Hanham District Green Belt Conservation Society was pleased to welcome Steve Smith, the Conservative and Unionist Party candidate for Mayor of the West of England Combined Authority, who took the time today to meet with Society members and discuss urgent concerns regarding Green Belt development pressures in the area.
A key focus of the discussion was the appeal by developers against the decision of South Gloucestershire Council to refuse outline planning application P23/01330/O. The developers want to build 140 houses on the much-loved Green Belt land known locally as "The Batch"- a decision that has sparked widespread local opposition. Mr. Smith listened attentively to the concerns raised and reaffirmed the importance of preserving Green Belt land to protect the character and environmental integrity of the region.
During his visit, Mr. Smith also met with local resident Carole Yoxall, who lives next door to a family home that developers plan to demolish in order to build an access road to the site. Carole expressed her distress over the plans, particularly as the proposed access road would be a mere six feet from her living room. Mr. Smith acknowledged the significant personal impact such developments can have on residents and emphasised the need to focus on building on brownfield sites in places like the centre of Bristol, not on Green Belt land like "The Batch".
Beyond the immediate threat posed by "The Batch" development, Mr. Smith also engaged in discussions about the broader implications of South Gloucestershire Council’s new Local Plan. The draft plan outlines the construction of thousands of new homes in the East Fringe of Bristol between 2026 and 2041, many of which would be built on Green Belt land. Despite the Council’s previous refusal of planning permission for "The Batch" just six months ago, both this site and one adjacent at Castle Inn Farm in Hanham remain included in the draft Local Plan, raising serious concerns among local residents and conservation advocates.
Residents and members of the public have until 10th March 2025 to submit representations to the Planning Inspectorate regarding "The Batch" appeal. Additionally, the Regulation 19 Public Consultation for the new Local Plan is set to run for six weeks, starting from 28th February 2025. Hanham District Green Belt Conservation Society urges all concerned individuals to participate in these processes to ensure their voices are heard in the fight to protect our precious Green Belt land.
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