Homes England has been granted permission to develop new homes on a wildlife-rich meadow in South Bristol.
The plans will see 260 homes built on Bristol Meadows, 30% of which will be affordable, as part of an "integrated 20-minute neighbourhood" close to schools, shops and work opportunities.
Homes England took its planning application directly to appeal after Bristol City Council missed a deadline to decide on the Brislington Meadows project. The council said it would have rejected the plan because it has declared an ecological emergency, while campaigners considered applying for a judicial review.
Homes England, the government's land and property agency, bought part of the site from the council in March 2020, while the rest was purchased from private owners.
Read more: Brabazon community hub plans approved for new Bristol neighbourhood
Planning inspector Owen Woodwards said the need for new homes in Bristol "significantly outweighed" the loss of habitats and trees and hedgerows at Brislington Meadows, and because the land was still officially listed by the council as a place to build new homes, he has given it planning permission.
Bristol Mayor Marvin Reeves said that he was "deeply disappointed" by the decision. In 2014 the site had been designated for development by the council, but Mr Reeves' administration has since sought to protect it.
Deeply disappointed to see the Government approve plans to build on Brislington Meadows – this wildlife haven needs protection
— Marvin Rees (@MarvinJRees)
Homes England's plans are at odds with my administration's efforts to save the site from my predecessor’s 2014 Local Plan
RSPB/Celine Deglos pic.twitter.com/UuqguVpkLP
Taking to Twitter Mr Reeves Tweeted: “Deeply disappointed to see the Government approve plans to build on Brislington Meadows – this wildlife haven needs protection. Homes England's plans are at odds with my administration's efforts to save the site from my predecessor’s 2014 Local Plan.”
Homes England, which spent £15m buying the land, put in an application for planning permission in April 2022. This was met with 600 objections from locals with many saying that the land off Broomhill Road is home to a variety of important animal species plus ancient trees. In its decision, the Planning Inspectorate found 25% of the site's trees would be felled, and 74% of its hedgerows would be lost.
When Bristol City Council’s planning department failed to make a decision on Homes England’s planning application in time, the body went to appeal. City council planners eventually did say they’d refuse permission, and that meant one Government department (Homes England) appealed to another (the Planning Inspectorate) to make a decision.
This led to planning inquiry in January, which has now made the decision to grant planning permission.
Read next:
VisitEngland to reshape tourism in the South West through new partnership
Ripple Energy and RES partner on Britain's first shared solar park in Devon
Huge Bristol 'strategic logistics hub' completed at former Rolls-Royce site
Property investment firm Robert Hitchins expands Bristol office portfolio
Like this story? Why not sign up to get the latest South West business news straight to your inbox.
