A DEVELOPER has submitted a formal application to South Gloucestershire Council to build 860 new homes on the outskirts of Coalpit Heath.

Edward Ware Homes Ltd describes its plan for the land at Frog Lane, east of the A432 Badminton Road, as a “sustainable new neighbourhood”.

It says half of the new homes will be “affordable” – available for social rent or shared ownership.

As of July 10, 234 people had written to South Gloucestershire Council to object to the plans, which were described as “absolute madness” by one resident.

Three comments had been made in support.

Objections include the loss of Green Belt land separating Coalpit Heath and Frampton Cotterell from Yate, overloading roads and local services, including schools and surgeries, the effect on wildlife and the presence of mine shafts under the site.

The developer says the 860 homes planned would include “family housing, starter homes, apartments and down-sizing properties” with as 50% level of affordable housing.

The scheme also includes local centre with shops, services and community facilities, a new primary school, nursery and forest school.

The company says it will retain existing natural features including hedgerows and ditches to create a “connected green infrastructure network”.

It says the “high quality open space” would include community parkland with sports pitches, woodland planting, wildlife corridors, and tree-lined streets and would improve biodiversity.

The developer says it would create “active travel routes” connecting residents by bike and foot with Coalpit Heath, Yate and the A432.

Edward Ware first announced plans to build on the Frog Lane site in February, when it held a three week informal consultation ahead of a formal planning application.

The scheme was immediately criticised by the area’s MP and parish councillors, who say it is speculative, ‘inappropriate’ for a Green Belt site and goes against South Gloucestershire Council’s draft Local Plan, which is currently undergoing a public examination in front of a government planning inspector.

It is also close to another greenfield site to the east of the village, near Roundways, where Bloor Homes South West has submitted a formal planning application to build up to 450 new homes – taking the total for both sites to 1,300.

Edward Ware Homes says that although the site is not in the Local Plan, it was included in the West of England Joint Spatial Plan – a previous planning blueprint that collapsed in 2020 before it could be adopted after the region’s councils withdrew support.

The company said: “While this did not progress to full adoption, it identified this site as a sustainable location for growth.”

It has published a masterplan it says is “designed to integrate with the existing settlement and deliver long‑term benefits for Coalpit Heath and the wider area, creating a well‑connected, vibrant and inclusive community”.

‘Sustainable new neighbourhood’

Director Edward Ware said: “This application presents an opportunity to create a sustainable new neighbourhood that meets local housing needs and offers real benefits for Coalpit Heath.

“With a range of new high quality public green spaces, a mix of uses and connectivity where many daily needs can be met without relying on the car, and a focus on low-carbon living, it is designed to create a place where people can live well now and in the future.”

‘Absolute madness’

Residents who have made comments on South Gloucestershire Council’s planning website have raised a wide variety of complaints, with most objecting on multiple grounds.

Ross Willing said: “The plan is absolute madness. The road system cannot cope as it is. Slapping up a huge number of additional houses is simply going to make an already poor road traffic system into an unbearable mess.”

Zak Smith said: “This area of Green Belt is particularly important in maintaining the separation between Coalpit Heath, Frampton Cotterell and Yate. Development on this scale would significantly erode that separation and permanently alter the character of the area.”

Pauline Foord said: “It will substantially alter the size of the village, with the effect of almost doubling it.”

Naomi Bowler, a member of the Frome Valley Environmental Network, said: “We are in a climate emergency and need green space for nature and wildlife to ensure against species collapse and climate change caused by man made developments.”

‘Staggeringly cheeky’

Tim Dible described the plans as “yet another staggeringly cheeky punt” by a developer who knows the land is not in the Local Plan, while Kristian Miles told the council there are at least 49 mine shafts known in the area with more that are undocumented from its previous industrial history.

He said: “There isn’t a legitimate plan in the application to deal with this issue safely before any development takes place.

Many residents also mentioned the effect that thousands of new residents would have on infrastructure.

Dominic Tye said: “Local services, including GP surgeries, schools, public transport, and other community facilities, are already under considerable strain. There is insufficient evidence that the existing infrastructure can accommodate the increased demand generated by this development.”

The council’s formal consultation on the plans has been extended until July 25.

The plans can be viewed and commented on by searching for application P26/01208/O on the council’s planning website.