House builder Crest Nicholson has been granted outline planning permission to build nearly 1,300 new homes on farm land between Stoke Gifford and the M32. The decision, which follows seven years of preparation and negotiation, was reached by South Gloucestershire Council’s (SGC’s) Development Control (West) Committee on Thursday 4th October, following a site inspection on 21st September.

The land to which the planning permission relates forms part of the East of Harry Stoke (EoHS) New Neighbourhood, specifically the area in Crest’s ownership or influence (shown with a red outline in the plan, right) south of the railway line.

The development will be accessed from two new junctions on the recently opened Stoke Gifford Transport Link (a.k.a. Stoke Gifford By-Pass). One will be a signalised junction approximately 130m north of the existing Oxleigh Way junction. The second will be a signalised crossroads a short distance south of the existing Hambrook Lane crossroads. There will also be access from Old Gloucester Road, at a point 80m north of the bridge over the M32.

The Hambrook Lane junction with the SGTL will be modified to be ‘left-in and left-out only’ on the west side. There will be no access for motor vehicles to or from the east side.

Andrew Dobson from Crest Nicholson commented:

“We are pleased that councillors supported our application to deliver 1,290 new homes in South Gloucestershire, helping the council to meet its five-year housing land supply on a site allocated for residential development.”

“This development will also deliver numerous benefits to the local community including providing opportunities for local shops, a community building as well as landscaping and open spaces for play areas and allotments.”

“The committee’s decision follows an extensive process of public consultation prior to the submission of the application and post-submission engagement with planning officers and statutory consultees.”

“We will continue to work closely with the local community on these proposals.”

More: First homes could be being sold by the end of 2019 »

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Plans have been submitted to create a massive small business centre formed from 178 converted shipping containers on a site in Station Road, Little Stoke, just north of Patchway Station.

The latest application for the site, which is currently occupied by a builders’ merchants and a taxi firm, comes after a previous bid to redevelop the plot with 24 houses and flats was rejected by South Gloucestershire Council on the grounds that residents would have suffered unacceptable living conditions due to the proximity of the nearby railway line and Rolls-Royce complex.

A report submitted with the latest plans claim the facility, which will be marketed under the brand name ‘Mainline’, would meet a demand for space from “creative businesses that are attracted to the area to be co-located near the world class companies such as Rolls Royce, Toshiba and Airbus”.

“Successful examples of such models are already in place within Bristol, such as the Boxworks development and Engine Shed.”

“This project will provide people living outside of the centre of Bristol with business space and supporting facilities for small start-up businesses and entrepreneurs, mainly in the creative, digital and tech businesses.”

The planning application says the shipping containers will deliver space more quickly than a permanent building and they can be relocated if needed.

“The space created is fully serviced and flexible, perfect for small start-up business in the tech, media and creative sectors.”

If approved by SGC, the development would stand up to four storeys high and be delivered in three phases, to ensure supply meets demand.

Once fully completed, the facility would accommodate 160 small business units, with a further 18 shipping containers being used for communal facilities, including a cafe operated by Friska, a co-working space and a cycle hub.

The application states that 178 full-time jobs would be created by the development. There would be parking for 58 cars within the site.

Existing businesses at the site are continuing to operate as normal. Approval of plans by a local authority does not necessarily mean that a proposed development will take place.

• Planning application reference: PT18/3922/O

This article originally appeared in the October 2018 issue of the Stoke Gifford Journal news magazine (on page 26). The magazine is delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to over 5,000 homes in Stoke Gifford, Little Stoke and Harry Stoke. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.

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After more than two years of deliberations, two planning applications for a total of more than 1,600 new homes on former green belt land between Stoke Gifford and Hambrook look set to be brought to the decision table within the next few weeks.

The East of Harry Stoke New Neighbourhood site was allocated for development when South Gloucestershire Council’s Core Strategy was adopted in December 2013 and housebuilder Crest Nicholson submitted the two planning applications in August 2016. One application is for land south of the Great Western mainline railway and the other for land north of it.

The application on land south of the railway, PT16/4782/O, seeks outline permission for a mixed use development including 1,290 new homes, a local centre, community facilities, landscaping and open space and detailed access junctions.

The application on land north of the railway, PT16/4928/O, is for 327 new homes and associated infrastructure and landscaping. This is a hybrid application, with full permission being sought for some elements and outline permission for others. The full application is for 150 homes, an earthworks strategy, access and public open space. Outline permission is being sought for 177 new homes, as well as a new primary school and nursery.

Since the applications were first submitted, Crest Nicholson says it has engaged in comprehensive and ongoing discussions with planning officers at the council.

These discussions are understood to have focused primarily on matters relating to landscape, arboriculture, provision of sports pitches and the viability of the site with respect to the provision of affordable housing.

A major factor affecting viability is understood to be the need to divert two high voltage electricity lines which cross the area. It is proposed that these will be ‘under-grounded’ around the perimeter of the site.

A ‘site inspection meeting’ for the Crest ‘south’ application, attended by some of the councillors who sit on the committee which will determine the application, was held on Friday 21st September.

The application subsequently appeared on the agenda for a full planning committee scheduled to take place on Thursday 4th October, with officers recommending that it be approved, subject to a number of conditions.

More: First homes could be on the market by "end of 2019" »

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After more than two years of deliberations, two planning applications for a total of more than 1,600 new homes on former green belt land between Stoke Gifford and Hambrook look set to be brought to the decision table within the next few weeks.

The East of Harry Stoke New Neighbourhood site was allocated for development when South Gloucestershire Council’s Core Strategy was adopted in December 2013 and housebuilder Crest Nicholson submitted the two planning applications in August 2016. One application is for land south of the Great Western mainline railway and the other for land north of it.

The new neighbourhood will be accessed from the recently opened Stoke Gifford Transport Link (a.k.a. Stoke Gifford By-Pass) which provides a link between Parkway North and the A4174 Ring Road.

The application on land south of the railway, PT16/4782/O, seeks outline permission for a mixed use development including 1,290 new homes, a local centre, community facilities, landscaping and open space and detailed access junctions.

The application on land north of the railway, PT16/4928/O, is for 327 new homes and associated infrastructure and landscaping. This is a hybrid application, with full permission being sought for some elements and outline permission for others. The full application is for 150 homes, an earthworks strategy, access and public open space. Outline permission is being sought for 177 new homes, as well as a new primary school and nursery.

So-called ‘site inspection meetings’, attended by councillors who sit on the committee which will eventually determine the applications, are to be held in the coming weeks, with the first, for the application south of the railway, taking place this Friday (21st September).

The meeting point for Friday’s meeting, which is open to the public, is at the junction of the Stoke Gifford Transport Link and Oxleigh Way (entrance to Highbrook Park). Councillors are expected to arrive for the meeting at 10.45am.  An ‘issues for consideration’ report prepared ahead of the meeting may be viewed under item 11 of the agenda.

More: Crest ‘north’ application set for decision in Nov/Dec »

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