonable.
By mid-November, BPC will know more from our expert team, and we intend to contact every home with information about how you can be involved.
💪 If ever there was a time to stand together — it is NOW! Backwell said NO to a Bus Lane, and Backwell says NO to disproportionate, unsustainable growth! We are already taking our share of the housing target. The Bus Lane was a hard battle, but we kept going and WON!
This will be tough — a more public campaign over just a few months — but we are ready! BPC has a team of experts to give substance to our concerns. Preparation is well underway.
‘Without prejudice’, in discussion with NSC, BPC has made a list of investments required for this scheme IF it were to go ahead.
This includes:
🏫 Two new primary schools
🏥 Expansion of public health and youth services
🏘️ Quality affordable new homes (to buy & rent)
🌳 Biodiversity mitigation
🚧 Heavy investment in infrastructure
However, there are no guarantees of funding or delivery!
📅 Next steps:
Once the consultation goes live, BPC will share information about how every resident can have their SAY.
As residents, we will need to act together to Protect our Future and Save what we hold dear!
💚 Let’s stand together, Backwell! 💚
