Last year the Council undertook a “Call for Sites” exercise, where they asked landowners to put forward land that could be considered for future development in the new Local Plan.

They have now published all the sites that have been submitted, which can be viewed on an interactive map. They have also published an FAQ sheet, which gives further information about the Call for Sites and how the council will use this information.

It’s really important to note that just because land has been submitted to the Call for Sites process and is displayed on the online map, it does not automatically mean it will go into the new Local Plan. Nor does it mean any planning permissions will be granted.

Under the Government’s planning rules, sites can be proposed by anyone, including the landowner or a prospective developer. All sites submitted to the Call for Sites will be assessed and considered against priorities for the new Local Plan and the council’s broader objectives for achieving net zero carbon by 2030. Any sites which might be suitable will be publicly consulted on.

The next stage of the process will see each proposed site technically assessed using national planning guidance, which is called the Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) process. The HELAA process assesses whether each individual site would be potentially suitable for development. It does not decide which sites should be proposed for allocation through the Local Plan.

There will then be public consultation for the next stages of the new Local Plan on the sites which have passed through the HELAA process and could form part of our new plan.

The new Local Plan will eventually contain a map showing the sites ‘allocated’ to meet the need for new homes and jobs over the next 15 years. Once adopted the new Local Plan will describe site ‘allocations’ to confirm the principle a site may be developed and what use or purpose would be acceptable. Allocated sites would then still need to obtain planning permission.

As part of the Call for Sites process, the council has put forward five sites it owns or part-owns for consideration.

Two of the five sites put forward for assessment by the council include third party land. For a comprehensive review to be undertaken, these sites have been included with the council’s land. By proactively putting these sites forward the council will be able to influence what is done with the land, rather than have the market lead which could result in speculative development.

Two of the five sites are in Frampton Cotterell ward. One of the sites where third-party land is being included is Frampton End Farm, Frampton Cotterell. One of the wholly council owned sites is Land at Berrows Mead, Rangeworthy.

There have been no decisions yet on what each site could be used for, and each site has its own characteristics, which will have an impact on what may or may not be possible or appropriate. If any form of development does happen, there will be public, local Councillor and other stakeholder engagement and the council will consider the potential benefits and its key objectives.