Property 2022 | Nailsea People

Property people

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MORE THAN 112 YEARS IN PROPERTY - Est 1909

2022

A brochure containing the proposals by Gleeson Land to build 400 houses south of Nailsea towards the railway station has been delivered to all homes and businesses in the immediate area affected by the plans.

It contains the same information that were revealed at a Nailsea Town Council meeting at the end of October as reported by Nailsea People.

This was given in a presentation by a four-strong project team from Gleeson, the Hampshire-based planning, technical and land specialists, who were commissioned by approximately 10 local landowners to seek planning permission on the green fields.

Led by planning manager Nick Keeley it was explained the 94-acre site was fraught with difficulties as it contained in parts old coal mining workings, floodplains, conservation area around Backwell lake, protected wildlife and trees as well as some listed farm buildings and public-rights-of-way.

The 4-page handout delivered to neighbours said: “We would like to invite you to provide your thoughts and ideas on our proposals for new homes and public open space on land at south Nailsea.”

It confirms that Gleeson Land intend to submit an outline planning application later this year.

Gleeson added: “Approximately 400 new homes will be provided within the scheme. These will be a mix of one and four bed homes – covering all from starter homes and apartments to larger family homes. Up to 40 per cent of the new homes will be provided as affordable, made available for local residents for below market rent managed by a housing association…”

Backwell resident John Dicks was among those who submitted an objection saying it didn’t conform to the North Somerset Local Plan by ignoring both the Green Belt and strategic gap between Backwell & Nailsea policy.

Mr Dicks said: “The flat fields running parallel to Station Close are water meadows.

“The water table is never very far from the surface and in periods of continuous heavy rain ponds form on the surface of the land.

“Covering the hillside with concrete and Tarmac will further reduce the capability of the land to absorb water.

“Furthermore, the runoff from this area will naturally flow to the meadows making the risk of flooding more likely.

“This principle also applies to the proposed new road.

“I would suggest that if it is ever built it should be on top of a small embankment to avoid road closures.

“The proposed roundabout on Station Road means that it would feed into an already busy and congested road.

“Traffic would be delayed by the single-track low bridge under the railway and speed bumps from there to the A370.

Flooding fears for new building in green belt

“Queues of traffic are already experienced in rush hours and school starting and finishing times.

“Is it advantageous to add more traffic to this chaos? You should be aware that its proximity to Backwell Lake is close to an area of SSSI.

In his submission Mr Dicks highlights the plight of bats, deer, badgers, foxes and even a lynx which all live on the land under threat.

He added: “This is not a well thought out and considered plan and numerous other objections are going to follow.”

Barratt boys sport new kit

Homebuilder Barratt Homes Bristol has helped the Nailsea Junior Football Club U16s tackle their kit conundrum with brand new strips to kick off a successful 2022-23 season.

The developer behind the new homes at Engine Lane, Nailsea wanted to score a goal for grassroots football with a £1,000 donation towards the new kit for the upcoming season.

Established in 1974, the Nailsea Junior Football Club provides a friendly and inclusive atmosphere for girls and boys between the ages of five and 18 years for all abilities.

With pitches all over the Nailsea and Backwell area, the club specialises in developing the skills and passion of aspiring young footballers.

Nailsea Junior Football Club chairman Ben Watts said: “We are thrilled to receive this generous donation from Barratt Homes, which will enable our U16s team to run out on the pitch in style.”

Barratt Homes Bristol sales director Andrea Pilgrim said: “Local sports teams play a vital role at the heart of our neighbourhoods, so we are pleased to be able to support the Nailsea Junior Football Club.

"The club do a tremendous job at supporting and encouraging the next generation of local football players and we wish them all the success in their upcoming season.”

Parish Brook, just off of Engine Lane, Nailsea, offers a range of two, three and four-bedroom high quality and energy efficient homes.

This new community is on the edge of the North Somerset countryside and is the perfect location for first time buyers, downsizers or commuters with great access to the M5 and Nailsea & Backwell train station.

Barratt Homes Bristol is committed to investing in the communities that it builds in and has recently donated to the Nailsea Skate Fest and Bristol Pride.

The new show homes and sales office are open at Parish Brook from Monday-Sunday,10am-5.30pm and offers a range of schemes including

Part Exchange Guarantee and the Key Worker Deposit Contribution Scheme.

To find out more about the new homes at Parish Brook or to register your interest visit www.barratthomes.co.uk

Fryth Way minus pylons but plus more houses?

Future possible housing and employment development on land owned by North Somerset Council will be considered at the full council meeting on Tuesday, November 8.
Included for Nailsea are playing fields at Fryth Way, home to Nailsea & Tickenham FC, which has been considered for redevelopment for nearly a decade or more.
This is part of a wider allocation for 450 dwellings that North Somerset would need to work with adjacent landowners/developers to agree a joint masterplan and delivery proposals.
A successful football club after many years fundraising recently installed floodlighting at Fryth Way which was paid for in part by a £20,000 grant from Nailsea Town Council.
There is no timescale on when North Somerset Council want to go ahead with development of its Nailsea sites.
Having identified this land as in its ownership perhaps the district council need to go back to its legal team and find out why it has patches of land not

formally adopted in the 1960-90s.

These green verges and parts of the highway are dubbed 'no mans land' in the town of which several have been sold recently by London auction houses.
Other sites throughout the district have the potential to deliver up to 1,500 homes and create new jobs, while raising up to £25m to fund capital priorities such as schools, roads and leisure facilities, says the report going to council.
The development programme to be considered by councillors was shaped by almost 700 responses received during an eight-week consultation (25 April to 20 June 2022).
Key priorities for respondents included affordable housing and higher levels of sustainability.
The consultation also highlighted the need for further engagement with local communities, including the council’s ward members, so that the future of some sites could be considered in more detail.

Next big thing for Nailsea

Proposals to build 400 houses south of Nailsea towards the railway station were revealed at a Nailsea Town Council meeting on Wednesday evening, October 26.

A presentation was given by a four-strong project team from Gleeson, the Hampshire-based planning, technical and land specialists, who were commissioned by approximately 10 local landowners to seek planning permission on the green fields.

Please note: The 14 new homes currently being built off The Perrings where a deep coal mining shaft was discovered in September are not shown on the Gleeson maps.

Nick said: "The land was secured about 10 years ago so there has been a heck of a lot of work to get to the point we are today."

A new road and cycle paths will link the Taylor Wimpey Netherton Grange 450-homes to the 400 proposed homes and would come out at a roundabout on Station Road close to Nailsea & Backwell railway station, councillors heard.

Station Road will be the primary access and could replace the narrow Station Close as the route to Nailsea Patio Supplies at the Coal Yard and all the new houses.

The provisional timescale is for building to start in three years and it is envisaged completion will take a further three years.

If added to the 171 Barratt Homes Parish Brook development close by at Engine Lane and other smaller developments in total that adds up to more than 1,000 new homes in less than a decade for Nailsea despite its only routes in and out of the town being B-roads and narrow country lanes.

Because of the many technical issues, it has taken three years to get to the stage when we are ready to submit an outline planning application, the Gleeson team said.

But when the team said there would be no new medical centre or schools councillor Joanne Hopkinson who is also chair of governors at Nailsea School suggested they go back to the drawing board.

She said: “You say it won’t impact on local schools, it will, we have all these houses to accommodate, I don’t think this has been thought through enough to protect what we have.”

Finance and policy committee chairman Ben Kushner asked: “If you put 1,000 new homes two miles from the centre of Nailsea do you expect massive amount of vehicle journeys and the current medical, dental and schools to cope?”

Report by: Carol Deacon
nailseapeople@gmail.com

The Gleeson team said it was government policy for more people to walk and cycle and for the less able there would be buses.

Nick said: “400 homes does not trigger the need for a new school or medical centre but there may be a need to enhance and/or improve existing facilities”

Vice-chairman Emily Miller who was in the chair for the evening pointed out that in June 2022 in light of the growing climate emergency the town council adopted strict new build requirements that included 'new homes should not be connected to the gas grid and all electricity needs should be met on site'.

The green edge strategic gap between Nailsea and Backwell would be safeguarded with lots of community amenities provided and a promise of 40 per cent 'affordable' homes.

The planned properties would be 2, 3 and 4-bed but this could change when a detailed application is submitted.

The ‘affordable’ homes statement was meet with some derision by those present.

The master plan includes community orchards, linear park and adequate car parking space and could add sport fields and a pavilion, said the Gleeson team.

It is the failure of North Somerset Council to identify housing sites to meet government targets of at least 20,085 new homes by 2038 which has led to developers focusing on farmland surrounding existing communities.

All options now being put forward identify Nailsea for growth, added the Gleeson team.

An emerging local plan is likely to go out for consultation in the new year but North Somerset councillors are currently discussing 'implications for development in Nailsea if the proposed Green Belt allocation to the East of Backwell is deleted and the rail crossing is not delivered'.

Ambitious plans to develop 55-acres of greenbelt land near Wraxall and Flax Bourton to include 500 houses and a new community hall by FLP of the Gladman Group has been put forward.

Many see this as providing part of new road funding to link the A370 to the Nailsea developments but not joining up with the M5 which some say would cost £350 million.

Prior to the meeting 90 agenda pages were issued and the meeting lasted more than two hours but time was not given to a resident of Bibury Close who wished to give councillors an update on the gulley situation.

The Gleeson team said they would welcome feedback and hope to set up a website for this purpose.

In the meantime go to our Nailsea People Facebook page or email nailseapeople@gmail.com and we will add your thoughts.

Nailsea resident Roger Smallshaw said: "Thanks for this summary of all that's proposed - what a dismal future.

"Disappearance of Green Belt, strategic gap and coincidentally our library building.

"Complete absence of infrastructure, new essential roads and the usual promise of affordability.

"Affordability is a total impossibility anyway: pure law of economics - supply demand price.

"Oh and add in greed.

"North Somerset Council is intent on 'dumping' on Nailsea with the executive members intent on protecting their own wards and careers.

"In the duration of this administration we have been deluged with wordy consultations and building proposals that it has become impossible to keep up with it all.

"Before anything else is approved we need to call a complete halt and conduct a full review of it all, prepare a simple, easy to understand summary and put it to the residents/electorate of Nailsea and the town council.

"It has to be accepted that this will be time consuming but the eternal random, uncoordinated urban spread has got to be stopped.

Nailsea's no man's land

The roots from 40ft high trees planted close to the boundary of a 1970s Nailsea property have caused numerous cracks in the brickwork and is likely to have damaged its foundations.

But homeowner Jeremy Parker, of Bibury Close, who has consulted an arboriculturist, surveyor, solicitor and his insurance company is going round in circles trying to find the landowners of the adjoining gulley to resolve the problems.

The IT technician and car enthusiast has lived in the detached corner property for 23 years.

He said: “Tree roots have been discovered in my drains and by monitoring the pattern of seasonal movement it has been found they are sucking moisture out of the grounds causing subsidence.

“All the evidence has been gathered and the conclusion is the trees are too close to my property causing damage.

“Whoever planted the trees should have seen a ‘foreseeable risk’ and that makes them responsible.”

But finding out who owns the open space between the two east Nailsea residential roads which was recently sold for more than £40,000 by a London auction house is proving a nightmare.

North Somerset Council has been cutting the grass and trimming trees for the past decade without charging anyone for the maintenance work.

It is thought the original idea behind the planting was to make a beech hedge but because of neglect they have just grown with branches also dangerously overhanging Trendlewood Road.

Beech trees have the potential to grow to 80ft while the cherry trees in the small coppice are not so tall.

Friends of Trendlewood Park spokesperson Pat Gilbert said: “There is inevitably a lot of concern being generated about the auction of land between Bibury and Birdlip Close.

“This constitutes part of Trendlewood Park and has been managed by North Somerset Council with help from FoTP since 2010-11 when the park was created.

“We have known since the outset, that this land is not owned by North Somerset, but nothing was done about it legally by North Somerset.

“Of course, the obvious fear of residents is that any new owners might buy the land with a view to developing it.

“This seems highly unlikely but there is clearly something else going on here, which means that the owners want to shed this land.

“I believe the land has Local Green Space designation, but this must be confirmed in the new Local Plan.

“This area is part of an important 'green corridor' that allows birds, bats and other wildlife to move freely through the area.”

Mr Parker said what once were small beech and cherry saplings still have the potential to grow even taller.

He added: “This is all really stressful and I have no idea when it is all going to get resolved.”

With the major landgrab in Nailsea of many open spaces not adopted by the district council on housing estates all over the town Mr Parker is concerned others may be in a similar position to him.

This is the second parcel of land sold by a London auction house for a reputed £40,000 plus prior to the sale date in recent months.

The first sale consisted of play areas, grass verges and part of the highway off Queens Road.

Hammersmith auctioneers Barnard Marcus listed the Trendlewood Park gulley for sale on Wednesday, October 19, but posted online it was sold pre-auction on behalf of Legacy Land Holdings.

Lot 240 was listed with a guide price of £15,000 plus fees.

The auction details advise ‘the freehold site of approximately 3,478m2 / 37,436sqft / 0.859 acres within a residential area would require prospective purchasers ensure they have inspected the site and rely upon their own enquiries, assessments and due diligence with regards to its current and potential uses’.

It adds 'all or part of this site may comprise adopted highway. Purchasers are deemed to rely upon their own enquires with regards to this'.

Federated Homes who developed the houses south of Queens Road back in the 1970-80s went bust and as the land in contention was counted as an ‘asset’ by the official receiver it was duty bound by law to sell to the highest bidder.

Before this happened, it was wrongly believed the freehold of the separate parcels totalling approximately 4.1 acres was under the ownership of North Somerset Council.

There is no obligation to tell neighbours or district and town councils of the sale.

A North Somerset Council spokesman said: “We have been maintaining the land, including grass cutting without payment for many years.

“It is our understanding around the background to this is that there’s quite a bit of open space in Nailsea which was not transferred to North Somerset Council as it should have been when the housing developments were completed.

“We don’t know why these transfers did not take place.”

Nailsea Town Council is discussing designating the latest plot to come under threat which is considered part of Trendlewood Park a ‘town green’ like the slope at The Perrings. In the meantime Nailsea People has paid a fee to the Land Registry to ascertain who currently owns the Trendlwood land land.

We wait with bated breath but learn it could take three months to get this information.

WHAT IS HAPPENING ACROSS NAILSEA

In April 2021 a title deed holder sought planning permission to build a pair of semi-detached houses on ‘open space’ between homes at 16-18 Winchcombe Close which has been a play area for many years. Luckily this was blocked as it was deemed the 0.11 acre a ‘development high risk’ by The Coal Authority. The freehold site is now for sale by Paul Fosh Online Auctions, of Newport, as Lot 13 on Thursday, November 10, with a price guide of £27,500+ and a minimum opening bid: of £25,000. More information here https://paulfosh.eigonlineauctions.com/future-auctions.

London auction house McHugh & Co is selling a freehold grass verge on Station Road of approximately 11,800sq ft with potential to build two bungalows on the narrow strip. Lot 160B comes under the online hammer on Thursday, October 27, with a reserve price of £5,000.Read more here https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/127969214?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=commercial-buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=COM_BUY.

Developers Gleeson will be giving a presentation to Nailsea Town Council at 7.30pm on Wednesday, October 26 , about proposals to develop more land to the south and southwest of Nailsea. The agenda says, ‘they wish to share with the council where they are and seek guidance as to what the community might seek in terms of reasonable and related infrastructure provision’. The meeting is open to the public. Read more https://www.nailseatowncouncil.gov.uk/town-council-minutes-agendas/.

Barratt showhouse open

Barratt Homes opened it showhouse at Parish Brook at the weekend and Nailsea People went along to view.

When completed the site with have 171 in total 2, 3 and 4-bed homes with prices ranging from £334,995 to £509,995

We shared some of our photos on the Nailsea People Facebook page.

With 27 houses now sold the homes are beautifully decorated and staged.

The boy's own rugby themed small bedroom especially is an work of wonder.

But it was the plaque 'Why live here' with its spelling and punctuation mistakes coupled with misinformation about 'nearby' primary school and directions to how to shop and eat out of town which most upset the locals.

That and prices starting at £330,000+ for a 2-bed which although open plan with limited space downstairs does boast three loos!

The 'recreation' land was sold by Nailsea Town Council and other adjoining landowners five years ago at a knockdown price with the idea of providing at least 10 'affordable' homes to local people.

Although a proportion of the properties are social and shared ownership the dream of helping people unable to get on the housing ladder and with strong ties to the communities just doesn't seem to have happened.

STOP PRESS: The wording on the website after 51 critical Facebook comments was corrected overnight and hopefully the poorly worded plaque with follow suit! The road sign that said Penant Way has also been changed to Pennant Way on the site map.

Coming soon... Bucklands Place

It has been a long time coming but finally they are about to start building on Miss Shepstone’s field off Trendlewood Way.
A detailed planning application to build 24 homes went to North Somerset Council three years ago.
This was for a mix of high quality one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom homes and includes four dwellings with enhanced accessibility for people with disabilities.
The design for Acorn Property Group keeps the existing woodland on the northwest of the one plus hectares which is says ‘will be retained undisturbed but will be cleared of accumulated man-made debris including corrugated iron and general litter’.
But in line with the planning application a detailed environmental statement had to be submitted prior to building work beginning.
This has been done.
The disused bunker will be protected, with the entrance enclosed by a suitable open grille to allow bat access but prevent human disturbance.
Nailsea Town Council highways and planning committee recommended approval for 24 houses to be built on the field in February 2019.
And North Somerset Council gave outline permission that year.
Its designation for ‘community use’ was removed by the district council in a strategic planning review making the scrubland a prime development site.
This tied the hands of town councillors as no valid reason for recommending refusal could be found.
Landowners Brunelcare and St Peter's Hospice were bequeathed the field in Miss Shepstone's will but it is widely her intention was it should not be built on but benefit local people.

Previous plans had included a community shop/building but this was removed by the developer for ‘economic’ reasons.
Five years ago, then local vicar Steve Tilley put in a plea for a community building which featured on the front page of Nailsea People - you can read his words here https://www.nailseapeople.com/nailseapeoplejan2017.
It is with some irony that the Trendlewood vicar has since retired and moved out of Nailsea just a day before the 'coming soon...' billboard went up.

Nailsea Town Council planning committee has the arboricultural and tree protection reports on its agenda for Wednesday, October 12, at 7:30pm

at the Tithe Barn. Councillors will also be discussing an application to extend the garden of rest on Stockway North; and
Don't forget on Saturday and Sunday, October 8-9 • noon-4pm show homes open at Parish Brook on the Barratt development off Engine Lane

NAILSEA OPEN SPACE FOR SALE: Another London auction house is selling a green open space in Nailsea. Hammersmith auctioneers Barnard Marcus has listed the gully which runs between the homes in Birdlip Close and Bibury Close in its sale on Wednesday, October 19, though it says it is open to pre-auction offers. It is being sold on behalf of Legacy Land Holdings. It is lot 240 with a guide price of £15,000 plus fees. It advises the freehold site of approximately 3,478m2 / 37,436sqft / 0.859 acres within a residential area would require prospective purchasers ensure they have inspected the site and rely upon their own enquiries, assessments and due diligence with regards to its current and potential uses. It adds 'all or part of this site may comprise adopted highway. Purchasers are deemed to rely upon their own enquires with regards to this'. Read more here https://www.barnardmarcusauctions.co.uk/auctions/19-october-2022/398949/

Open air toilet break

A irritated Nailsea person has written to Taylor Wimpey complaining about the behaviour of workers on the Netherton Grange building site.

They said: "I note that despite our previous complaints, we are still greeted by the sound of multiple radios blasting forth from your site whenever we walk along the bridleway at the Western boundary of your site, and that you are unable or unwilling to control this issue.

"However, I was frankly offended this morning to witness one of your contractors urinating in one the building plots in full view of the public bridleway this morning."
Taylor Wimpey has yet to respond.

This article on our Nailsea People Facebook page reached 6,985 and attracted 68 comments.

Here are a few:

Derek Iles posted: 'What rotters - playing a radio!'
Jay Bear Jones posted: 'Come on really, radio's on a building site shocking state of affairs. Peeing in a bush is a bit off'
Barry Lewis posed: 'Volume? It's day time! After 11pm, yes'
Steve Morten posted: 'Beats dogging!'
Barry Lewis posted: 'They do realise that they're just wasting people's time'
Lisa Jones posted: 'Gosh a 10 minute walk poor man to a Portaloo. How hard done by - I thought the whole point of Portaloos was you can move them. What’s wrong with radio headphones - why do we all need to listen to it?'

IMAGE: For illustrative purposes and not to scale

OPEN HOUSE: Nailsea People believe, along with many others, that affordable housing is a myth for first time buyers - the best they can hope for is shared ownership with a housing association. In Nailsea we were ‘sold’ on the idea that the town council by selling the Engine Lane green field site would help young people own a home of their own is fantasy land. The recommended minimum deposit is 20 per cent of the price of a new home. How much do you need to earn to get a £300k+ mortgage? Generally speaking, you can borrow 4.5 times your combined household income. That means your annual earnings would need to be just over £66,000 to borrow £300k. This can be on either a sole or joint basis, depending on how you wish to apply and your personal circumstances. Sadly the only beneficiary is not young people getting on the housing market but the town council coffers…sorry not what it was all about. But Amy Nott, who is development manager at Miller Homes Ltd, disagrees. She said: "There are plenty of five per cent and 10 per cent deposit options available out there in the market for mortgages. Shared ownership and deposit unlock to name a few. Still available after the HTB Equity scheme comes to an end in approximately six weeks time for new applications. People are quick to moan about the cost of a new home… yet you don’t see people in Nailsea moaning about the built up equity in their own homes from over the years! Can’t have your cake and eat it!" Go see for yourselves on Saturday and Sunday, October 8-9, noon-4pm show homes open at Parish Brook on the Barratt development off Engine Lane for the first time. We are sure someone will ask about the misspelling of Penant in the road sign?

Help for homebuyers

A cut to stamp duty in England and Northern Ireland will benefit “the vast majority of homebuyers” to the tune of £2,500, according to a Backwell property agency.
Until Friday, September 23, stamp duty was payable on any property worth more than £125,000 on completion but Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has now raised that threshold to £250,000.
For someone buying a property at £270,000 for example, their stamp duty bill will be cut from £3,500 to £1,000.
Anyone buying a second home will also save this money, although they will still have to pay the additional 3 per cent levy for second homes.
First time buyers will see their exemption level raised from £300,000 to £425,000 and pay no stamp duty up that level, thereby saving them a maximum of £6,250.
Parker's Estate Agents director Andrew Simmonds said: “We have had several exchanges that have held off this week as people wait to see what the Chancellor would announce.
“This measure is great news for anyone looking to move home in the next few months as it will save them up to £2,500, money that could be used to make the house move easier.
“Essentially the middle £125,000-£250,000 bracket has been eliminated. In the south of England in particular, there is very little property that falls below £250,000 in any case, thereby benefitting the vast majority of the people in the market.”
Mr. Simmonds is a chartered surveyor who has worked in the residential property sector for more than 20 years.
He added: “The government believes that cutting Stamp Duty will support economic growth by encouraging more people to move home or jump on the property ladder and while I don’t believe this measure will do that on its own, a saving of £2,500 will certainly ease the process.”
Information on Parker’s can be found at www.parkers-estate-agents.com

Stamp duty rates under the previous system

£0-£125k - 0%
£125k-£250k - 2%
£250k-£925k - 5%
£925k-£1.5m - 10%
£1.5m+ - 12%

Stamp duty rates under the new system

£0-£125k - 0%
£250k-£925k - 5%
£925k-£1.5m - 10%
£1.5m+ - 12%

figures supplied by Mr Simmonds

WHO LET THE SHEEP OUT? A new development on the edge of Tickenham opposite The Star called Ryves Vale, saw some squatters move in at the weekend. The housing estate of just 32 properties boast being the first zero carbon 3, 4 and 5 bed homes to be built on this scale. But at the weekend a flock of sheep took up residency. This was after it was reported that fences were broken down by thieves trying to steal heat pumps from the countryside building site. The development when finished will include large wildflower meadow, woodland, natural outdoor play areas and paths with a 'hedgehog highway' and now a sheep pen! Thanks go to Dan Goldstone, of Goldstone Plumbing, for the photos and apologises from Nailsea People for mistaking the animals as goats!

Somerset Square affordable homes

North Somerset Council planners are due to decide in the next week or so whether to allow a landmark residential development to be built in Somerset Square, Nailsea.

The developers have secured a partnership with Bromford Housing Association who are committed to ‘provide affordable homes for people who can’t access market housing… to providing safe, secure and warm homes, but also care about the people who live in our homes’.

Dubbed ‘the most exciting residential and commercial project to regenerate the western end of Nailsea shopping centre’ it rises to six storeys above Somerset Square.

There is an additional lower garden apartment level facing the car park.

This would be a similar height as the Wessex Water building at the end of Clevedon Walk and the office building next to Wetherspoons at Crown Glass Place.

It will replace the semi-derelict former health centre/Weston College building which has stood empty for eight years.

The application is for 40 apartments with commercial space on the ground floor.

More than half of the nearly 40 online comments are in support of the planning application with several including Nailsea Town Council sitting on the fence and nine together with North Somerset Council conservation and heritage officer Neil Underhay expressing reservations.

This is a snippet of what those in favour say:

‘Well-designed development… mix of high-quality materials and architectural forms… will add some welcome interest and scale to our otherwise dreary town centre’

’This building has been boarded for some time. I believe a while ago there was some intent to join the GP practices which on the face seemed a good plan but this did not go ahead. Nailsea needs some constructive development and provision for old and young. Having accommodation and office space close to the dwindling amenities of the town centre should move towards keeping this centre alive - if it’s not too late’

‘Better to build here than constantly eating into the Green Belt’

‘Since the increase in affordable properties in Portishead… we have lost such a huge percentage of young people wanting to get onto the property ladder. With their departure we have seen local businesses, shops and restaurants struggle to survive while Portishead continues to flourish’

‘There is a dire need for one and two bed apartments for first time buyers and for the rental market in Nailsea. The demand for rental and affordable housing in Nailsea far outweighs the current supply and is a serious concern’

‘This scheme looks fantastic; affordable housing and a new retail unit which would be perfect for a small supermarket. The old college building has been an eyesore for years and Nailsea is sorely in need of a regenerated and modernized shopping area to accommodate the new housing estates at the west end of town’ and

‘The applicants should be applauded for taking on this site and submitting this scheme. No scheme will ever be perfect but on balance the opportunity to bring new, energy efficient affordable housing on a brownfield site within an extremely sustainable location together with flexible office/retail uses at ground floor level should be grasped with both hands’.

There were some worries about parking and the height but it is understood that Crown Glass Place Shopping management company is seriously looking at adding height to its buildings in Colliers Walk, Nailsea People have been told.

One person said: “The proposed building is simply too big, it towers over any other building in the area. A shadow survey suggests the surrounding area will suffer little impact, with the greatest shadow falling on the church side of the proposed building - this raises concerns about the existing mature trees. These are substantial and obviously require light to remain healthy."

Another added: “The transport assessment reads like a fantasy vision of city living with everything in walking distance or with cheap, regular public transport. Nailsea is a commuter town, it doesn't have the features of a city that provide work, entertainment, shopping etc. to attract people to live in flats in the belief they have everything on their doorstep.

Nailsea Action Group spelled the pros and cons more accurately.

FOR:
1. Brownfield site
2. Redevelopment of long derelict building
3. Town Centre - so may assist regeneration
4. Small dwellings for downsizers or starters
5. Dwellings not extendable
6. 16 garages available (but for 38 dwellings)
7. 'Affordable'
8. The commercial space created beneath the development could be used for local office working - probably preferable to more retail space
9. Dwellings are wheelchair accessibility compliant

POLL NOW CLOSED

CONCERNS
1. Height of tower - potentially overlooking nearby residences
2. Massing - dominating the precinct, the old vicarage, the new vicarage and Christ Church. The computer aided design images illustrating the development exaggerate the size of the Somerset Square buildings thereby rendering the representation of the tower smaller than it really would be.
3. Loss of some trees - potentially more than the three identified in the Arboriculture Report - some very fine specimens already very tall and full
4. Significant increased vehicle movements in the development's service yard, access to which being the main crossing point to Crown glass Place and Colliers Walk. This will be made more critical if, as and when the old Esso garage site developed very close by.
5. Increased carbon emissions from more vehicles
6. The commercial space created beneath the development should not be used or not designated for retail as there are already many vacant shops in the immediate area. Office space/facilities for local workers would be better

What will happen to the library is unclear as the rest of the site is in the ownership of the council and shopping centre.

But what Wraxall businessman Paul O’Brien, of Developments Bristol, has done is give Nailsea what people said they wanted affordable homes in the centre of town which also conform to the town council wish of no more new homes with gas boilers.

Plans by O’LearyGoss Architects were submitted to North Somerset in May by Adam Rabone, of CSJ Planning Consultants Ltd. These were posted online in June.

In the planning statement it says: 'The development will support an increase in housing supply and diversity in Nailsea at a time of identified housing need.

'The development will also ignite the initial stages of a much-needed transformation of the Somerset Square shopping precinct, which has suffered from a noticeable decline in commercial and community prosperity over several years.

'The development will start the process of breathing new life into the area, creating new housing, commercial and vitality opportunity, and delivering significant townscape enhancement.'

The plans include 16 new car parking spaces and cycle racks for 60 bikes.

Outline planning permission for the mixed-use redevelopment of the site was granted in 2015 but faltered because of the multi-ownership of the larger site.

The apartments will be a mix of one-bed and two-beds. 32 of the 40 apartments have private outdoor terraces or balconies. The remainder have generous glazed screens with Juliet balconies.

North Somerset Council need to deliver 20,085 homes by 2038 which is challenging due to several constraints.

As a result, the emerging plan only proposed 18,046 homes which is 10 per cent short of the Government’s target.

To comment on the application and read all the background papers click HERE.

Backlash to green space sale

Nailsea Action Group said: "Is there, near where you live, an area of open green space, however small, that you value, either because you can walk there, or for the open views it has, or just the oxygen and wildlife it provides for our urban environment?
"Did you know that almost all such spaces in and around Nailsea are under the threat of development because of government and local authority housing targets and options builders hold on many of these areas?
"New houses may well be needed, but green space is needed too.
"The powers that be, namely North Somerset Council driven by government policy and targets, make it very difficult to prevent builders’ proposals to develop even when on clearly unsuitable sites in terms of transport, employment opportunities, ecology etc..
"Open green space is currently disappearing under 171 houses off Engine Lane, 450 off Youngwood Lane, 52 behind The Uplands and 14 at the top of The Perrings.
"North Somerset Council has recently indicated that it is prepared to consider yet 600 more houses in the area bounded by Youngwood Lane.
"These developments are not accompanied by any significant infrastructure improvements or additional public open space to replace that which is being built over.
"Frequently plans are very well laid long before they come into the public domain.
"This gives local residents no time to prepare a defence, and propose other options.
"If any of the above applies to you there is a lot you can do to give yourself the best chance of success should you find that your favourite piece of open space is intended for housing development.
"For example, if you can, get to know the area really well, who owns it, who rents it maybe, who uses and for what, who else lives close by and values it as you do, what if any, agricultural value does it have, what essential services run through it for example water, sewerage, gas, electricity, telecommunications and the like, who currently cares for it, what are the characteristics of the ecology of the area (newts, bats, badgers, special plant types), and archaeological/heritage aspects of the site.
Get together with like minds to share knowledge and ideas.
"Let NAG know too as we want to liaise with and help local people and other groups."
Further information here https://nailseaactiongroup.org.uk/contact-us.

What Nailsea People has to say on its Facebook page...

James Steel posted on the Nailsea People Facebook page: 'The head of planning at Nailsea Town Council who you quote in this article knew of this sale well before the auction so I would say the statement that they were ‘unaware’ is incorrect. I know because I personally discussed it with him and he said the town council should try and buy it. We first discussed it on the 2nd June and the auction was the 29th June so the Town Council had pretty much 4 weeks to act. Not sure why they didn’t attempt to do so with £4m in the coffers. My question would be if the new ‘owners’ could legally bring in parking charges / permits on the roads they now own as the land they’ve bought would be hard to develop on due to the small size of each.'
Nailsea People replied: 'Perhaps it is because North Somerset Council did act and offered £5k, only to be refused. Awful lots of Nailsea plots to buy, it is horrendous and had to write this as no one else seemed as concerned. We don't know who new owner is. Nailsea People was unaware of any conversation you had with Rod but surely someone would have alerted the householders living adjacent to the plots?'

Tom Cook said: 'Is it just the area in that map? What about the huge green areas around Greenslade Gardens, Nightingale Gardens and Cricketfield Green, I'd worry if they where in someone's hands.plenty of room for house on those areas.'

Jon Stubley said: 'Someone - presumably one of the councils? - bought and planted all those trees on the verges along Queens Road about 15-20 years ago. Did they get permission to do that from Federated Homes? Who now owns those trees, if they were paid for with ratepayers' money?'
Geoff Connock said: 'Having read the full article, I’m interested in a comment about the February 2021 proposed 'land grab' in Nailsea. The planners (presumably NSC planners) turned down this application essentially on the grounds that it was a recreational space and 'no mitigation or replacement for this had been proposed'. Is this the same issue that so many people have raised about NSC’s own land at The Uplands, but where NSC have granted themselves permission for development? Or have I got matters mixed up here. Can someone please advise?'

Roger Smallshaw said: 'Not surprised that NSC didn't know what was going on and why the correct procedure wasn't followed back in the day; nothing appears to have changed! I've had two battles with the council, each lasting about 2 years, before the council finally accepted responsibility and liability for damage to part of the wall that appears in all your photos. The last 'debate' concluded in 2015. At that time they seemed to believe that the land on Queen's Road side of the wall to the middle of the road belonged to the house owner but said landowner would only be allowed to cut the grass and the rough stuff but not touch the trees which belonged to the council. Crazy logic or crass stupidity?'

Julia Tutton said: 'Rights of passage and/or access? Does anyone have proof and evidence of unfettered access of at least 22years ( I believe this rule is still valid?) Doubtless they just want either council to buy the land at best possible price?'

Debbie Anne said: 'Well I've found out the land was bought by a company in London and they have already sold it on.'

Jane Woodhouse said: 'The roads (and I suspect the verges, I can't see from the highway records) are adopted, so regardless of who owns them, there are highway rights which need to be quashed first, and that is very difficult to do. They will not be able to charge people for using them or parking on them. If the roads are adopted they are under the jurisdiction of North Somerset Council, it doesn't matter who owns them, North Somerset is in charge, so nope, private landowners can't charge for their use as it stands.'

Auction house sells Nailsea grass verges

Concerns are being raised over small plots of land including roadside grass verges being sold off in Nailsea to the highest bidder.

Before this happened, it was wrongly believed the freehold of the separate parcels totalling approximately 4.1 acres was under the ownership of North Somerset Council.

Similar Federated Homes plots were sold by the receiver in Horsham, Sussex.

All the plots were marketed by Auction House London and described as having 'potential for a variety of uses (subject to obtaining all relevant consents)'.

There was no obligation to tell neighbours or district and town councils of the sale.

North Somerset Council had been maintaining the open spaces that were sold for many years.

The council offered to buy at the reserve price of £5,000 which was refused and an unknown purchaser bid at the auction £42,000 and snapped up the lot.

A North Somerset Council spokesman said: “We have been maintaining the land, including grass cutting without payment for many years.

“We don’t know why these transfers did not take place.”

Town councillors were only told after the sale had gone through and are waiting for details from the land registry to find out who bought it!

The auction house noted on the sale details ‘purchasers are deemed to rely on their own enquiries with regard to any possible development potential for this individual plot. All or part of this Lot may comprise adopted highway. All interested Buyers should rely on their own enquiries with the local authority’.

On top of a buyer’s premium of £900 the auctioneers charged an admin fee of £1,200.

Nailsea Town Council planning chairman Rod Lees said this was all a relic from the 60s, 70s and 80s when most of the housing in Nailsea was built.

He said: “Once the housebuilder had transferred the freehold of a plot to a new house owner, the rest of the land including roads and open spaces, was under a legal agreement contained in the planning permission to be transferred to the then local authority Woodspring District Council.

“The housebuilder was always anxious to transfer the roads to the local authority service so that they could relinquish all maintenance obligations.

“As for any open space which could be extremely small, for example land at the rear of curbs to walls or fences, this was often forgotten once the builders had left site and there are many of these scattered all over the town."

In February 2021 another space in Nailsea which neighbours thought was a play area for their children was ‘grabbed’ for development.

Happily the planners saw sense and refused the application saying 'The proposed development would result in the complete loss of an area of open space which is an undesignated green space and is a community facility that makes a worthwhile contribution to the local open space and recreational use and the townscape of the area and no mitigation or replacement for this has been proposed' and was contrary to its core strategy policy. The original story is reprinted below and click HERE to read more on North Somerset planning site.

Town councillor Jan Barber who served for many years on the district council tried to sort the mess during her time at Weston town hall.

However, she was told by officers it would take 20 years to sort and since then no one has taken up the cudgels.

The problem is that original developers have either gone bankrupt or been taken over by much bigger property companies and it is a nightmare in 2022 to find out who owns what, said Mrs Barber.

SOLD by

WE PLOUGH THE FIELDS: And build everywhere. At Taylor Wimpey site at Netherton Grange the new householders put their bins out for collection and other homes display 'sold' signs, at Parish Brook the Barratt Homes site off Engine Lane we see the roofs going on the timber-framed houses and on Tuesday morning, August 16, work began on the chalet bungalows off The Perrings next to what was the children's play area

Local plan another consultation looming

North Somerset Council has completed a summary of the latest Local Plan consultation responses.

The consultation on the Local Plan 2038: Preferred Options commenced on March 14 this year and ran for six weeks until the end of April 2022.

There were 739 respondents to the consultation with a total of 4,227 comments.

Surprised to read that that some believe the ‘importance of Nailsea & Backwell railway station is grossly exaggerated’ and not surprised that Nailsea Town Council has 'concerns around the practical issues for the delivery of the transport hub at the station'.

The term ‘affordable housing’ is mentioned but no actual definition what that means in momentary terms.

All comments are available to view on the online consultation system by clicking HERE.

North Somerset Council is aiming to finalise a pre-submission version of the plan by the end of the year and then we get another consultation.

Here is what Nailsea and Backwell people had to say in the summary:

LP3 Nailsea and Backwell:

A total of 301 comments were received in relation to this policy. 241 objections, 40 support with amendments, 20 support. A key concern is around the scale of proposed growth and the impact this will have on existing infrastructure, character and identify of the village. In this respect greater concern appears to focus on Backwell rather than Nailsea. Key concerns centre on traffic impact both in terms of existing situation and the need to deliver new infrastructure. In addition, wider concerns around impacts on wildlife, agricultural land, landscape quality, and flood risk. Some responses question the justification for proposed release of land within the Green Belt. Key focus on the importance of infrastructure, notably transport infrastructure and its deliverability. Some comments consider the lack of information at this stage to support the growth proposals. Despite a majority objection to the proposals, there is some support and recognition of the need for growth at a smaller scale, and for smaller units to meet local needs.

LP10 Transport infrastructure:

Allocations and safeguarding. A total of 80 comments were received in relation to this policy. 28 objections, 43 support with amendments, 9 support. A number of respondents raised concern around the lack of detail on transport schemes associated with new growth areas, particularly at Nailsea and Backwell. There was some support for prioritisation of active travel and public transport, although some concerns around the practical issues for the delivery of the transport hub at Nailsea station. Comments on requirements or clarifications for specific schemes including J21 relief road, enhanced J21, and a connection between the M5 and Nailsea. Concern around existing parts of the network including the A370, particularly around the Congresbury area, Portbury and Tickenham.

DP50, 51 and 52 mentions ‘… the deficit of leisure provision at Nailsea and the fact that exiting facilities are dated and inadequate. It was felt that he a site should be safeguarded for new leisure provision in Nailsea based on the number of new homes being proposed. It was felt that the open space around Backwell should be recognised as an important leisure facility with access to open space helping people’s wellbeing and mental health’.

Backwell Parish Council:

• The overwhelming majority of residents consider the Preferred Options proposals would be a disaster for Backwell. Responses in this consultation reflect our request that the proposed housing allocations are reconsidered. New development should be redistributed to some of the other locations that are much more sustainable and better matched to North Somerset Council policies. • Proposed allocations are of an excessive scale – disproportionate to the size of the village resulting in a 60% increase. • Inconsistent treatment of Backwell in the Local Plan. In some policies/documents it is referred to as a village and in others as an urban area combined with Nailsea. There is also inconsistency regarding potential employment allocation at Nailsea/Backwell and its future location. • No evidence to justify removing land from the Green Belt east of Backwell – the plan needs to consider urban locations first in line with the spatial strategy such as Clevedon, Portishead, Ashton Vale, Pill or north Nailsea. • The loss of Grade 1 agricultural land at Backwell would be significant. • Removal of land from the Green Belt could lead to urban sprawl between Backwell and Flax Bourton. • Transport solutions and proposals are very vague and general. No specific deliverable schemes are set out. • The importance of Backwell railway station is grossly exaggerated. The station is currently inadequate (poor access, short platforms, plans for electrification, overcrowding and significant numbers of fast trains passing through (making any increase in services difficult/impossible). Therefore, new residents will be driving to work increasing traffic on the A370 including the A370 crossroad and station road which your document states should not be made even worse than they are now. • The document does not describe where the new primary school would be in Backwell in relation to our existing schools. There are many complex issues about changing secondary school provision and this is not detailed adequately. • Impact on wildlife will be significant for example the Special Area of Conservation and Sites of Special Scientific Interest for our Horseshoe Bats which are known to use the fields in Grove Farm as a major foraging area for the maternity colony present in Brockley.

NON IMPORTANT: Some of the responses seem as contrary as the upside down artwork at Nailsea & Backwell railway station

Nailsea Town Council

• The planned location for development on land south of Nailsea is unsustainable with poor infrastructure including road, public transport and facilities for example leisure and sports provision. The locations are set away from the existing town centre and will disproportionately impact on the residents of the town by placing pressure on the existing highway network and facilities. This land is also considered important, attractive and both agriculturally and environmentally significant, particularly in terms of bat habitats. • Unclear in both policy SP9 and LP3 where the 8.1 hectares of proposed employment land is likely to be for Nailsea and Backwell. Development of the land 40 to the North of Nailsea will create opportunity to enhance the Southfield Road industrial estate and enable the redevelopment of Coates Yard, providing more sustainable jobs for the town. • Further development of Nailsea can only realistically be considered with the introduction of additional highways infrastructure. Lack of detail about what this will be. Investment is also needed in the bus services and train station to make them affordable, reliable and attractive options. • Land to the North East of Nailsea within the Parish of Wraxall is better suited for taking out of the Green Belt and will allow for more sustainable development to take place in a location closer to the town’s amenities including jobs, schools and retail. We strongly urge North Somerset Council to re-consider this sustainable location. • Supportive of the extension to the Green Belt to the south of Nailsea to prevent the merger of Nailsea and Backwell and any further encroachment into the countryside. • Concern about the reference to Nailsea and Backwell continually throughout the Local Plan. These two locations have completely separate identities which must be protected. Each settlement has its own distinct issues which require solutions. • North Somerset Council needs to lead the way with its commitment to support zero-carbon development and local policy must insist that any new development adopts the highest possible principles of low carbon or even carbon neutral development. • Within schedule 4 there is no provision/location whatsoever for a new primary, secondary and special educational needs school within Nailsea, nor is there any provision for additional leisure facilities which are very much needed in the town and are referred to in policy LP3. • Policy DP15: Active Travel Routes: Festival Way linking Bristol to Nailsea is further extended to the West of Millennium Park towards Clevedon and then on towards Weston-super-Mare in line with the plans being developed by Sustrans. The drove road running between Nailsea and Clevedon should be opened to the public to provide safe off road access between the two towns for both pedestrians and walkers. • Nailsea Town Council is supportive of the policy to ensure that no more than 20% of proposed major development schemes in the town are for dwellings of four or more bedrooms.

This will be the final version of the plan to be consulted on before the plan is submitted for examination.

ON TRACK: Green fields and farmland forfeited for new homes

New publican needed

The tenancy of the Ring O'Bells in Nailsea is up for sale on Find My Pub.

Offered at an annual rent of £36,000 it describes it as a ‘traditional village pub located in the affluent area of Nailsea’ which should please the neighbours.

The advertisement goes on to add it is ‘home to Nailsea Folk Club and several skittles teams’ and ‘the landlords are looking for an experienced catering-minded publican to take this pub to the next level’.

It was in the summer of 2019 the Ring O'Bells pub saw former landlords Kev and Di Mildon coming home to run the St Mary's Grove pub in a joint venture with regulars Liz and James Harding.

And it was Kev and Di’s daughter Rebecca Williams, mum of two small boys who took up the day-to-day running as manager.

Beccy said: “We are leaving in November.

“Someone else is joining but business is as usual until then.”

New faces behind bar

The Ring O’Bells isn’t the only Nailsea pub to be under new management in a revolving doors of the past 12-months Moorend Spout currently closed for renovations, Royal Oak and Sawyers Arms have all seen new faces in charge due to people moving on or retiring.

Parts of the Ringers date back to the early 19th century but it is a large building with living accommodation upstairs.

The bar area has seen many changes and serving food and functions is a big part of its business now.

Even the skittle alley doubles as place to host parties, christenings and even wedding receptions.

Then there is a large beer garden currently covered in a massive awning, children’s play area, floodlit petanque pistes and 25-space car park.

Ringers is the home of weekly quizzes and bingo, paint parties and live bands.

It is where Nailsea International Bike Show is held along with the apple fest and wassailing ceremonies plus it is renown for hosting charity events and during lockdown for making gallons of tomato soup for Nailsea Community Group volunteers to distribute.

See more HERE on the Find My Pub website.

TO LET: Various sized office spaces to let in self-contained unit on busy trading estate in Nailsea. Rental terms and rates to be negotiated. Low energy usage inclusive upon review and included with shared Wi-Fi, welfare facilities and storage if required. Located close to town centre and approximately four miles from junction 20 of the M5 via the B3130. Contact Lee White via Facebook

Plans to demolish petrol station

The petrol station next to Nailsea & Backwell railway station is to be demolished if a planning application for seven new homes gets the go-ahead.

The scheme by WH Architects would see a range of buildings on the land next to the railway station, in Station Road, Backwell.

But Backwell Residents Association isn’t totally happy with the plan.

It said: “Overall we consider this is an acceptable and sensible re-use of this site.

“However -we consider it potentially provides an excellent opportunity to adjust the site boundary with the railway and station - to enable essential crucially important upgrading works to the station and its inadequate access (especially for people with disabilities).

“We propose North Somerset Council should liaise with the site owners to work with the railway authorities to adjust the application site plan to allow such works to be carried out.”

Currently home to Backwell Motors assurances have been given the garage workshop will stay along with the equine business.

The application says: “The car repair workshops to the rear of the site are large and underused following the relocation of the spray-painting work to an offsite facility.

"It is proposed that the activities that currently take place within the small workshop at the front of the site are relocated into the main warehouse building.

"It is proposed that Equicraft, a specialist horse equipment and supplies shop is to relocate to the rear of the site in a purpose built, single storey building.

"Scattered in the rear of the site are various storage containers and small outbuildings. It is proposed that these are removed and replaced with a new single storey building to the rear of the existing workshop."

In the area near the Station Road access, however, buildings - including the petrol station - would be demolished for the homes.

"The petrol station site and residential accommodation above will be demolished and seven, two- and three-bedroom houses with associated parking, cycle and bin storage are proposed at the front of the site," the application adds.

"This will greatly improve the street scene."

The new homes will be 'highly sustainable', the plan says, being insulated to modern standards, having a high degree air-tightness and minimal requirement for heating.

However, given proximity to the train track a 31-page noise and vibration assessment by Acoustic Consultants Ltd has been carried out which concludes ‘with a suitably designed scheme, both noise and vibration will not adversely affect the proposed dwellings on the site and the development achieves the aims of the National Planning Policy Framework’.

For more details and to comment click HERE.

Backwell resident Will Hellier said: “Sad, but as a brownfield site I’m sure it will sail through planning.

“I can only imagine the retail of the business is no longer tenable.

“With three mini-markets in the village, Tesco and Tout’s up the road it is probably inevitable.

“I feel for the less mobile, especially those in the two nearly estates who reply daily on the garage shop.”

PHOTO: Top drawing of how the homes, on the site in Station Road, Backwell, could look WH Architects and a current view of the garage and shop

Phase 2 build for Taylor Wimpey

Taylor Wimpey has submitted plans for the second phase of its Youngwood Lane major development.

This is part of the 450 homes with access roads, footways/cycleways, infrastructure works and associated community infrastructure including open space and landscaping at land north Of Youngwood Lane and east of Netherton Wood Lane Nailsea

Its press advertisement says:

'22/P/1558/RM - Reserved matters application for access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale for the erection of 217 no .dwellings pursuant to outline planning permission 16/P/1677/OT2 (Outline planning permission including an Environmental Impact Assessment for residential and related development comprising the erection of up to 450 dwellings, means of access thereto, access roads, footways/cycleways, infrastructure works and associated community infrastructure including open space and landscaping. All matters reserved with the exception of the main site access point) on land north of Youngwood Lane And East Of Netherton Wood Lane, Nailsea.'

Read the 52 accompanying documents by clicking HERE.

The application has one lone public comment so far saying 'Please turn down this development. We do not need more concrete and destruction of our valuable habitat and countryside. Simply not sustainable, it's contributing to global warming as demonstrated recently by the high temperatures. The character of North Somerset is being destroyed at an alarming rate - think has been ample house building in the county , the majority of which is unaffordable. Time to stop before no countryside left to ruin.'

Nailsea floodplain 2030

year_2030_return_level_1_ssp3rcp70_p50_contiguous_ipcc_2021_med.jpeg

CLIMATE CENTRAL: Predictions for floodplains in less than a decade, produced by an independent group of scientists and communicators who research and report the facts about our changing climate and how it affects people's lives

Planning strategy

Nailsea Action Group (NAG) isn't about stopping all new houses being built in the town it is about building homes for need with supporting infrastructure on the best available sites.
Formed in November 2015 its latest mailshot details the state-of-play and how we got to this situation of potentially being surrounded by construction sites.
It says: 'The attempt to deter Nailsea Town Council from developing the land to the west of Engine Lane, which was the initial focus of our activities, was not, as you obviously know, successful.
'As forecast, the Engine Lane build seems to have opened the floodgates to significant speculative and successful planning applications.
'These are chiefly the Taylor Wimpey development on Netherton Wood Lane, the dubious and vigorously opposed appropriation of the land behind The Uplands for housing, the prospective build at the top of The Perrings, and the proposal to make the land east of the Taylor Wimpey site available for up to 600 houses.
'It is clear that there is probably no area of open green space in Nailsea that is safe from planning applications.
'As North Somerset Council has been given a very challenging target for more houses by the government, especially in the light of NSC not having an underwritten five year supply, it is likely that every available planning application will be encouraged and subsequently approved.
'As a proactive response to this, Nailsea Action Group is looking to extend and expand its activities to the whole town, to increase its supporters’ list, to raise its profile and to raise money effectively to oppose those plans that are clearly not in the public interest of the people already living here.
'At the same time NAG will support the need for more houses in Nailsea, but only where it makes sense to put them such as on brownfield sites, underused or disused industrial premises, long vacant and nearly derelict properties such as those around the Library in the precinct, or areas of scrub that do not even have an ecological value to the community.
'Accordingly, we have re-written our statement of purpose and position which, with seven aspirations.
'To achieve these we have a plan to become more effective by recruiting more active and other supporters.
'So we ask for your help whether by joining the core group, or giving some time to our work, and/or telling your friends and acquaintances further afield in Nailsea whom you think might be interested in our work, to become supporters.
'We plan a modest annual subscription as proposed from the floor at the last two NAG annual meetings.
'For this, supporters would receive regular newsletters, updates and meetings.
'Hopefully NAG would be able to build up a fighting fund to be more effective in pursuing its aims and aspirations.

Learn more here https://nailseaactiongroup.org.uk/.

Nailsea Action Group (N.A.G.) was established at the end of 2015 originally to promote and protect Nailsea’s rural setting particular at its interface with the countryside around it.
Since then its objectives have broadened into campaigning that, if and when the planned additional 3,000+ homes (1,781 in Nailsea and 1,120 in Backwell) are built in and around the town:

there will be sufficient appropriate and sustainable infrastructure to support them, that the working, living and ecological environment is not only protected but enhanced, and that there is access to green spaces (especially where much may disappear) to maintain not least the quality of the air we breathe, but also for the benefit of physical and psychological health; and
they will not be built where it is clear that climate change will seriously impact on their viability such as in north-west Nailsea (See the revised Nailsea district map for the land projected to be below annual flood levels in 2030 which covers all the area in north-west Nailsea proposed for the development of some 600 dwellings).

NAG supports Nailsea Town Council’s (NTC) wish for an integrated ‘masterplan’ for Nailsea’s future. This would include its aim to:

re-balance the age distribution of the town’s population;
utilise long vacated modern buildings in the town centre currently owned by Weston College;
seek the development of the long-derelict brownfield Coates site.

NAG would support the creation of a Nailsea Neighbourhood Plan, and an approach to planning that focusses on sustainable development which enhances the rural and urban environments of the town and community for the future.
NAG supports the Town Council in its quest for a good proportion of ‘affordable’ homes to be built. However, NAG questions their genuine affordability for the residents who want or need them. The almost adjacent areas of land off Engine Lane, Youngwood Lane and The Uplands are now being developed for house building. In the spirit of its founding principles, N.A.G. is concerned at the prospect of the total loss of a significant area of open green space in the south-west quarter of the town.

Aspirations

NAG will seek to become an overarching/umbrella organisation that co-ordinates Nailsea-wide concerns over the future of its green spaces, and strives to contextualise and, where relevant, prevent their loss.
NAG will become a lead player in the local area campaigning for infrastructure, roads, public transport and communication that matches the needs of a growing resident population and any incoming employers to increasing job opportunities.
NAG will seek to promote environmental strategies that diminish waste and pollution of all kinds.
NAG will seek to promote plans to enhance mental and physical well-being not least via the three previous aspirations.
NAG will seek to become a hub for the exchange of information on the matters outlined above.
NAG will recruit a legal adviser.
NAG will establish closer links to, regular contact with and better understanding of the relevance England (CPRE), the Backwell Residents’ Association (BRA), Claverham Residents’ Action Group (CRAG), Tickenham Road Action Group (TRAG), the defenders of Netcott’s Meadow, and the Morgans Hill Protection Association (MHPA).
NAG will be producing a leaflet summarising much of the above that can be used for publicity and recruitment, and these are our bank details to which to make a donation if you feel able to Lloyds, sort code 30-98-97, account no. 61888063.

The good life in Nailsea

A beautiful big 1920s house in one of the best private locations in 'old' Nailsea is up for sale.
With five double bedrooms, two bathrooms, Shaker style fitted kitchen-diner this home oozes character indoors and outdoors.
The mature gardens consists of formal flower garden and separate vegetable plots.
And set among distinctive Lutyens inspired listed cottages from the upper floors you get a panoramic viewbeyond Nailsea to the coast and mountains of Wales.
Classic panelled doors, storage galore, bay window in the sitting rooms it is a house of space and taste.
The access is good, and the drive provides plenty of parking with a broad gravelled forecourt arriving at a large detached garage.
Hensons say the freehold property with a guide price of £695,000-750,000 was attracting interest within hours of going on the market.
To learn more and download a brochure go to http://www.hbe.co.uk/properties-for-sale/property/10597066-mayfair-avenue-nailsea or call 01275 810030.

SOLD

For sale 94 High Street with ghost in residence

A haunted Victorian cottage in Nailsea High Street is up for sale.
Hunter Leahy estate agents has set a guide price of £225,000 for the property which up until earlier this year was used as a hairdressers.
It was in February director Michael Pearce retired and announced he would be selling what was then Michael's Hair Design either as a business or for conversion back into a family home.
Then customer Yvonne Webbs revealed on the Nailsea People Facebook page that back in the 1980-90s swapping ghost stories while having a hair-do was part of the salon chatter with many saying they saw an apparition but in different guises.

Spookily it does have a 'sealed' room on the first floor.
The estate agents blurb says 'a very rare opportunity to acquire this delightful cottage situated in central Nailsea. Originally used as a business the accommodation could be altered to create a two or three bedroom home. The rooms have been listed as 'proposed' with a vision for possible future use and would be subject to necessary planning consents. Properties of this type are very rare to the housing market and therefore interest is likely to be very high. We have been advised by the sellers that residential planning permission has already been applied for.'
The cottage comes with a 'flying freehold' which means either the dividing line between the two adjacent properties isn’t straight down the middle or other shared scenarios.
You can read more about the history on our BMD page HERE.
You can read more about the property HERE.

Rent that empty property advice forum

Landlords and owners of empty homes in North Somerset are being invited to a free event on Tuesday 12 July to find out more about help and incentives on offer to help local families to find a home.

The drop-in event, which is open to anyone including those thinking about becoming a landlord, takes place from 8.30am until 1.30pm at Stable Games Room, 129 High Street, Weston-super-Mare.

North Somerset Council’s lettings team will be on hand to discuss the free lettings service they provide to landlords, including information on the incentives on offer to help home a family in the area.

The team can also help with health and safety assessments, advice on tenancy issues, and provide information about grants and loans available to help get a property ready to let.

Average rents in North Somerset are way above the Local Housing Allowance. This is the amount set by central government for support with rent costs for those on a lower income.

North Somerset Council deputy leader and executive member for housing Mike Bell is the Lib Dem ward councillor for Weston Central Ward.

He said: “The cost of living crisis is having a real impact on hard-working families.

"This, combined with house prices at a record high, means many are simply being priced out of the market.

"Home ownership is out of reach for many, resulting in overwhelming demand for rental housing which far outstrips available accommodation.

"I’m proud that we’re taking action to help those in need to find good quality, safe and affordable homes for a fairer North Somerset.”

Also at the event will be:

The Department for Work and Pensions to give information about Universal Credit;
Citizens Advice;

West Country Savings and Loans;
The Centre for Sustainable Energy;
Lendology; and
North Somerset Council housing standards team.

For more information, contact the lettings team on 01934 426483, email lettingsteam@n-somerset.gov.uk at or visit www.n-somerset.gov.uk/landlordincentivescheme.

Planning application Miss Shepstone's field

Turning into Trendlewood Way from Station Road this will be the new streetscape.

The trees are staying but a line of houses with be next to the road too.

A detailed planning application to build 24 homes on what was Miss Shepstone’s land off Trendlewood Way has gone to North Somerset Council.

The proposal is for a mix of high quality one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom homes and includes four dwellings with enhanced accessibility for people with disabilities.

A press advert says it will affect the public right of way but this isn’t being moved. You can find the full application with 53 documents by clicking HERE.

The design for Acorn Property Group keeps the existing woodland on the northwest of the one plus hectares which is says ‘will be retained undisturbed but will be cleared of accumulated man-made debris including corrugated iron and general litter’.

The disused bunker will be protected, with the entrance enclosed by a suitable open grille to allow bat access but prevent human disturbance.

Nailsea Town Council highways and planning committee recommended approval for 24 houses to be built on the field in February 2019.

And North Somerset Council gave outline permission that year.

Its designation for ‘community use’ was removed by the district council in a strategic planning review making the scrubland a prime development site.

This tied the hands of town councillors as no valid reason for recommending refusal could be found.

Landowners Brunelcare and St Peter's Hospice were bequeathed the field in Miss Shepstone's will but it is widely her intention was it should not be built on but benefit local people.

Previous plans had included a community shop/building but this was removed by the developer for ‘economic’ reasons.

Five years ago, then local vicar Steve Tilley put in a plea for a community building which featured on the January 2017 front page of Nailsea People - you can read his words in our archives.

Country life

Mactaggart & Mickel has its eyes on more green fields in North Somerset green field.

Mactaggart & Mickel’s southwest England strategic land team - the developers behind the Taylor Wimpy site in Nailsea - want to build on 183-acres of countryside twixt the villages of Backwell and Flax Bourton.

It says: “The site includes land which is being proposed for release from the protected Avon Green Belt and earmarked for residential development with the creation of 500 new homes, as detailed in the ‘preferred options’ of the draft North Somerset Local Plan 2038’.

One theory behind this is it will allow a new road to be built joining the A370 to Nailsea going behind Backwell School thus bypassing Station Road and the narrow railway bridge and giving another route to commuter traffic.

Nailsea People know that one district councillor was actively promoting moving the railway station to Flax Bourton where no trains have stopped there since 1964.

This idea seems to have fallen by the wayside and the abandoned station is currently covered in overgrowth.

The site being promoting by Mactaggart & Mickel is made up of three extensive land parcels, and located just five miles south-west of Bristol, close to Nailsea & Backwell railway station and on the strategically important A370 corridor.

The deal will see Mactaggart & Mickel promote the greenfield site on behalf of the landowners via the emerging Local Plan with an extensive programme of stakeholder engagement and community consultation.

The Local Plan 2038, which was recently out for consultation (closing in April 2022), has identified around 15.6 hectares of the site as part of a wider, draft ‘east of Backwell’ allocation for around 500 homes alongside employment land and other community facilities.

Further public consultation is currently expected later this year before the Local Plan is considered for adoption likely during the course of next year.

Mactaggart & Mickel strategic land manager Michael Gooch said: “Bristol and North Somerset face a considerable housing supply challenge, and the site is well placed to provide a mixed-use scheme that can help meet the housing needs of both.

“It is close to existing community facilities and transport links serving Bristol and the surrounding area.

“There is also considerable scope within the site to provide new public facilities, as well as connectivity enhancements and biodiversity net gain.

“Building upon the success of the proposed allocation and given the housing shortfall in the emerging Local Plan, we will continue to promote other parts of the site with a view to delivering a new neighbourhood for the area that balances the need for homes and infrastructure with quality community spaces and new landscaping.

“It’s very exciting to be involved with promoting a greenfield site of this scale in a key strategic location. I’d like to thank all colleagues involved with securing the deal.”

No longer to plough the fields and scatter

Farleigh Fields in Backwell is to be lost to housing forever.

Villagers have lost their decades-long battle to protect a much loved green lung in Backwell from being built on.

Persimmon Homes Severn Valley has won permission at appeal to build 125 homes at Farleigh Fields in the centre of the village.

A public inquiry was held in March this year after North Somerset Council rejected the plans and Persimmon appealed.

The inquiry stretched over eight days with North Somerset Council appointing a barrister to fight the appeal and Backwell Parish Council, Backwell Residents Association and Backwell Resistance speaking at the inquiry.

More than 450 villagers formally objected to the application saying it was against the local plan and would damage the character of the village.

Other concerns raised included the loss of the agricultural land, drainage and flooding issues and traffic and safety concerns.

A North Somerset Council spokesman said: “The council refused planning permission for 125 houses on land at Farleigh Fields on 15 March 2021.

“The developer (Persimmon Homes) appealed against the refusal and a seven day public inquiry was held in March.

“The inspector issued her decision on Wednesday, June 22, and allowed the appeal.”

Developers have long been trying to build on Farleigh Fields - a much loved green space in the village.

Developer Charles Church Severn Valley - part of Persimmon Homes - previously put in plans to build 200 homes on the site.

But this was thrown out by a Government inspector in 2018 following a public inquiry.

The inquiry came after North Somerset Council refused the plans, prompting developers to appeal.

An inspector upheld the appeal and the matter then referred to the Secretary of State.

At the time, the parish council, supported by the residents association, paid for a specialist planning lawyer to speak at the inquiry. More than 400 letters of objection were received against the scheme and more than 20 villagers spoke at the inquiry.

In 1984 CH Beezer Homes also put forward plans for 250 homes on the eastern part of the site. But this was refused by the then Woodspring District Council who said the development would have an adverse effect on Backwell.

The developers appealed and lost and the matter was then referred to the Secretary of State who ruled the agricultural potential of the site should be protected.

Developers also put forward plans to build 150 homes on the site in 2000, but these too were thrown out.

Il y a une maison à louer ou à acheter

Council owned garages at French Close, Nailsea, are to be knocked down to build flats.

The 19 garages are owned by North Somerset Council have been rented to residents living in the area.

Now a community-based social housing group is to develop the site for four two-bed properties to let or buy.

Alliance Homes held a site meeting back in February 2022 to discuss its proposals.to talk to interested neighbours.Spokesman Eve Hughes said at the site meeting: “Our scheme has been designed to support and develop the area and careful landscape planning has been included.

And she assured neighbours that once building work begins measures to negate ‘noise and disruption’ would be in place.

Alliance Homes own and manage approximately 6,500 homes and employ 500 staff in the West of England and has an annual turnover of £43 million working in partnership with local, regional and national agencies.

The development sits on the end of French Close where it abuts with Friendship Close.

Des Res Hobbs Backwell family home for sale £5m

When Backwell House closed abruptly at the end of March 2022 it left a lot of people in shock not less those who had booked special celebrations at the upmarket hotel and restaurant including a few very disappointed bridal couples.
Most of Nailsea and nearby had enjoyed dining out at the venue but sometimes with staff issues and the stop/go of Covid restriction the service/presentation wasn't always constant.
But moving on the property is now on the market at a cool £4,950,000 which it is £2 million less than the original price muted.
For this you would get a fine Grade II listed Georgian house dating back to 1813.
Built by Thomas Keedwell from traditional Bath stone this was the Hobbs family home for many generations before it became in 2016 a boutique country house hotel.
With nine en suite bedrooms, six reception rooms it sites in 15 acres and comes with two next door cottages, one detached house, coach house and numerous outbuildings.
It has stunning views across the open countryside and its location offers the rare combination of privacy and convenience being a stone's throw from south west Bristol.
The estate agent lists all the private schools in the area with sadly not a mention of the highly rated Backwell School!
We imagine the upkeep will be fairly costly but you can get more details HERE.
In better times you can read the feature Nailsea People wrote HERE.

Houses that no-one in Nailsea wanted

The opposition to building on part of The Uplands at Nailsea was fierce as most locals thought it was recreational land and now it is even worse as more houses than first planned are to be built.
Despite the protests North Somerset Council had others ideas and has announced it has taken another step forward in 'the delivery of a flagship new site for high quality, highly sustainable and affordable homes'.
The week North Somerset Council executive agreed that Stonewood Partnerships would be its development partner for council-owned land.
Councilors on the executive, none of whom represent Nailsea, heard that discussions during the selection process had enabled the amount of affordable housing to be delivered at the site to increase from 30 per cent to 40 per cent.
Stonewood Partnerships are a small but growing developer with a focus on 'Distinctive New Homes'.
In delivering the site, they have committed to working with the existing design team led by Mikhail Riches Architects, winners of the 2019 RIBA Stirling Prize for Architecture.
Stonewood’s bid confirmed that they would meet the sustainability criteria required by the council, which includes that all homes will be Passivhaus certified and that electric vehicle charging will be provided to all homes.
North Somerset executive member for placemaking and economy Mark Canniford is the Lib Dem councillor for Weston Hillside ward.

He said: "We’re delighted to be working with Stonewood Partnerships. "Their bid demonstrated a strong commitment to quality and they are embracing the sustainability and new technologies that are to be embedded in the scheme.
"We look forward to seeing the homes delivered on site.
"The additional affordable housing is a real bonus and shows how we are committed to the delivery of homes to meet the needs of our local communities."
Stonewood Partnerships land and planning director James Petherick said: "We are very pleased to have been awarded this contract and very much look forward to working with North Somerset Council to bring this exciting development forward.
"Building truly sustainable, distinctively designed and high quality homes is central to our business and Uplands will be a flagship scheme for us."
Work at the site is expected to start by the end of 2022, with the scheme completing in 2024.

Developers go for green belt

Remember these people, Mactaggart & Mickel, who came to Nailsea and gave a very swish presentation on developing Youngwood Lane and then somehow or other the housebuilders became Taylor Wimpey?

This is when they gave the impression like the website intro says ‘Mactaggart and Mickel are an award-winning, family-owned home builder who have been hand-crafting luxury homes since 1925’ which made us think we were getting something special.

Well now their south west strategic land team has entered into an agreement to promote 183 acres at Backwell and Flax Bourton in North Somerset.

The site includes land which is being proposed for release from the protected Avon Green Belt and earmarked for residential development with the creation of 500 homes, is reported on Insider Media here shorturl.at/hsNW7.

Written by Matthew Ord it says: "The deal will see Mactaggart & Mickel promote the greenfield site on behalf of the landowners via the emerging Local Plan, with an extensive programme of stakeholder engagement and community consultation."

Mactaggart & Mickel strategic land manager Michael Gooch told Insider Media: "Bristol and North Somerset face a considerable housing supply

challenge, and the site is well placed to provide a mixed-use scheme that can help meet the housing needs of both.

"It is close to existing community facilities and transport links serving Bristol and the surrounding area. There is also considerable scope within the site to provide new public facilities, as well as connectivity enhancements and biodiversity net gain.

"It's very exciting to be involved with promoting a greenfield site of this scale in a key strategic location. I'd like to thank all colleagues involved with securing the deal."

Nailsea People is unsure of the exact location of this site – please email nailseapeople@gmail.com if you know, thanks.

FLYING HIGH: Brandwells Construction managing director Chris Dowden shared with Nailsea People this aerial photograph. It was taken using a drone (he didn't sprout wings!) from the Barratt Homes building site at Engine Lane which gives an amazing view of the west side of Nailsea, the hills at Tickenham and is that the Bristol Channel beyond or just low level clouds? Chris who lives in Nailsea said his company are sub-contractors doing the groundworks for Barratt Homes. He said: "It's actually a panoramic shot made up of multiple photos stitched together by the drones own software. Very clever. It is a very good development."

Scouts build homes for wildlife

2nd Nailsea Scout Group have turned their hand to creating wildlife homes as part of a project in partnership with Barratt Homes’ Parish Brook development in Nailsea.

The youngsters will be installed in the Sales Centre and show home gardens when they open later this year.

The project reflects Barratt Homes’ commitment to building wildlife into new housing developments wherever possible.

The five star housebuilder has had an award winning partnership with the RSPB, the UK’s largest nature conservation charity.

Since 2014 it has made it their mission to improve the way in which nature and wildlife are incorporated into its new communities.

As well as traditional bird boxes and tables, other on-site initiatives include planting an average of 20 shrubs and trees for each home built – many of them bee friendly - and the installation of swift brick nesting boxes.

Group Scout Leader Ann Parker said: “This has been a great project for the Scouts – not only has it helped improve their carpentry skills, they have also learnt about some of the birds and other wildlife native to the area that will use the homes they have created.”

Barratt Homes Bristol sales director Andrea Pilgrim said: “It’s great that the community has been so enthusiastic about getting involved in this new development because we are very much about creating not just homes but a community.

"We have had great fun working with them and hope to collaborate on more projects in the future.”

Parish Brook, in Engine Lane, offers a range of two, three and four-bedroom homes suitable for first-time buyers, growing families and people looking to downsize.

The development has a dedicated public open space and a range of

sustainability measures including protected trees and hedgerows along with new meadow grassland and sustainable drainage ponds.

A dedicated cycle path connects the development with Engine Lane and the wider Sustrans cycle network.

To find out more about the homes available at Parish Brook please visit www.barratthomes.co.uk or call 0333 3558 490.

'Home from home' donation to CHSW

Barratt Homes has donated £1,000 to Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) as part of the leading housing developer’s Community Fund initiative.

The Barratt David Wilson Community Fund donates £1,000 to a deserving local cause in each of its three South West divisions every month.

For 30 years the hospice has been providing the necessary and loving care for children with life-limiting conditions by providing hospice and professional family support services across Bristol and the wider South West.

Described as a ‘home from home’ CHSW is the only children’s hospice in the south west and is providing care to more than 500 families across three locations in Wraxall, North Somerset; St Austell, Cornwall and Barnstaple, Devon.

Services are free of charge and are available 24 hours a day every day.

Barratt Homes Bristol sales director Andrea Pilgrim said: “Children’s Hospice South West carries out brilliant work supporting healthcare services and local families across the region and we hope that this donation will help those who benefit from their amazing work.

CHEQUE THIS: Barratt Homes marketing manager Victoria Heyes with CHSW corporate partnerships fundraiser Amanda Gallagher

CHSW corporate partnership fundraiser Amanda Gallagher said: “We are very grateful for this donation that helps us continue to support childrenand their families in the south west going through the most unimaginable of times.”

Barratt Homes has developments across the south west including Parish Brook in Nailsea, Royal View in North Petherton and Brue Place in Highbridge.

To find out more about visit barratthomes.co.uk or call 0333 3558 490.

Barratt Homes invest £400K+ building new community links

Barratt Homes is building one, two, three and four-bedroom homes at Parish Brook, on Nailsea’s Engine Lane.

Alongside a £1m plus investment into community facilities as part of the legal agreements with the local authority, Barratt has made a £400,000 contribution to the next door Nailsea and Backwell Rugby Football Club which is being used to help improve the club’s playing pitches, changing facilities and club house.

Additionally, the housebuilder has agreed a three-year sponsorship package for the rugby club’s junior teams with Nailsea & Backwell RFC under 5s to under 12s teams starting the new season with the Barratt logo on their shirts.

Nailsea & Backwell Rugby Football Club honorary treasurer Anthony Warren said: “We’re really excited to see work starting on the huge improvements to our pitches and facilities.

"The Barratt Homes team has been really helpful and supportive and it’s great to be working together as they start to build the new homes next door.

"We look forward to the possibility of welcoming new players and supporters from amongst our new neighbours as the community starts to take shape.”

The new community at Parish Brook will include a broad range of sustainability measures such as solar panels and electric car charge points on a range of the homes.The development will also include a dedicated public open space, child-friendly play areas and a broad range of wildlife protection and enhancements including a new meadow grassland, sustainable drainage ponds and protected trees and hedgerows.

A cycle path will connect the development with Engine Lane and the wider Sustrans cycle network.

Barratt Homes Bristol division, which covers the Nailsea area, sales director Andrea Pilgrim said: "It’s fantastic that works are now underway to create high quality new homes for Nailsea.

"Parish Brook offers a range of homes, catering for growing families to downsizers to first time buyers, right on the edge of the North Somerset countryside with supermarkets, high street shops and a school not far away.

"We’re delighted to be sponsoring the junior teams of the brilliant local rugby club – which will be another fantastic community facility for people living here.”

Parish Brook is just two miles’ from Nailsea & Backwell railway station and a hop and a leap to the M5 junction at Clevedon.

To find out more about new homes from Barratt Homes, visit www.barratthomes.co.uk

Topping tower block for Nailsea

The most exciting residential and commercial project to regenerate the western end of Nailsea shopping centre has gone to North Somerset Council planners.

It stands seven storey high if you include a below ground sub basement.

The hopes are it will transform this end of Somerset Square and replace the semi-derelict former health centre/Weston Collège building which has stood empty for eight years.

This will remove a blot on the Nailsea landscape and bring up to 40 low-cost up-to-date homes much needed by the town, say the developers.

As well as the towering building Wraxall businessman Paul O’Brien, of Developments Bristol, said he intends to submit a further planning application if the library is relocated to add an Aldi store and community hub to the 40 flats.

It will need the support of North Somerset Council and Praxis the owners of the shopping centre for another application for a larger site.

This is if the library is relocated then Nailsea could get the Aldi store and community hub.

Ian Thompson, of Thompson Commercial, said: “Aldi would be a great addition to Nailsea.

"We hope it will arrest the gradual decline in the retail offer in the town in recent times, bring added footfall to help existing retailers and encourage new businesses to open in Nailsea.

“It will also arrest the drift of custom to other nearby towns which already enjoy discount retailers and help minimise the traffic and pollution to an already busy and poor road infrastructure around Nailsea our residents have to use to enjoy low-cost shopping.

“We have also been encouraged to include space for a new community hub building, and we are working on designs for this currently.

“It should provide both Nailsea Town Council, in conjunction with North Somerset Council, the opportunity to expand and improve the services they can offer and enhance the highly successful No65 High Street building.

“Discussions on this larger project remain ongoing but would still include some 40 flats into the design.

Architect Adam Rabone, of CSJ Planning Consultants Ltd, confirmed on Friday, May 20, that: "The submission for the Weston College site in Nailsea is now ready to go to North Somerset Council.”

In the development statement it says, ‘the proposed development will involve the retention of a three-storey element of the building which will be extended with an additional storey on top, and the demolition and replacement of the rest of the structure to create a new part-five and part-seven storey extension'.

Commercial space will be situated on the first floor with a new active frontage facing towards Somerset Square.In the design statement it says: 'The development will support an increase in housing supply and diversity in Nailsea at a time of identified housing need.

'The development will start the process of breathing new life into the area,

creating new housing, commercial and vitality opportunity, and delivering

significant townscape enhancement'.

The plans include 16 new car parking spaces and cycle racks for 60 bikes.

Submitted in tandem with this planning application is another that seeks planning permission for two residential units at the eastern end of the same building.

The applications have been split in this manner as the applicant does not own the eastern part of the building in question, but instead will seek further dialogue with the council owner if permission is granted, to enable a more comprehensive re-development of the site.

Outline planning permission for the mixed-use redevelopment of the site was granted in 2015 but faltered because of the multi-ownership of the larger site.

The taller element will act as a focal point at the end of Christchurch Close.

Given the changes in level is presents a six-storey façade to Somerset Square.

The apartments will be a mix of one-bed and two-beds many with balconies.

North Somerset Council need to deliver 20,085 homes by 2038 which is challenging due to several constraints.

As a result, the emerging plan only proposed 18,046 homes which is 10 per cent short of the Government’s target.

There is a commitment to deliver policy compliant affordable housing; however, the applicant remains in positive dialogue with a housing provider who is looking to take the scheme forward as 100 per cent affordable.

VANDAL HIT: This is the inside of the former Weston College building which has seen better days especially when it was the doctors surgery. The building was vandalised last year. It featured on our Breaking News page in December 2021 HERE

SKY HIGH: Houses off Engine Lane, Nailsea, seem really tall. The government draft 'levelling up and regeneration bill' won't stop developers building on green field according to the conversations on social media

Is anyone out there listening?

North Somerset Council is conducting yet another ask the people exercise.

This time is a consultation on a development programme for land owned by

North Somerset Council and Nailsea Town Council has it on the agenda for its planning meeting on Wednesday evening, May 18.

You can download the agenda HERE which includes more details of the North Somerset sites under consideration.

It gives as a 'good example' The Uplands site for 52 homes at the edge of Nailsea, which was allocated for residential development in 2018.

Yet this was once deemed 'recreational space' and Nailsea Town Council had fought to save this land from development.

With funding support from the Homes England LA-AC programme and the government’s One Public Estate scheme North Somerset appointed award-winniig architects Mikhail Richesto design the scheme.

The result is a high-quality, landscape-led scheme with 100% Passivhaus certified homes.

Passivhaus is a very high sustainability standard requiring excellent insulation and low energy bills for residents.

There will be electrical vehicle charging throughout and it is expected to be delivered in 2023–24.

Other Nailsea sites under consideration are:

NAILSEA LIBRARY

North Somerset Council owns the Nailsea library building and some of the surrounding land.

It has a legal interest in part of the adjacent building that was formerly used as a training centre by Weston College.

It is allocated in the Site Allocations Plan for 28 homes.

The library building is unfortunately in a poor condition, is not compliant with disabilities legislation, and is very energy inefficient.

No decision has been made yet, but North Someret Council is considering moving the library service into another more suitable unit (for example the old NatWest bank) in the town centre.

If the decision is made to move the library service, we would need to decide on the future of the library building and adjacent land.

A private sector developer (Paul O'Brien) has purchased the former training building next to the library, and there is scope to work with them and with the shopping precinct owners to develop a comprehensive scheme for that location.

The main opportunities and options for this site are:

• To leave the library building in place and to sell or lease it for another use – for example, as a café or as a workspace. This has the benefit of maintaining a key feature in the shopping precinct, but the poor condition of the building and access issues may make it unattractive to potential occupiers.

• To demolish the building (or to sell it to a third party with the expectation that it will be demolished) to allow a larger-scale development to take place in this area of the shopping precinct.

The alternative development could be residential or retail, or a mixture of both.

A decision on this site is likely to be needed by summer 2023.

FRYTH WAY, NAILSEA

Land northwest of Nailsea with sports pitches.

Thsi is part of a larger allocation for about 450 homes.

This 2.4ha site is in active use as football pitches.

Any development would require these pitches to be re-provided elsewhere.

The provision of housing on this site, as part of the larger scheme for about 450 homes, would make a significant contribution to North Somerset’s housing supply.

The council could specify certain criteria for its part of the land, for example, that the homes should be built using new technologies, or would need to meet higher standards of sustainability.

Given the size of the wider allocation and the need for a solution in relation to the football pitches, is it not expected that this site would come forward before the mid to late-2020s.

LAND BY SCHOOL AT BACKWELL

This is a small green field next to West Leigh school and in a sustainable location very close to the railway station.

Although the site is greenfield and outside of the settlement boundary, planning rules could potentially allow the site to come forward as a ‘rural exception’ site. For example, as 100 per cent affordable housing, if there was local support.

But the council admdits this site is likely to be locally sensitive.

It is known that an adjacent landowner is promoting a large development on their land. If this was given permission, or if the location was identified as an area of growth in the Local Plan, then any development on the council land would need to fit in with over-arching masterplans and infrastructure proposals for the wider area.

YOUNGWOOD LANE, NAILSEA

At Youngwood Lane, there is a council-owned field currently within the strategic gap between Backwell and Nailsea.

An adjacent landowner has secured consent for 450 homes, and the area is being considered for more significant growth.

It is unlikely that any development would happen until the mid- to late-2020s.

The deadline for responding to this consultation is 9am on Monday 20 June 2022.

More information can be found at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/nscsites.

Nailsea Library looking at its worse.png

space by old health centre owned for a time by Weston College.png

Council sites consultation

North Somerset Council has launched an eight-week consultation about possible housing and employment development on land it owns.

In Nailsea this includes:

• Nailsea library area; and

• Land at Fryth Way, Nailsea

Listed under heading ‘future sites’ are:

• Land by West Leigh School, Backwell;

• Future Local Plan sites (see map); and

• Any other site suggestions, including use of car parks.

Wow!

In February 2021, the council adopted a development strategy setting out its ambitions for the use of land it owns to:

provide homes and jobs that meet the needs of its communities – current and future – while helping with government targets for housing supply,
offer better quality and more sustainable developments,
deliver sites that the market won’t deliver, including difficult brownfield land and employment sites, and
generate funding to help deliver other priorities, such as investing in schools, transport links and leisure facilities.

People are asked to have their say on:

which sites they would like to see included in the development programme; and
what type of development should take place at those sites. For example, this could include whether they would support a 100 per cent affordable housing scheme or whether they would want to see premises for local jobs.

The responses received from the consultation will help shape a final programme of development to be considered by Full Council in autumn 2022. Detailed consultations will then follow on the preferred development sites.

North Somerset Council executive member with responsibility for placemaking and economy Mark Canniford is the Lib Dem ward councillor for Weston Hillside.He said: “We’re committed to building our development programme in partnership with our communities, so this consultation is an important part of the process.

“By developing on our own land, we can deliver things that the private sector won’t.

“At the same time, we can generate income to fund other priorities that residents want to see us deliver.

“This will also demonstrate that we’re doing everything we can to meet the government’s national housing targets, reducing the risk of unplanned and less sustainable development taking place in other locations.

“I encourage people to get involved and tell us what they would like to see happen to these sites.

“Their views will really make a difference and help shape our proposals.”

The development consultation is separate to the existing Local Plan consultation.

“The two are different as this consultation seeks to find out what people would like to see happen with land owned by North Somerset Council.

Find out more and take part in the consultation by 9am on Monday 20 June online at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/nscsites.

Nailsea People has been told a planning application for the Weston College town centre site owned by Developments Bristol headed by local businessman Paul O’Brien is imminent.

Mr O’Brien has been unable to agree with Nailsea Town Council and Praxis the property management firm for the town centre on a way forward and has decided to submit plans solely for land owned by his company.

HARD HATS TIME: Nailsea People took a tour of the construction sites on Monday morning, April 11. Lots more red brick houses going up at Taylor Wimpey site at Netherton Grange with more than a dozen sold or about to be sold. On-site sales team Donna and Matt say properties attracting lots of interest and some have wonderful views across to Backwell and Chelvey. Prices ranged from £345,000 to £645,000. Currently the lane is closed until Friday, April 22, for a new highway link with diversions in place and another closure is planned for Youngwood Lane from Monday to Friday, September 5-October 14, when storm and foul sewers are being sorted. Further along Engine Lane Barratt Homes are beginning to take shape and we are told the showhouse is opening in July. Workmen and construction lorries galore can be seen on both sites with workers on rooftops and on the ground. The timber frame homes at Parish Brook are much quicker to build and cheaper with prices ranging from £325,995 to £484,995. Meanwhile at The Perrings the hedgerows have gone ready for another development. These will be chalet bungalows and the access to the road has already been carved out...

Seen in long grass

Last July we reported that North Somerset Council decided the strategic gap between Nailsea and Backwell will not be breached by building 14 chalet bungalows at the top of The Perrings.

All Nailsea district and town councillors opposed the planning application.

Before then in February 2021 there has been a brief archaeological dig when the remains of a farmer's ploughman's lunch was found.

Read in full here https://www.nailseapeople.com/front-page-february-2021.

Now it seems something is stirring...photos by Phil Williams.

Watch this space..

ROAD CLOSURE: Taylor Wimpey is closing the lane just past its construction site at Netherton Grange again. We have this flyer courtesy of Nailsea Action Group. Not ever so clear. It they had marked where the Blue Flame is we might have understood it better...

Our multi-millon £££s windfall

Developers are due to hand over £4million to North Somerset Council for housing projects in Nailsea

Millions of pounds is to be paid in planning agreements to build hundreds of new homes in Nailsea - but not all of the cash may be spent on improvements for the town.

Developer Taylor Wimpey is set to hand over a cash pot of more than £4million over the next four years as part of its planning agreement to build 450 homes at Netherton Grange.

Plans for the development to the north of Youngwood Lane and east of Netherton Wood Lane were first submitted in July 2016.

North Somerset Council failed to make a decision in time, so the developer lodged an appeal. The plan was approved by a government planning inspector in November 2019 and work on the development started in April last year. The first phase of the scheme will see 130 new homes built from one-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom family homes.

Out of the multi-million cash windfall, £650,000 is already earmarked to provide a new bus service for the town. A further £326,000 will be spent on improving pedestrian and cycle connections in and around the development.

A total of £95,000 has also been allocated as a highway contribution, and a further earmarked £54,000 to sustainable travel. The rest of the money - an estimated £3million - will be paid to North Somerset Council as part of the Community Infrastructure Levy.

Although Nailsea Town Council will get a 15 per cent slice of the levy cash, the majority is paid to North Somerset Council - but there is no guarantee it will be spent in Nailsea.

Nailsea Town Council clerk Jo Duffy said: "The 15 per cent of the Community Infrastructure Levy money awarded to Nailsea Town Council will most definitely be spent in the town."

Nailsea councillor James Tonkin said the CIL levy policy was 'frustrating'.

He said: "The policy is that money awarded via the CIL because of a development does not have to be spent in that area.

"The council can spend it where they feel it is most needed.

"This does work both ways as money collected via the CIL in Weston could equally be spent in Nailsea and visa versa.

CONFUSION RULES:

Nailsea Town Council is conducting a survey to ask residents where to spend its £4million windfall from developers.
Now we presumed this was just from the sale of land at Engine Lane with more to come from a builders surtax (Community Infrastructure Levy) from the hundreds of houses at the Netherton Grange (Taylor Wimpey) and the 'affordable' Barratts homes.
Well not so according to Bristol Live article written by local journalist Heather Pickstock.
She reports that most of the money is already allocated for new bus routes and road improvements.
And the rest could be spent elsewhere not necessarily in Nailsea.
Um, well that's blown any swimming pool out of the water.

CONFUSION EXPLAINED:

Nailsea town councillor James Steel said: "The Bristol Live article has nothing whatsoever to do with the funds from the sale of Engine Lane land.

It is purely a coincidence that the amount of £4m is the same."

And Nailsea Town Council chairman Mike Bird said: "The money Nailsea Town Council has received from the Engine Lane sale has absolutely nothing to do with the S106 and CIL monies received from developers.

"The people of Nailsea will have a full say of what the Engine Lane money is spent on - hence the survey!"

"The money for Nailsea may very well be spent in Nailsea but as yet that is unknown.

"It is going to be required as a result of the local plan to improve the town's infrastructure to allow more homes to be built as included in the local plan.

"I will be pressing for the CIL money from Netherton Grange to be spent in Nailsea."

The first homes at Netherton Grange were available in December, with a number already snapped up by first time buyers, families, and downsizers alike.Taylor Wimpey Bristol sales and marketing director Rob Curry said: “Our new development in Nailsea is starting to come along nicely.

“With any new development it’s important that we not only provide quality new homes and on-site infrastructure, but also do our bit to improve existing local facilities.

"We are very pleased to be able to make contributions totalling over £4million to the wider area, and we hope that the community will enjoy the new and improved facilities.”

This is not the first large sum that Nailsea has received as a result of new homes being built in the town.

Last year Nailsea Town Council received nearly £1.6million as a result of the sale of its land at Engine Lane for housing - with further payments due.

It has also received £183,000 of cash from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

The council launched a consultation among the local community asking how the money should be spent, with ideas such as a mountain bike pump track and better bus services being put forward.

Nailsea is expected to see hundreds of new homes in the coming years. In the draft local plan, a total of nearly 1,800 new homes are planned for the town, including 600 new properties to the south of the town.

Affordable village homes

Octavia Homes, the future homes builder, has submitted an outline planning application for 55 x two- and three-bedroom dwellings, focused on delivering housing to those in greatest need and want a place to call home.
In a press release the company say 'Backwell is an exceptional location, with a wide range of amenities, schools and vitally sustainable transport routes. The project will be built at high density to minimise the impact on the countryside and sustainably, including renewable energy technology'.

To read full details of the proposals go to North Somerset Council planning applictions HERE which has 31 accompanying documents .'
Octavia Homes director Matt Regan said “As a local family man I share many parent’s concerns that when our children decide to settle down, they will be forced to move into properties outside of the areas they grew up in.
"The under delivery of housing in this country is at crisis point and we are delighted to be able to unlock new homes for those in the greatest need. ”.
Factfile:

Octavia Homes was born out of a need to build good quality, accessible, affordable homes for future generations.
The company focuses on bringing forward projects where there is a significant under delivery of housing and local plans are failing to address the problem at the pace required.
The business works with a number of Housing Associations through partnerships to identify sites and develop schemes as either traditional housing developments, including open market and affordable homes, or, if housing grant can be utilised, up to 100% affordable.
Octavia Homes aims to deliver 1,000 dwellings over the next five years across the southern half of England. Most of these will be 2- and 3-bedroom properties.

Green fields forever fight

Approximately 150 people packed into the Backwell Parish Hall in North Somerset this week to question plans by North Somerset Council to build 1,120 new homes in the village by 2038.
The Government has set a target for 20,085 new homes to be built in North Somerset over that time period and North Somerset has a plan out for consultation identifying where these houses should be.

Land earmarked around Backwell includes areas currently in the Green Belt and some areas currently used as agricultural land to grow food.

Three local organisations:

Backwell Parish Council;
Backwell Residents Association; and
Backwell Resistance led the quizzing of council officials who came up with the plans.

They were told that Backwell was chosen to increase by 60 per cent because the officials said it had good links and could be expanded in a sustainable way.

Villagers argued that infrastructure, including new roads, schools and a doctors surgery and major improvements to the railway station would need to be made before houses could be built.

Some of those attending the meeting had earlier been giving their views to a Planning Inquiry at Weston Town Hall into plans for 125 houses on Farleigh Fields.

These would be in addition to the sites earmarked by North Somerset Council if given the go ahead.

Local people said the plans could cause traffic issues on the A370 and other parts of the village.

They cited accidents and traffic jams close to the new junction that Persimmon would like to create on the A370 by demolishing two homes to give them access to build a housing estate in the farm fields.

A traffic specialist brought in by Persimmon Homes said the new development would not cause any traffic issues.

He said traffic had decreased in recent years on the A370.

He admitted he based his conclusion on Backwell figures from 2014 and he had Googled figures for another village – Flax Bourton – to come to his conclusion.

Details of how people in North Somerset can have their say on the plans can be found at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/newlocalplan.

Backwell Parish Council is collecting views by email at clerk@backwell-pc.gov.uk.

There are two more local plan events:

Thursday, March 31, 7-9pm Local Plan Q&A at Long Ashton Community Centre; and
Friday, April 1, 3-7pm North Somerset Council consultation on local plan event at Tithe Barn, Nailsea.

PHOTO: Martin Powell

SOLD IN ONE DAY STC

For sale:
Belle Cottage

A semi-detached 3-bed mews-style home at The Elms on the edge of Nailsea on the Wraxall and Backwell border.

This is an exceptionally well presented home having been improved significantly since new.

The house also enjoys the premier south facing position and is quietly placed at the southern extreme of The Elms.

Close by are lovely walks over green belt countryside that allow panoramic views across the valley to the wooded hillsides of the National Trust owned Tyntesfield Estate.

No newer location in the vicinity is better and this house is indeed better than new, say estate agents Hensons.

Offers in the region of £445,000 - call 01275 810030 or a viewing.

Nailsea Action Group annual general meeting

Residents are invited to Nailsea Action Group annual meeting is at 7.30pm on Monday, April 4, at the United Reformed church hall, Stockway North.
NAG’s aim is to promote and protect Nailsea’s rural setting and open green spaces for the benefit of the whole community.
That means ensuring that, where building developments do have to take place,

they are not built where climate change will impact on their viability (eg from flooding);
there is sufficient appropriate and sustainable infrastructure to support them such as roads, transport, public amenities, health care, schools and employment opportunities;
the working, living and ecological environment is not only protected but enhanced;
there is easy access to meaningful open green space for the benefit of physical and mental well-being;
the creation of new estates does not significantly harm the quality of life and well-being of existing residents; and
there will be real opportunities for purchasers to obtain genuinely affordable homes.

Where these points are met, NAG will support development.

Where they are not, NAG will not.
The current Nailsea situation is:

2022 will see significant greenfield housing development on three areas of open space in Nailsea eventually amounting to 671 dwellings.
North Somerset Council has recently announced its intention for a further 600 -1000 houses to be built adjacent to these.
Various companies have options for development for much of the unbuilt environment and open space across and around the town.

As a result there is a real possibility that, within a few years, Nailsea will lose its reputation as being a pleasant place in which to live.
The main agenda item is consultation on North Somerset Local Plan.
Local councillors will be at the meeting.
Further information on the website here https://nailseaactiongroup.org.uk/.

RELOCATION,
RELOCATION,
RELOCATION

Has Shaftsbury Close been relocated by Nailsea signpost thieves?

Found abandonned on Becketts Lane bridlepath in mid March we are told by Kevin Buck via the Nailsea People Facebook page: "Its been lying in the hedge in Haslands for months, two weeks ago it moved to hedge by the walkway off of Blandford Close and then few days later was moved again."

A replacement could cost the community tax people nearly £200 to reinstate so costly prank by late night drunks, we are told

Local plan meeting no joke

Not kidding but Nailsea residents are being asked to have their say on how the area will grow and develop over the next 15 years on April Fool's Day!

North Somerset Council is holding a range of events across the district during the consultation period which ends at 5pm Friday, April 29.

Nailsea's session is 3-7pm on Friday, April 1, at the Tithe Barn.

And two question and answer sessions with limited space are also being held as part of the local plan process.

These are led by the local councillors on:

7.30 to 9pm on Tuesday, March 22, at Backwell Village Hall (presume they mean parish hall?); and
7-9pm on Thursday, March 31, at Long Ashton Community Centre.

To find out more visit www.n-somerset.gov.uk/newlocalplan

The number of consultative surveys now range from how to spend the £4million development windfall that Nailsea Town Council to the Two Towns project is being led by ‘place shaping agency’ Design West.

Given that most of Nailsea are pitching for a swimming pool we now learn that is a non-starter, but no-one told us that before the survey began.

And in the other consultation which is supposed to be drawing up a blueprint for Nailsea and Clevedon at one of the low attendance series (22-30 people) of workshops billed as 'bringing together public, politicians and professionals to shape better places' some bright spark though it was a good idea to build affordable housing on one of the town centre car parks.

Given that you must have an income of £70,000pa plus a sizeable deposit and qualify for a government grant towards the starter homes currently being built in Nailsea someone is surely having a laugh?

And at this November workshop other ideas included building a multi-storey car park and/or introducing charges for long stay parking.

North Somerset Council has prepared a new Local Plan Preferred Options document which identifies where development can and cannot take place and guides investment and funding for new housing, jobs, transport, and community facilities until 2038.

The draft plan follows two previous public consultations in 2020 which received more than 4,500 responses.

The responses received from this consultation will help shape the next version of the local plan.

That version will be the document which the council proposes to submit for examination to the Planning Inspectorate and will be the subject of a further round of consultation prior to its submission for examination by an independent inspector.

The plan shows how seriously the council is taking its commitment to tackling climate change and environmental issues through the location and form of development, promoting renewable energy, minimising car use, encouraging green infrastructure and biodiversity, avoiding sensitive areas such as areas at flood risk and minimising waste.

North Somerset Council executive member with responsibility for placemaking and economy Mark Canniford is a former mayor and currently ward councillor for Weston-super-Mare Hillside.

He said this consultation provided the perfect opportunity to give communities a say in any changes affecting their area.

Mr Canniford said: "The Government has commanded North Somerset Council to provide 20,085 homes by 2038 which is extremely challenging when all the physical and environmental restraints are taken into account, including flood zones and green belt.

"This process provides an open, fairer and greener way of shaping communities in the future and we would urge people to have their say and engage in this opportunity. We want to be open about the issues affecting us and the decisions we need to take and that is captured in the draft local plan.

"This plan also rises to the challenge of tackling climate change and our pledge for North Somerset Council to be carbon neutral by 2030."

Construction corner revisited

The west of Nailsea looked like one huge construction site at the weekend.

But the bad news is Taylor Wimpey say they will be building brick and block houses at Netherton Grange for another four years.

The house builder has sold all the 2-bed homes in the first phase of 130 houses (all to Nailsea people) and between 9-10 overall.

Every home will have gas central heating and a charging point for electric vehicles fitted as standard.

But new homeowners will incur an annual outdoor maintenance fee as North Somerset Council no longer adopt private roads (those not leading anywhere) or patches of grass on developments.

These annual estate management fee varies but for a typical 3-bed detached is £245.36.

However, these are still public spaces like the playground which will be part of the development.

A complete site map as now been released which show ‘potential’ new road and more development on its easterly side.

The rerouted Netherton Lane is now open but Engine Lane roadworks won’t end until mid-March and is closed again to through traffic.

Which with drivers told to avoid Backwell for the next few weeks adds to traffic chaos around the town.

Barratts homes at Parish Brook are slightly cheaper because they are timber-framed which means they are able to be built quicker, we are told, and should be ready for occupancy from this summer.

What the estate maintenance fee on this development off Engine Lane are is not known yet.

The showhouse at Netherton Grange is manned seven days a week and Donna and Mark would love to show you around.

Parish Brook showhome will be open soon.

Planning for our future

North Somerset Council draft Local Plan was approved for public consultation at the February executive.

Tickenham Road Action Group has reviewed the papers used at the meeting and pulled out what they believe are the key housing and transport impacts to Tickenham and nearby.

They have kindly shared this with Nailsea People and North Somerset MP Liam Fox, North Somerset Council and Nigel Ashton who is the Conservative ward councillor for the Gordano Valley.

Included is a breakdown of proposed housing developments in North Somerset, specific developments in Nailsea and Backwell and links to maps showing locations of development areas.

North Somerset Council new local plan covers a 15 year plan period 2023-2038.

Once adopted it will replace the current development plan which comprises the Core Strategy, Site Allocations Plan and Development Management Policies which has an end date of 2026.

TIMETABLE FOR CONSULTATION AND APPROVAL

Consultation on Preferred Options (Consultation Draft) March/April 2022
Consultation on pre-submission plan November 2022
Submission to Secretary of State January 2023
Examination April 2023
Inspector’s Report October 2023

HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS

The broad distribution of new dwellings in accordance with the spatial strategy will be as follows.

Weston-super-Mare 6,980
Wolvershill (north of Banwell) 2,800
Clevedon 226
Nailsea 1,781
Portishead 572
Yatton 391
Backwell 1,120
Yanley Lane (Woodspring golf course) 2,500
Villages and rural area 1,676

Total = 18,064

A map showing the distribution of dwellings across North Somerset can be accessed here North Somerset Overview The adopted plan will need to make provision for the North Somerset housing requirement of 20,085 dwellings in full. For the Preferred Options a total capacity of 18,064 dwellings has been identified (excluding windfall). The consultation will help inform how this shortfall might be addressed. A Nailsea and Backwell housing distribution map can be accessed here Nailsea and Backwell.

HOUSING ALLOCATION FOR NAILSEA 1,781 NEW DWELLINGS

Location south of Nailsea 600 this is a proposed new allocation
Land at north west Nailsea 450 carried forward from the Site Allocations Plan
Youngwood Lane 450 carried forward from the Site Allocations Plan
West of Engine Lane 171carried forward from the Site Allocations Plan
Land south of The Uplands 52 carried forward from the Site Allocations Plan
Weston College Site, Somerset Square 28 carried forward from the Site Allocations Plan
Trendlewood Way 24 carried forward from the Site Allocations Plan
West End 6 carried forward from the Site Allocations Plan

Total = 1,781

HOUSING ALLOCATION FOR BACKWELL 1,120 NEW DWELLINGS

Grove Farm 600 proposed new allocation
Land east of Backwell 500 proposed new allocation
Land at Moor Lane 20 carried forward from the Site Allocations Plan

Total = 1,120

ROAD IMPROVEMENTS

There are few local road improvements noted with the exception of the following:

Strategic measures designed to alleviate traffic impacts on Station Road, and traffic congestion at the Backwell crossroads. This is likely to include a strategic rail crossing providing an alternative multi-modal route between Nailsea and the A370, and associated measures to discourage traffic from using Station Road
It is noted that the development north west of Nailsea will require a new road linking Pound Lane and Watery Lane.
Remaining measures relate to Active Travel and Public transport as key mitigations to traffic impacts.

TRAG CONCERNS

Local Plan does not address traffic growth during the 15 year period nor provide a strategic view of how traffic will be routed through key transport routes in North Somerset.
The Local Plan does not address existing traffic issues in villages and rural lanes/roads which will be subject to a 20 per cent proportional increase in traffic through the increased number of homes alone.
The Local Plan does not address the additional HGV traffic on rural roads that will be necessary to support the increased population size and improved/expanded town centres.
The Local Plan does not address growth in traffic through the planned expansion of Bristol Airport
Without significant mitigations, Active Travel policies will decrease road capacity in the villages of North Somerset.

VILLAGE PEOPLE: On Tuesday, April 5 at 7pm Backwell Residents Association will discuss the proposed 1,200 new homes proposed for the village in the draft local plan at Backwell School 6th form lecture theatre. Areas marked in red are under threat of more homes. The lines depict a 'strategic gap' between Nailsea and Backwell. The Preferred Options Local Plan went before North Somerset Council executive in February 2022 and consultation is expected to begin in March 2022. The draft preferred options local plan is based on the previous consultations, evidence and latest government guidance, as well as the council’s commitment to climate change and environmental issues. It is its recommended way of best meeting the development needs for North Somerset up to 2038

Barratts new 2-beds from £325,995

House builders Barratts has release the prices of the first homes it is now selling at Parish Brook off Engine Lane.

Prices start at £325,995 and go upto £484,995.

It is using West Coast estate agents and says viewing is strictly by appointment only.
Parish Brook is a development of 2, 3 and 4-bed homes built on land previously owned in part by Nailsea Town Council.
Barratts say it is pleased to announce with Nailsea Town Council, that it has at least 10 selected homes available for first-time buyers that have lived or worked in Nailsea for at least two years.
Whether this qualifies potential homeowners to a discount it doesn't say.
However, Channel 4's Kirstie Allsopp whose family helped buy her first property says young people can afford a home if they give up coffee, gym and Netflix
The Location, Location, Location presenter has hit a nerve with first-time buyers
Kirstie also advised that first-time buyers should move in with their parents or 'find homes up north' in cheaper areas to afford their lifestyles whilst saving for a deposit on a home.
According to the Sunday Times, the property guru is said to have bought her first home with her family's financial help at the age of 21, when the average house price in the UK was around £51,000.

We are told by a councillor and I will hasten to add this is information they were given and not necessarily their view BUT affordable housing is defined as any property priced under £350,000. Nationally house prices could drop in 2022, according to The Tines, but they have defied expectations and continued to rise over 2021 and into 2022 – albeit at a slower pace between December to January.

To learn more about the Parish Brook homes go online HERE.

Alliance Homes 'affordable' new homes in Nailsea to rent or buy

A deal to take on the affordable homes being built on a new development in Nailsea has been finalised.

Alliance Homes is acquiring 51 affordable homes on Barratt Homes’ new Parish Brook development on Engine Lane in Nailsea.

The homes will range in size from one bed flats up to four bed houses. 42 of the new homes will be for social rent and nine will be for shared ownership.

Building work has already started on site and delivery of the new homes is expected between July this year and May 2025.

This investment by Alliance Homes into Nailsea comes only weeks after a similar deal with Taylor Wimpey was announced, that one was for 39 affordable homes on the nearby Youngwood Lane development.

Alliance Homes director of investment Iain Lock said: “It’s great to be part of such a big scheme in Nailsea and to be working with Barratt Homes who have a proven reputation for delivering quality homes.

"The 51 new affordable homes at Engine Lane together with a further 39 on Youngwood Lane will go a long way to ease the demand for affordable housing in Nailsea.

"Our ambitious goal is to deliver 2,000 new homes across the region over the course of 10 years, and this is another scheme which means we’re well on our way to achieving it.”

Barratt Homes Bristol director Thea Gregory said: “This is an important step towards our ambition to create a vibrant, mixed community here on this beautiful site on the edge of the North Somerset countryside.

"Barratt Homes is committed to providing a wide range of homes for local communities, investing in the local economy and supporting local jobs.”

In total Nailsea will now have

Shared ownership: 9
Social rent: 42
To buy (affordable): 39

To quality people must be registered here:

https://northsomerset.housingjigsaw.co.uk/accounts/account/register

Barratts has promised to release is prices for the first phase at Engine Lane in February 2022 while Taylor Wimpey are already selling its homes costing from £325,000 for a 2-bed property..

Barratts house prices released in February

House builders Barratts say it will be releasing the prices of its 2-bed and 4-bed homes at Parish Brook, Engine Lane, Nailsea, in February.

This will be the first phase of this development of 171 one, two, three and four bed homes on the edge of Nailsea on land previously owned in part by Nailsea Town Council.

With Netherton Lane and Engine Lane currently no through roads due to gas and water mains being installed potential buyers will have fun finding their way to the site.

Originally told the roads will reopen in mid-February the word on the street is it will be longer -but no confirmaton of this.

The Taylor Wimpey development has already attracted record inquires mostly from people already living in the town, say on-site sales executives.

Escaping to the country, good rail links and great schools are the main plus points attracting people to view.

Prices on the development on the West End side of Nailsea range from £325,000 to £620,000 but those wanting shared ownership and/or rental will need to go directly to Alliance Homes who are handling these negotiations separately.

To learn more about the Taylor Wimpey development which has planning permission for nearly 500 homes go to https://www.taylorwimpey.co.uk/new-homes/nailsea/netherton-grange
To learn more about the Barratt development Parish Brook at Engine Lane which has 171 homes planned of which 51 are deemed ‘affordable’.go to https://www.barratthomes.co.uk/new-homes/dev000490-parish-brook/

News from Nailsea's construction corner

Within hours of the showhouse at Netherton Grange opening this week a 3-bed property was sold to a first-time buyer from Nailsea.

The Taylor Wimpy development has already attracted record enquires mostly from people already living in the town, say on-site sales executives Matt and Donna.

Escaping to the country, good rail links and great schools are the main plus points attracting people to view.

However, one neighbour is angry to learn secondhand of planned road closures for construction vehicles and that the build will take five long years to complete.

Next-door-neighbour Matt Thomas, of Engine Lane, has written a strongly worded letter to chief executive Peter Redfern complaining that the Netherton Grange development does not adhere to the Taylor Wimpey community policy.

In the letter Mr Thomas questions whether ‘engagement with local communities on each and every one of our UK sites throughout the life of the development’ is happening here in Nailsea?

The community policy states:

Consideration for the surrounding community:
Minimal noise and disturbance to neighbours during construction;
Safe construction site; and
Safe streets that are pedestrian and cycle friendly.

And he told Mr Redfern: "We have had to report illegal parking to the police on multiple occasions, with vehicles parked on pavements and blocking pedestrian access and parked on junctions dangerously reducing visibility for motorists.

“We have had to contend with access to our property being blocked off with no notice.

“We can hear radios playing from the site in our garden and house (it is fortunate that it is winter so we are able to keep the windows closed) and as we walk the dogs along the bridleway.

“And construction work starting before 8am and continuing well into the evening.

“As far as I am aware you are currently in breach of your planning permission as the pre-conditions have not been discharged by North Somerset Council, the Construction Environment Management Plan has not been published and I therefore cannot tell if you are in breach of this or not?

“Now I have just found out via social media that you are planning road closures for up to six weeks potentially removing access to local residents.”

And a frustrated Mr Thomas said: “Do you not think that it would have been polite to have informed residents before you planned these road closures?

Nailsea Town Council posted on its Facebook page: “We have been advised that from Tuesday, January 4, St Marys Grove, Engine Lane, Netherton Wood Lane will temporarily be closed to vehicles.

“Exemptions are included for emergency services, works access, works construction vehicles and as works permit for premises which may only be accessed via the closed section of roads.

“This order was required because of the likelihood of danger to the public consequent upon development works by Taylor Wimpey & Barrett Homes.

“Works are anticipated to be ongoing for six weeks and will be completed in two phases.

Phase One - St Marys Grove–at the junction with Engine Lane to Russett Grove, Engine Lane - from junction with St Marys Grove to Worcester Gardens & Netherton Wood Lane from Engine Lane to Youngwood Lane.
Phase Two Engine Lane - from junction of Allington Gardens to The Brambles, Netherton Wood Lane - at junction of Engine Lane southerly to Youngwood Lane. Access maintained."

And while the post directs people ‘For further information alternative routes - see One Network map: www.n-somerset.gov.uk/roadworks’ there is nothing here that enlightens anyone further!

Mr Thomas added in his missive to Taylor Wimpey: “Your only engagement with the community thus far has been at our instigation to complain about the development.

“After the third time of asking I finally received an answer from your site manager that this project is planned to last five years.

“Frankly after little more than six months we have already had enough of the noise, disruption and disrespect your company and contractors are showing to the local community.

“If your community policy is anything more than just a piece of paper, I’d be grateful if you could put some of the words into action.”

While admitting there have some parking problems caused by the number of vehicles belonging to contractors on site it has been exacerbated by the Covid situation but has since been resolved by a new onsite car park for employees, said Matt.

In this first phase of a development 130 new homes will be built.

In total the 60-acre site will accommodate 450 new homes.

Billed at coming soon the first homes on offer are the 2-bed Ashenford plot 99 at £325,000; the next all have 2 bathrooms - that is a 3-bed semi Byford plot 40 at £385,000; 3-bed semis Baxton plots 77 (reserved) and 83 at £400,000; and two Kingsdale homes plot 39 a semi at £410,000 and plot 90 detached at £450,000.

The showhouse is set up in one of the 4-bed homes and because of Covid rules viewing is strictly by appointment,

For brochure and further information go to https://www.taylorwimpey.co.uk/new-homes/nailsea/netherton-grange.