Useful Information
This page will display all sorts of useful information. From minutes of meetings to relevant information and documents. Please have a browse through and we will keep this page updated with the latest useful information as and when we have it.
Regulation 19 Local Plan
Consultation
Now Closed
Objections raised during last year's consultation will have been incorporated in this new plan or ignored by SGC. They will not be considered further.
Here is the link to the SGC web site containing the full Local Plan, supporting documentation and details on how to raise objections or 'Representations' as they are now being called.
The Planning Aid Website is a great place to find out more about how a Local Plan is developed and approved. It explains the Planning Inspectorate stage and how to raise appropriate 'Representations'
Click to download this Word template 'Representations' form to your Download folder. Open in a Word compatible system, enter your responses, save them then email back or print the form and hand write if you like before posting back to SGC. The PDF version may be easier if printing.
The Word version will appear in your File Downloads folder
Representations have to be evidence based and submitted directly online or on the above form then emailed or posted back.​
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Email policy.consultation@southglos.gov.uk
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or posted to:-
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Strategic Planning Policy & Specialist Advice Team, Department for Place,
South Gloucestershire Council,
PO Box 1954,
Bristol,
BS37 0DD
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The video below will guide you through the process of filling out the regulation 19 form.
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See our News Page for details of up and coming workshops to assist you.​​​
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It may help to see example of how others objected to a previous plan by South Staffordshire have a look here
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SOGS-SG have entered into a coalition with other interested parties and are contributing towards the cost of a Planning Consultant - Mark Reynolds of Context Planning in Bath. Our direct contribution to this is capped at £1,500 of the funds raised through Gofundme. Mark will be reviewing various concerning areas of the Local Plan and preparing relevant Representations on our behalf. The focus will be on the generic parts of the plan so will not consider localised issues or specific site locations due to the time and huge costs this would incur. We are relying on you with your local knowledge to address local issues. We understand this is a complicated challenge so if you have an idea but are struggling we encourage you to get in touch. We wont necessarily have the solution but will try to put you in touch with similar minded people and perhaps between you, you can work something out.
It is vital we all work together to defeat this plan.
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We will need to raise further funds over the coming year in order for Mark to represent us at the Planning Inspectorate hearings
Martin's Powerpoint as presented at our recent public meetings along with sources of supporting information
Martin's Powerpoint Presentation
Census2021-Briefing-Note-06_Housing
Census-2021-briefing-note-demography-and-migration
Census2021-Briefing-Note-04_Ethnic-group-national-identity-language-and-religion
ukpppsummary2021 base
North Warmley
Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA)
Cllr Chris Willmore has said on our Facebook Group:-
"Bloor have submitted a ‘scoping report’ to S Glos for ‘North Warmley’. This isn’t a planning allocation. Before anyone applies for planning permission for a big site there has to be an Environmental Impact Assessment to look at all the environmental impacts. There are three stages - screening to see if it needs an EIA ( it does), scoping to identify the environmental issues and then all the reports evaluating those issues. The scoping report is the stage where the issues to be assessed are identified. So the step before all the evidence goes in. So at this stage residents need to be alerting S Glos to the issues they think need to form part of the investigation. But also gathering evidence ready for the next stage."
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If you respond, please be careful not to imply your acceptance of any development!.
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Click here to see the map on our maps and Videos page
Local plan being submitted to a special Council meeting on 12th Feb for acceptance.
Local plan being submitted to a special Council meeting on 12th February for acceptance.
SGC have just released their latest draft of the Local Plan which will be considered at the Council meeting on 12th February - see our news page. Soon afterwards a 6 week consultation period will be launched. This is a huge document so please do your best to read what you can and share what you learn with everyone else. This is going to take some time to process!
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​​Or the individual document links below.
Note scale up to 500% to read this!
Other Documents to consider
"Know your place" - A digital mapping project with a collection of old maps, heritage data and archaeological information.
Know your place
Part of the "Know Your Place" project, a digital mapping initiative that allows users to explore the historical development of neighborhoods in South Gloucestershire and the broader West of England region. By overlaying historical maps, images, and heritage data, it provides a unique insight into how areas have evolved over time.
Users can compare maps from different periods, access information on archaeological sites, listed buildings, and conservation areas, and contribute their own knowledge or images to enrich the resource. This interactive platform serves as a valuable tool for residents, historians, and anyone interested in the local heritage of South Gloucestershire.
"Know your place" - A digital mapping project with a collection of old maps, heritage data and archaeological information.
Know your place
Part of the "Know Your Place" project, a digital mapping initiative that allows users to explore the historical development of neighborhoods in South Gloucestershire and the broader West of England region. By overlaying historical maps, images, and heritage data, it provides a unique insight into how areas have evolved over time.
Users can compare maps from different periods, access information on archaeological sites, listed buildings, and conservation areas, and contribute their own knowledge or images to enrich the resource. This interactive platform serves as a valuable tool for residents, historians, and anyone interested in the local heritage of South Gloucestershire.
"Plans to build up to 800 homes rejected" - BBC Article
"Plans to build up to 800 homes rejected" - An article by the BBC
A planning application to build up to 800 homes near Worthing Road, between Southwater and Horsham in West Sussex, has been rejected. The development proposal also included a sports facility. The local council decided against it, citing potential issues such as environmental concerns, infrastructure pressure, or inconsistency with local planning strategies.
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This shows how planning can still be refused.
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You can read further about this article by clicking the button below.
BRERC - Bristol Regional Environmental Centre
Get recording
Local Environmental Record Centres (LERCs) across the country are the principal services that are used to inform planning applications, local plans and nature strategies, for directing funding and more. Whether you are a keen birder, into your invertebrates, love long walks or want to formalise the presence of hedgehogs and badgers in your area, wildlife recording can be done by anyone. There are 4 key things to remember when making any wildlife record:
1. Who
2. What
3. When
4. Where
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The link below will take you to the BRERC - Bristol Regional Environmental Centre website where you will be able to record sightings of wildlife, Flora and Fauna. ​
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January - 2025 Noise Pollution report
January 2025 - Noise Pollution Report
Document by Jane Evans for "Save Our Green Spaces – SG" highlights the severe health impacts of noise pollution in South Gloucestershire, particularly along major roads like the A420, A4174, and A4175. Noise levels frequently exceed 50 dB, with some areas reaching 75 dB or higher, causing health issues such as sleep disturbances, heart disease, and diabetes.
The increasing traffic from proposed developments is expected to worsen noise pollution, while mitigation measures like public transport or cycling are deemed inadequate due to poor infrastructure. Noise mapping data confirms significant exposure levels, and past measures, such as noise cameras, have had limited success.
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You can download and view the entire report by clicking the button below.
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February 2025 - Air Pollution report
"Are South Glos Council looking after its own residents ?"
A summary - for further information click the "Read more" button on the left.
South Gloucestershire Council's Local Plan, particularly its focus on urban expansion along the eastern and northern fringes of greater Bristol. Key concerns include:
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Site Selection and Bias: The site selection process is deemed inconsistent, lacking transparency, and favouring urban expansion at the expense of smaller communities. Sustainability assessments are criticised for being opaque and subjective, often disregarding environmental concerns.
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Infrastructure and Services: The plan relies heavily on unguaranteed infrastructure development to support new housing, especially in areas where existing infrastructure is already overburdened. Examples highlight disparities in decisions based on school capacity and transport links, with no clear or fair evaluation framework.
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Green Belt Development: The plan proposes significant development in green belt areas, undermining its purpose to prevent urban sprawl. This could lead to environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, and expensive housing inaccessible to local residents.
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Affordable Housing: The document argues that green belt developments will not deliver affordable housing as claimed, due to high costs and a loophole allowing developers to reduce affordable housing commitments.
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Impact on Local Communities: The developments risk eroding close-knit communities, favouring developers and wealthier buyers rather than addressing the housing needs of South Gloucestershire's residents.
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Urban Focus: The plan appears more aligned with Bristol's housing needs than with serving the diverse communities of South Gloucestershire. It excludes significant development in towns like Thornbury, Yate, and Chipping Sodbury, which have existing infrastructure.
Overall, the document concludes that the Local Plan prioritises urban expansion and profits over the well-being of South Gloucestershire's residents and the environment.
"Let's put the green into the green belt - now there's an idea"
A summary - for further information click the "Read more" button on the left.
The article "Let's put the green into the green belt - now there's an idea" by Paul de Zylva, published on Friends of the Earth's website, advocates for enhancing the UK's green belts to provide multiple environmental and social benefits.
Key Points:
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Purpose of Green Belts: Originally established in the 1930s to prevent urban sprawl, green belts serve as open spaces between urban and rural areas. They encompass a mix of farms, golf courses, and woodlands, but aren't necessarily rich in biodiversity.
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Current Challenges: Despite their role in controlling urban expansion, green belts face threats from development pressures due to the housing crisis. Some argue that since these areas aren't always ecologically rich, they could be repurposed for housing.
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Reimagining Green Belts: The article proposes transforming green belts into vibrant, nature-rich areas that offer:
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Recreational Spaces: Areas for activities like walking, running, and relaxation, enhancing public health and well-being.
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Biodiversity: Habitats that support diverse wildlife, helping reverse the UK's decline in nature.
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Flood Management: Wetlands and natural water storage to mitigate flooding and drought impacts.
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Local Food Production: Land for growing local, quality food, supporting employment and skills development.
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Climate Mitigation: Increased tree cover and hedgerows to sequester carbon and provide other environmental benefits.
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The article emphasizes that by enhancing green belts, the UK can address housing needs without compromising environmental integrity, thereby tackling the housing, climate, and nature crises simultaneously.