The draft Bristol Local Plan documents setting out how the city will develop up to 2040 are now out for consultation.
Covering the Bristol City Council geographic area, comments are being invited by the Council on the plan which comprises a range of draft policies and proposals to help guide future planning applications for the city. These documents cover aspects including housing, workspace and education. Views on a local housing need paper are also being sought as part of the consultation.
The plan will be used by the Council in conjunction with national planning documents and neighbourhood plans to make key local decisions. The current local plan brings together the Core Strategy, the Bristol Central Area Plan and the Site Allocations & Development Management Policies – together, these cover the period until 2026. The updated local plan will guide development up to 2040.
From a review of the draft documents, our Planning Team has identified the following key headlines:
- The Local Housing Need assessment identifies a requirement for 2,600 dwelling p.a./52,000 over the 20 year Plan period, compared to 3,376 p.a./67,520 based on the Government’s standard method.
- The Plan proposes delivery of a minimum annual average of 1,925 dwellings p.a.
- A new set of draft policies to realise zero carbon development which uses energy use intensity as the metric for assessing compliance for residential development at this stage and for non-residential development at the next stage of the local plan review. Requirements are set out for reducing embodied carbon.
- The inclusion of a minimum of 10% Biodiversity Net Gain through a Biodiversity Gain Plan to be submitted alongside a planning application, and a requirement for all development to incorporate appropriate green infrastructure.
- Provision of space for growing food within residential developments.
- Proposed additions to the hierarchy of centres for Bristol to support the aim for Bristol to be a 15-minute city.
- A requirement to demonstrate compliance with the National Design Code.
- The retention of 3 site allocations leading to a proposed amended Green Belt boundary south west of Bristol.
- Discontinuation of 4 site allocations at the Western Slopes and Brislington Meadows.
Consultation on the draft Bristol Local Plan will run until 20 January 2023 and the Council aims to adopt the new plan by Autumn 2024. The consultation is chance for residents, landowners (prospective or current) and developers to have their say on the best locations for homes, jobs and local infrastructure.
With detailed knowledge of the National Planning Policy Framework and the documents comprising the current local plan, our planning team is well-placed to advise on the implications of area-specific proposals. If you have site interests in Bristol and would like to submit representations, please contact our planning team, or find out more about our planning consultancy and services.
Feature image by Milena Domozetska from Pixabay.