POTENTIAL sites for more than 23,000 new homes in North Somerset are being identified – and the public is being urged to have their say.

North Somerset Council has been given a target of building 23,805 homes over 15 years – which was increased by the new Labour Government as it aims to tackle the housing crisis.

As a result, on Wednesday (December 4), the council’s Executive agreed to run a public consultation on potential new locations for development.

The consultation will run in early 2025 for at least six weeks, subject to any further government announcements on national planning guidance and comes after previous rounds since 2020.

Most of the additional development is expected to take place at the proposed strategic growth locations of Weston-super-Mare, Nailsea/Backwell and South West Bristol identified in the 2022 draft plan.

People have already shared their views on these locations in earlier rounds of consultation.

However, due to the increased housing target, sites outside of those areas are now being considered for new homes, as well as roads, employment, schools, medical facilities and public transport.

Responses to the consultation will inform the final selection of proposed development sites in the Local Plan, with an updated document consulted on for a final time before being submitted for independent examination.

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Cllr Mark Canniford, NSC’s executive member for spatial planning, placemaking and economy, said: “Since the government set us a significantly higher housing target of 23,805 new homes over 15 years, we’ve reviewed our emerging Local Plan and have identified potential sites for development across North Somerset to help us meet this challenging figure.

“We’re holding another round of a public consultation in early 2025, so the community and other interested parties can share their views on which locations are preferred for development.

“We’ve tried to maximise development at strategic growth locations we’d previously identified.

“However, as there are so many new homes to deliver to meet the target and government proposals to national planning policy mean previous restraints are likely to be removed, we also need to consider areas for development outside of these areas.

“We’ll try to maximise development in urban areas as much as we can, with development in the Green Belt being a last resort. Please do engage with the consultation and let us know which locations you think are most suitable for development.

“We know new development needs to be supported by the necessary infrastructure – people need access to facilities, employment and a reliable travel network.

“We’re advocating for central government to deliver the investment and policies that are needed to help us to achieve this and are lobbying for investment to support development and growth across North Somerset.”