North Somerset could see over 1,500 houses built across just nine major developments if they go ahead in 2023, writes John Wimperis, local democracy reporter.

Already in 2022, some large housing developments have been approved. Only in December, planning permission was granted for 70 homes on the edge of Kewstoke – despite local opposition.

2023 could be a busy year for developments as housing developers look to invest in the North Somerset countryside while the council also looks at land it owns for its own housing plans.

Here are nine major developments on the horizon:

500 homes in Nailsea

500 homes could be built immediately south of Nailsea. No application for planning permission has been officially submitted yet but developers Gleeson Land hope to develop the fields around Youngwood Lane.

The development would extend almost to Nailsea and Backwell station, where a new junction would be built connecting the estate to the road.

450 homes on Nailsea & Tickenham Football Club’s ground

Although no plans have been drawn up to develop the site yet, Nailsea & Tickenham FC’s football ground was included in the council’s list of potential sites for development. The council said that the pitches could be part of a development of 450 homes on the edge of Nailsea.

But the idea has been slammed by the club. Club Trustee John Murray MBE attended a meeting of the council in November to speak against the idea. If the site was developed, the council would be contractually bound to provide the club with another football ground in Nailsea with equivalent facilities.

Further consultation will be carried out before any decision is made. The council have said that if the development does go ahead, they would aim to do this before the mid-late 2020s.

170 homes at the mushroom farm in Langford

Some of the site occupied by the Monaghan Mushroom Farm in Langford could be turned into housing under new plans. While the main mushroom farm building would remain under the plans, the northern part of the site would be redeveloped and host 110 houses and 60 workers’ accommodation units, as well as a cafe and children’s nursery.

The plans have been published but no planning application has been submitted yet.

90 homes in Congresbury

Plans to build 90 homes on a field on the edge of Congresury were met with almost 800 objections and locals taking up placards to protest when the planning application was submitted early this year.

Developers say that the “Pineapple Farm” development will being “much-needed housing” to the village but locals have said they want to keep their “dog walking” field and pointed out the area has been full of finds of Roman artefacts.

87 homes on Yatton Rugby Club

In February, plans were submitted to relocate Yatton RFC, knock down its clubhouse and other buildings, and build 87 homes across the pitch. Unlike in Nailsea, however, the sports club is not opposing the plan — it is behind it.

Yatton RFC worked with developers Strongvox to come up with a plan to move the club to new facilities on Kenn Road, where its juniors and minis teams already plan on temporary pitches. The club said: “We are, therefore, also fully supportive of Strongvox’s linked Planning Application for the redevelopment of the existing club facilities.”

71 homes in Winscombe

71 homes could be built on two fields in the village of Winscombe in the Mendip hills. Plans to develop the fields which surround the self-storage and Royal Mail facilities off Sandford Road were submitted in August and the council aims to come to a decision on whether to grant planning permission in March.

68 homes near to Churchill

Developers scaled back their plan to build 83 homes near Churchill after consultation on the proposals. They are now seeking planning permission for a slightly smaller development of 68 homes which they say will improve the development’s “semi-rural character.”

The development faced opposition from local villages, with over 130 objections lodged on the planning website and three parish councils writing to North Somerset Council over the plans.

55 homes in Backwell

A 55-home development could be built off Moor Lane in Backwell next to another new build estate. The plans include the demolition of one house already on the site.

Developers say that there is an appetite for affordable starter homes in the town, but local residents have raised concerns about too much development in the area and that Moor Lane is too small to accommodate the traffic from the homes.

47 homes and a new medical centre between Congresbury and Yatton

A new medical centre could be built as part of a 47-home development. Plans were submitted in May to build the homes just off Smallway between Congresbury and Yatton.

Developers say the medical centre would include a pharmacy and 19 consulting rooms.