The Strategic Place Partnership between the combined authority and Homes England was signed by Mayor Helen Godwin last year, signalling a long-term commitment to locally led housing and regeneration across the West. The two organisations have now published a shared business plan to accelerate growth in the West of England while continuing to work on projects including Bristol Temple Quarter and Hengrove Park.
To support the delivery of the partnership’s ambitions, the regional authority has been awarded an additional £910,000 from Homes England, on top of funding already secured last year. £300,000 of this is being used to make progress at Hicks Gate, which is a vital development site in the Central Bristol and Bath Growth Zone. Coordinated planning is essential to ensure that development is not piecemeal and aligns with the aspirations set out in the regional Growth Strategy and Transport Vision, including the future of potential mass transit options.
Further funding will be used to support the St Philips Marsh Masterplan at the Bristol Temple Quarter development, which is set to create a mixed-used development of affordable homes and business spaces once key development challenges have been overcome. The remaining funding will be used to support the delivery of the Strategic Place Partnership, including development of a prioritised housing pipeline.
In her foreword to the new plan, Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:
“I am proud to be from the West Country and know that our communities care deeply about where we live and work. It’s time to build the right homes in the right places, with the right services and infrastructure to support people and help keep the West moving.
“The housing crisis is being felt right across the UK, including in Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire. Rents are rising faster than people can afford, and we need to speed up building new homes. 2,000 children in our region currently live in temporary accommodation and house prices in Bath are twenty-times average earnings.
“We have all the ingredients to tackle this crisis, not least that the West of England is a place of real innovation. We are the fastest growing regional economy in the country and the most productive area outside of London, which brings real opportunities for new jobs as well as new homes.
“This Business Plan is grounded in the priorities set out in our Growth Strategy, alongside improved connectivity to enable more people to access good jobs and all that our part of the world has to offer. This plan recognises that housing delivery is a foundation for wider improved outcomes. Better homes support inclusive economic growth, reduce inequality, cut pollution, and create vibrant, well-connected communities where everyone can thrive. We are determined to build this future together.”
Amy Rees CB, Chief Executive Officer of Homes England said:
“Our Strategic Place Partnership with the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority reflects our long term commitment to supporting the region’s growth and our shared ambition to create places that people are proud to call home.
“Through the Business Plan, supported by Homes England funding, we are enabling a strong pipeline of housing and regeneration activity that aligns with regional priorities and accelerates delivery.”
Creating the right pipeline of skills quickly is essential in delivering the housing needs of the region. To support this, the Mayoral Combined Authority has awarded an additional £230,000 to City of Bristol College for its regional home building training programme. This funding will create up to 90 additional construction places in the West of England and help tackle important skills gaps in the region. The investment was secured by the region to contribute towards the Construction Skills Package announced by the Chancellor, and will help support the national ambition to train up to 60,000 additional construction workers to deliver national housebuilding ambitions.
Councillor Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council said:
“This additional support from Homes England will help accelerate the delivery of housing, especially affordable housing, across the city and the wider region, while strengthening our ability to plan long term for well-connected communities. By working closely with our partners across the West of England, we can unlock the potential of major regeneration areas such as Temple Quarter. This investment also enables us to make better use of land, safeguard future mass transit opportunities, and ensure development happens in a coordinated way that benefits all our communities.”
Councillor Mike Bell, Leader of North Somerset Council, said:
“We are at a critical stage in shaping our future housing needs. Our Local Plan consultation closed in December last year, and we are now carefully reviewing all responses and preparing the documentation required for submission to the Planning Inspectorate for examination. With an urgent housing crisis, we are committed to working closely with local partners to balance the strategic need for new homes with our clear responsibilities as a local authority to cut emissions and respond meaningfully to the climate emergency.
“We welcome the investment from Homes England and the Strategic Place Partnership Business Plan, which recognises the real housing and regeneration needs here in North Somerset. This support will help us plan for sustainable, well-designed communities that meet local needs and deliver much needed infrastructure improvements alongside housing growth, while protecting our environment for future generations.”
