Plans submitted to build 157 new homes on south Bristol fields

A development company has submitted plans for 157 new homes on green space in the face of vocal opposition.

Lovell Partnerships hopes to get permission to build housing on a site known as the Western Slopes, an area of woodland and meadows between Knowle West, Headley Park and Bedminster.

The proposals comprise two-storey two, three and four-bedroom homes, as well as four three-storey buildings of one and two-bedroom apartments. 47 of the homes will be ‘affordable’.

Lovell is proposing to set aside green space to “protect and enhance” biodiversity and create a children’s play area, a woodland walk and a new route for pedestrians and cyclists on the site, which has been earmarked for more than 500 homes by the council.

But residents, campaigners and wildlife charities have already spoken out against the proposals, with Avon Wildlife Trust describing the slopes as a “vital wildlife corridor” that should not be built on.

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Read more: Residents hit out at plans for 157 homes on south Bristol fields 

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Lovell has now formally submitted an application to Bristol City Council’s planning department for housing on the privately-owned part of the Western Slopes. The plans will soon be available for the public to view and give feedback on before a decision is made.

Residents, campaigners and wildlife charities have already spoken out against the proposals – photo Charlie Watts

Speaking in defence of the plans, Lovell’s regional managing director James Duffett said: “Green, open spaces are important. We are proposing a scheme that includes nearly three football pitches-worth of green space, most of which will be open to everyone on land that is currently privately-owned with no public access.

“But there’s another question that cannot be dismissed – the city’s housing crisis. Both the council and developers – including the council’s own house builder – are working hard to deliver more homes. Brownfield sites can provide part of the solution, but greenfield sites are absolutely needed too. The council’s local plan committed to building 8,000 homes in south Bristol by 2026.

“I grew up in South Bristol. My family still lives here. The housing need is as great here as anywhere else in Bristol. In protecting green spaces, we cannot dismiss that housing need.”

Lovell’s proposed development is on the privately-owned part of the Western Slopes – image courtesy of Lovell

The council’s housing company Goram Homes has also earmarked the council-owned part of the slopes, where horses graze, for an additional 360 properties.

Lovell has promised to retain wildlife and bat corridors, as well as implementing measures to boost biodiversity in the area.

The developer is also proposing to make Novers Hill one-way and build the new path for pedestrians and cyclists on the other side of the hedge through its site.

But at a meeting in July, Nick Haskins, chair of the Melvin Square Residents Group in Knowle West, warned the one-way plan would create “massive problems”, saying: “The road has always been used as a rat run by the youngsters at night, and if you go making Novers Hill into a one-way road, then you’re just going to create more problems.”

Novers Hill photo courtesy Lovell

Main photo by Charlie Watts

Read more: Mayor to reconsider housing plans for south Bristol’s Western Slopes 

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