The next development challenge facing Long Ashton is being driven by the Government's housing targets.
Long Ashton faces enormous pressure from the recent targets for house-building in North Somerset. North Somerset Council has been asked to find development sites for a total of 23,895 dwellings between now and 2040 – that's 8,620 more than the number proposed by the council in the last version of the Local Plan, which was 15,275.
The LANCE Trust recognises, as do the Wildlife Trusts, that the UK cannot afford to treat nature, climate and housing as entirely separate issues.
Wildbelt, Team Bat and Team Newt
The Trust aligns itself with the Wildlife Trusts who are campaigning for a new land designation, Wildbelt, to put nature at the heart of the planning process by protecting land of low biodiversity value specifically for nature recovery. Wildbelt would also support North Somerset to implement its statutory biodiversity duties and deliver Local Nature Recovery Strategies.
The Trust also supports the Community Planning Alliance's campaigns #TeamBat & #TeamNewt in response to the ‘very aggressive rhetoric’ used by the government about bats and newts being blockers to many aspects of growth and planning.
Long Ashton's green belt
Long Ashton is surrounded by high quality green belt and areas such as Woodspring Golf Course are important for increasingly rare species such as whitethroats and lesser whitethroats. Integrating nature into new developments provides multiple health, social and environmental benefits. The pressure on Ashton Court has been increasing over the years so, moving forwards, we need alternative sites to act as wildlife reservoirs as well as wildlife corridors and increase better and more effective local access to nature on their doorstep. The data shows that this will result in people becoming more active, mentally resilient and better all-round health.
What you can do
As a parish, we need to ensure that our local wildlife does not become more depleted and instead is given a massive boost. So please attend one of the consultations in person (dates below), or complete the online consultation before March 21st: Regulation 19 - Additional Sites Consultation (February 2025) - North Somerset Council Consultations.
We'd encourage you to question what concrete protection will be put in place for Long Ashton and the surrounding area's existing nature, and what will be done to compensate for and improve biodiversity.
At the drop-in events, members of the community can view plans and ask questions. No need to book, just turn up:
Weds 26th February: Jubilee Pavillion, Keedwell Hill, Long Ashton, Bristol, BS41 9DP: 3-6pm
Weds 5th March: Weston-super-Mare Library, Town Hall, Walliscote Grove Road, BS23 1UJ: 3-6pm
Friday 7th March: Nailsea United Reform Church Hall, Stockway North Nailsea, BS48 1AQ: 3-6pm
Monday 10 March: Backwell WI Hall, Station Road, Backwell, BS48 3QW: 3-6pm
Supporting information can be found at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/LP2040additionalsites.
More information about North Somerset's Local Plan can be found here: Local Plan 2040 | North Somerset Council
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