MORE than 75 people have objected to plans to build 280 homes on farmland near Mangotsfield.
Land promoter Lightwood Strategic Ltd and local landowners want permission to build homes at Rock House Farm in Shortwood.
The site is on the opposite side of the Avon Ring Road to Pomphrey Hill North playing fields, between Main Road in Shortwood, Cattybrook Road and the B4465 road between the ring road and Pucklechurch.
It is one of several sites east of the A4174 that could be taken out of the Green Belt and developed if South Gloucestershire Council’s draft Local Plan is approved by the government.
The land is currently divided into several green fields. Farm buildings and one home on the site would be demolished, with the original farmhouse kept and converted into two homes.
In a planning statement to the council, consultants Origin3 said the housing “will comprise a mix of sizes, types and tenures, including 40% affordable housing and 5% self and custom build”.
The plans also include space for a commercial building, “active travel” routes for pedestrians and cyclists, electric vehicle charging points, allotments, play areas and green spaces.
The only vehicle access planned is via Cattybrook Road, which is currently a narrow country lane, close to its junction with Main Road.
An entrance on the opposite side of the site, beside the B4465, would be accessible to pedestrians, cyclists and emergency vehicles only.
The consultants said: “There is a national housing crisis and a pressing need for affordable housing in South Gloucestershire due to the backlog of unmet needs and worsening affordability.
“This is a matter for the planning balance to which great weight should be afforded.”
They say the development would contain “high quality, energy efficient homes set within generous green space and links out to open countryside with benefits for healthy living”.
But residents say the new houses would overwhelm the existing village, which has around 90 homes, threaten wildlife and go against the council’s environmental policy.
The proposals are being opposed by residents’ group What’s Up Shortwood and Save Our Green Spaces South Gloucestershire (SOGS-SG).
As the Voice went to print, 78 people had written to the council to object to the plans, with no-one writing in favour.
Shortwood resident David Heape, who has been helping to rally opposition, said: “The Rock House Farm development is attempting to expand Shortwood by more than 300%. It is situated too close to the existing village and is in danger of swallowing it.
“The planned access onto Main Road is on a known dangerous bend, plus the significant rise in traffic will undoubtedly increase emissions and lead to large-scale congestion.”
Mr Heape said the developers have described the plans as “founded on sound urban design principles”.
In his objection to the council, he said: “Surely this is the wrong area for an urban design. Has a fundamental design error been made here or is the scheme trying to change the characterisation of Shortwood itself?”
Gloria Hale told the council: “I have been a resident of Shortwood for the last 50 years and it has always been a peaceful village where I can look out onto open farmland and wildlife.
“On a personal level, I regularly see wild deer, foxes and birds in my garden and the surrounding area and enjoy the tranquillity of village life.
“I strongly believe that a development of this type would be doing a massive disservice to our children and grandchildren.
“Once Green Belt land such as this is eroded it cannot easily be recovered.”
She said the development contradicts South Glos’s climate and nature emergency strategy, which aims to protect nature and increase biodiversity.
In her objection, Lusia Przytocki said: “The proposal for this site would significantly change the character of Shortwood and Mangotsfield.
“There is also no clear evidence at this stage that local infrastructure – particularly highways, public transport, schools, health services and sports/community facilities – could cope with the additional demand. Shortwood and the surrounding area already experience congestion at peak times, and further residential traffic without a robust transport plan could make this worse.”
Government advisory body Natural England has raised no objections to the plans, saying it “will not have significant adverse impacts on statutorily protected nature conservation sites or landscapes”.
The application can be viewed and commented on by searching for application P25/02966/O on the council’s planning website.