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Wraxall and Nailsea - developer proposals

Ashley Cartman • 30 July 2021

Developers propose large sites around Nailsea and Wraxall

At the moment North Somerset Council is developing a Local Plan (for more about what a local plan is, click here) to accommodate the 20,475 homes the government says we need to build over a 15 year period. Thats represents a 20% increase and equivalent to building two new Clevedons.

Last summer the Council issued a 'call for sites', this allowed developers the opportunity to submit land for consideration. Land, that if approved as part of the Local Plan, would be brought forward for development. 

The map below shows all the sites (in grey) around Wraxall and Nailsea that have been proposed for development. This amounts to thousands and thousands of houses. This map is publicly available on the Councils website, it is dynamic and you can use it to look at specific sites as well as other areas in North Somerset. 

This is scary stuff. Although we undoubtedly need more homes, after years and years of us as a nation not building enough, these developments if permitted would change our community beyond recognition. Key features would be:

  • Building on the gap between Wraxall and Wraxall village which includes a Site of Nature Conservation Interest as well as contains a Scheduled Monument.
  • Substantial building on the Green Belt.
  • Effective removal of the strategic gap between Backwell and Nailsea.


Of course it is important to note that this is only what developers want to do, it is for North Somerset Council to decide which (if any) of these sites will be allowed. In addition, much of this land is in the Green Belt which gives it extra protection. However, given the size of the housing allocation being imposed on us by central government North Somerset Council is being forced into considering development in the Green Belt and/or in areas subject to flooding.


If you want to know more I have set up a dedicate page on my website to monitor the development of the North Somerset Local Plan. It also includes lots of background information as to why all this is being done. If you have a specific concern please feel free to contact me.


If you want to keep up to date on local issues in and around Long Ashton, Failand, Wraxall, and Leigh Woods then please sign up to my newsletter. It comes out (roughly) monthly and is a summary of all the articles I post on this website and social media.

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