NORTH Somerset Council needs the public’s help in choosing where 8,620 new homes could be built.

The government has revised house building targets in the country as part of Angela Rayner’s plan to “Get Britain building again” and see 1.5 million new homes built in England over the next five years.

As such, North Somerset Council now has to find suitable locations for an additional 8,620 houses in Weston-super-Mare (primarily Wolvershill), south-west Bristol, Nailsea and Backwell.

This comes despite the council already setting out plans for 12,275 homes in its Local Plan – the document used to guide how many houses should be built in the county.

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The council has launched an online consultation to hear residents’ suggestions of where these new houses should be built, which ends on March 21.

It says infrastructure such as roads, employment, schools, medical facilities and public transport will also be considered, though delivery on much of this depends on government funding – which is not certain.

Responses to the new consultation will inform the selection of the proposed additional development sites, which will be included in the updated Local Plan.

A final version of the Local Plan will be put together before going out for further consultation later this year before being submitted to the planning inspectorate for independent examination.

Hard choices to be made

The council has a legal obligation to produce a new Local Plan and it must comply with government policies, including the National Policy Framework.

Councillor Mark Canniford, North Somerset Council’s executive member for spatial planning, placemaking and economy, said large parts of North Somerset are protected as a result of green belt, flood risk or are part of the Mendip Hills National Landscape.

“This makes the job of delivering the new homes that local people need a difficult balancing act,” he said.

“This challenge has not been made any easier by the imposition of an increased target by the government.

“The Local Plan will try to provide a positive vision for the future of North Somerset, help address housing needs, support employment and help shape local communities.

“This will mean some hard choices and we need local residents and businesses to take part in this consultation and have their say.

“In particular, if there are alternative ideas or development sites that we can consider, we need to hear that now.”

Four drop-in events from 3pm to 6pm will be taking place where members of the community can come and view plans and ask questions.

These are:

• Wednesday, February 26 – Jubilee Pavillion, Keedwell Hill, Long Ashton, Bristol, BS41 9DP: 3 – 6pm

• Wednesday, March 5 – Weston-super-Mare Library, Town Hall, Walliscote Grove Road, W-s-M, BS23 1UJ: 3 – 6pm

• Friday, March 7 – Nailsea United Reform Church Hall, Stockway North Nailsea, BS48 1AQ: 3 – 6pm

• Monday, March 10 – Backwell WI Hall, Station Road, Backwell, BS48 3QW: 3 – 6pm

Access the consultation here: https://n-somerset.inconsult.uk/Reg19AddSites/consultationHome