by Cllr Donald Davis, Leader of the Council and Cllr James Tonkin, Executive Member for Planning and Transport.

   

Thank you for joining our consultation on planning for North Somerset over the next 15 years.

Thinking about what our lives will be like in future is both exciting and daunting. It is not easy to predict the future, as our recent enforced lockdown has shown, but one thing is certain there will be changes which need to be managed. We want to understand these changes and how you think we should respond to them so that we shape your area to meet your values, hopes and needs.

One thing is already clear, we will need more homes. These are needed for our children, grandchildren, and elderly relatives and we, as a community and council, need to plan for them. Climate change is shifting the council’s and public’s priorities. Our population is ageing, bringing issues about how we care for our older people. Financial resources are stretched and need to be carefully managed. The Covid-19 pandemic may well make us think differently about our priorities and how we plan for the future in terms of supporting communities and the economy.

Over the coming months we will be asking our residents, young and old, from a diverse range of backgrounds and from different parts of North Somerset- rural villages, those in town centres and suburbs - to think about, and join us in developing a new Local Plan. This will cover a range of issues and will determine what development will take place and where it will be located. We will work with communities, landowners, developers, agents and government to determine when and how it will be delivered.

We are starting this process by thinking about the challenges we face and what sort of vision, aims and priorities will guide us in making more detailed choices. There will be further chances to participate as the plan progresses.

Difficult choices need to be made and not everyone will approve of them. However, we want to listen to your views and plan for future generations in a responsible and sustainable way.

In this document we have tried to set out the challenges that need to be considered as clearly and honestly as possible. It’s now over to you to help us to understand your hopes and fears so that we develop the right choices for our future.

If you want to be kept informed on the progress of the local plan please register with our consultation system. You will receive emails informing you of upcoming events and progress. But you can also lookout for Facebook, Twitter and Instagram posts from North Somerset Council and more traditional news articles in the local press.