A HOUSEBUILDER has unveiled plans to build 150 new homes on a Green Belt site in Mangotsfield.
Taylor Wimpey owns a field which lies between Cossham Street and Rodway Hill Road, bordering the grounds of Mangotsfield United Football Club, Cleve Rugby Club and Mangotsfield School.
The company held a drop-in consultation event in October to show how it wants to redevelop the land with a mix of one, two, three, and four-bedroom homes.
It is the company’s second attempt to build on the land: an application for 180 new homes made in 2009 was rejected by South Gloucestershire Council the following year, after a huge campaign by residents.
This time the application is timed to coincide with a potential change to the legal status of the land, which could lose its Green Belt label under the new South Gloucestershire Local Plan.
Taylor Wimpey says 35% of the homes planned would be “affordable housing” – available for social rent or shared ownership schemes.
It also says there will be an an “overall biodiversity net gain” with extra tree planting and work to enhance natural habitats.
But residents attending the drop-in event at Pomphrey Hill pavilion in October raised concerns over road access to the site, along with parking and the effect on local infrastructure.
The main concern was that access by road will be by a single junction on to Cossham Street, between the football and rugby grounds.
People who posted on the company’s comment boards said the road was too narrow for the extra traffic and was crossed by many school children. They called for a second access point on to Rodway Hill Road.
Taylor Wimpey’s previous plans were opposed by a residents’ group called Save Mangotsfield Open Green Spaces Group (SMOG), whose chair Mike Reeves said the “circumstances haven’t changed” since the last application 15 years ago.
However the field has been proposed as a possible development side in the South Gloucestershire Local Plan, which is currently being prepared for a final public consultation next January before it is submitted in the summer for examination by a planning inspector. The examination is likely to be in October 2025, with a view to adoption by April 2026.
Taylor Wimpey has confirmed that it intends its formal outline planning application to be considered by the council once the Local Plan has either been adopted or passed the examination stage.
Taylor Wimpey strategic projects director Chris Dolling said: “The strong turnout of 133 people at our consultation event highlights the importance of aligning our plans with Mangotsfield residents’ interests.
“Attendees learned about our proposals and provided valuable feedback on issues like transport, site access, drainage, and next steps. We’ll refine our plans based on this input.”
Asked about the prospect of adding a second vehicle access, Mr Dolling said: “Taylor Wimpey is proposing one main vehicular access road on Cossham Street, rather than a second vehicle access point on Rodway Hill Road, as it is the most appropriate location to minimise trips going through the centre of Mangotsfield. There will be a secondary emergency access, located on Rodway Hill Road, and it will be incorporated at one of several walking and cycling access points to the site.
“A single main vehicular access and emergency access is considered sufficient to serve a development of 150 dwellings and is standard practice.”
He said the proposed priority T-junction at the site is expected to be “appropriate to accommodate the anticipated level of trip generation”, adding that Taylor Wimpey would be required to pay towards projects to mitigate the impact of development on the area if the application is approved, and this could include improvement to roads and transport services.
The company’s consultation website remains open at tinyurl.com/bdcs2mrm.
