The region’s efforts to tackle the housing crisis are set to take another step forward next week, building on the ambitions agreed in the Growth Strategy for the West to ultimately build more than 7,500 new homes a year.
Plans before the Mayor and council leaders at their next meeting on Friday, 27 March include:
- £1.7 million to expand regeneration capacity – including £175,000 each for Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire councils to support the development of the five Growth Zones in the Growth Strategy, helping deliver thousands of new jobs and homes
- A draft vision for a thirty-year Spatial Development Strategy, building on councils’ Local Plans and alongside plans for a Strategic Planning Board with North Somerset, backed by £1.7 million from the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government
- £400,000 from the same government department to support early master-planning work for the shortlisted Brabazon and West Innovation Arc new town
- £250,000 to support housing policy development for the region, expanding the combined authority’s ability to develop new programmes
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:
“We need to build more homes faster to tackle the housing crisis. It is important that we build the right homes in the right places, with the right services and infrastructure for people to be able to live well and get around.
“Alongside the £1 million investment announced this week through Homes England and our Strategic Place Partnership, new funding can help our part of the world to build more new homes and more sustainable, connected communities.”
Councillor Kevin Guy, Deputy Mayor of the West of England and Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, said:
“There is an overwhelming need for more affordable housing regionally so it is important as authorities we work together so our Local Plans and the draft Spatial Development Strategy. These have to be aligned so we make the most of the opportunities ahead as well as meet the significant challenge of creating sustainable communities while addressing the climate and ecological emergency and preserving the many unique qualities of our region.”
Councillor Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council, said:
“Investing in our regeneration capacity will mean we can get on with delivering the homes that Bristol needs. This funding will help us move faster and do it properly with communities involved from the start, brownfield sites brought back into use, and more affordable homes, green spaces and local jobs available in neighbourhoods across the city. It’s a welcome investment that backs the priorities we’ve already set out in our regeneration plans.
“By working together across the region to develop a Spatial Development Strategy, we can plan for the long term on the issues we all share, from getting the right homes built to creating a transport system people can rely on.”
Councillor Maggie Tyrrell, Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, said:
“Homes for our children’s generation, homes designed with older residents in mind, and affordable homes for those who need them, as well as master planning of new developments to make sure that new communities are sustainable and liveable for the long term are vital. This funding is welcome and will help support our work to tackle the housing crisis. It will help to deliver on these needs and those of our existing and future residents.”
