Homes England to take controversial plans straight to planning inspector

Controversial plans to build 260 new homes on Brislington Meadows could now be decided by a planning inspector rather than councillors.

It was in April that Homes England formally lodged an application for the development, almost exactly a year after mayor Marvin Rees had pledged to protect the wildlife haven from being built on, declaring it was too ecologically precious.

Months down the line and the government body has now announced its intention to take the matter straight to the government’s Planning Inspectorate – effectively bypassing Bristol City Council’s planning committee – due to “concerns the timescale for a decision is slipping”.

Planning documents state the deadline for determination was late July, but major applications are currently taking longer to go through the council’s planning process.

In the latest twist in the long-running saga over the much-loved green site, Homes England is lodging an appeal against the non-determination of the application so that it will go before a planning inspector.

Homes England is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the government’s department for levelling up, housing and communities. The Planning Inspectorate is an agency of the same department.

A statement posted on the dedicated Brislington Meadows website says: “As the government’s housing and regeneration agency, a core part of our remit is to accelerate housing delivery, but there is concern that the timescale for a planning decision is slipping.

“As such, Homes England is lodging a planning appeal against non-determination of the application to ensure that a decision, made by an independent planning inspector, is taken within a reasonable timeframe. The programme for consideration of the appeal will be set by the Planning Inspectorate, and will allow for full involvement of interested parties including local residents.”

Homes England wants permission to build 260 homes on Brislington Meadows – image: Homes England

The plans to build 260 new homes, alongside bike and car parking, public open space and associated infrastructure have met with hundreds of objections.

But Homes England argues the proposed development will respond to Bristol’s growing housing crisis and provide new homes – that includes a provision of 30 per cent ‘affordable’ – in what the organisation is calling a “highly sustainable location”.

The government body has also stated a commitment to a ten per cent increase in biodiversity on the greenfield site – a statement campaigners have challenged, arguing it fails to mention that any biodiversity net gain is off-site.

Homes England says Bristol City Council will be responsible for notifying parties of the appeal arrangements and how representations can be made to the inspector.

Bristol City Council has been approached for comment.

Main photo: Save Brislington Meadows 

Read next:

• More details revealed for homes on Brislington Meadows which Rees pledged to stop
• ‘Incredible’ Roman discovery made at spot that could be built over
• Community marches on meadows in bid to save it
• Ashton Gate and Ashton Vale set to both be transformed 

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