Proposed Housing
Land at Lyefield Road, Kewstoke,
Weston-super-Mare

April 2023

Project Team

M7 Planning is a residentially focused land promoter and professional investor in land and property in the South and South West.
Achieving planning permission is at the heart of what we do and we carefully manage each and every aspect of the process, providing a tailored approach for each site we take on. We are passionate about design, place making and optimising asset values and we believe that these things go hand in hand.

Proposal

M7 Planning Limited are planning to submit an Outline planning application for new high-quality housing development, in a highly sustainable location, comprising c.75 dwellings (30% affordable housing).

We pick our locations carefully, where there is a real need, we build at high density, to minimise our impact on the country’s green spaces and we build sustainably, preserving our Earth for our children and beyond.

We focus on delivering houses to those in greatest need: future generations of doctors, nurses, key workers, young families and the next big thinkers, who want a place to call home.

Why are we submitting a planning application now? 

The North Somerset area has a significant shortfall in housing delivery when measured against the Local Plan targets.  As members of the housing development community we see the consequences of this with rising, unsatisfied demand and a growing disparity between house prices and affordability.  Our proposal provides an appropriate response to this for the scale, location and facilities available in and around Kewstoke, Weston-super-Mare with the aim of providing new housing opportunities in the community you love, for you, your children or grandchildren and new residents, strengthening diversity and vitality.

This website provides an opportunity for residents, businesses and organisations to learn about our draft proposals and our intentions to submit an Outline planning application to North Somerset Council soon.

At the bottom of this website page you will find a short questionnaire.  Please leave us your thoughts, which will be considered prior to making the application.

The Site

The site is sustainably located on the eastern edge of the village of Kewstoke, approximately 20 miles (32.2 km) south west of the City of Bristol. The study area measures approximately 5.56 hectares (13.74 acres) of agricultural land under private ownership and comprises of one parcel of land with frontage north of Lower Norton Lane and Lyefield Road.

The project is a significant opportunity, within an exceptional location, for a sustainable new housing scheme. 

A number of complimentary factors demonstrate why housing should be permitted here:

  • The residential development will deliver 30% affordable housing.
  • To re-balance the local housing stock to encourage diversity.
  • The provision of much-needed housing (including affordable housing) contributing towards the achievement of housing targets for the area.
  • Supporting the Local Economy.
  • Enhancing Existing Natural Features.
  • Ecological improvements.
  • Well connected to existing settlement and complementary to future prosperity.
  • The creation of an attractive place/destination with its own identity whilst reflecting local character.
  • Retention and enhancement of existing boundary hedgerows and trees of amenity value.
  • Provision of areas of public open space.
  • The physically unconstrained nature of the land and its lack of environmental designations allows development to come forward within a short timeframe.
  • Through careful design, visual impact can be managed avoiding significant adverse impact.
Access view junction
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The Vision

With the help of our consultant team, we are formulating proposals to deliver a high-quality housing scheme. We want to create a sustainable new living environment, based around a fully integrated new community with new homes that are accessible to everyone.

Throughout the design process each member of the team provides their specialist advice and input to ensure that the scheme responds positively to its surroundings, considering the constraints.

The vision for the scheme is to create a sustainable new living environment, based around a fully integrated new community with new homes that are accessible to everyone.

  • Up to 75 new homes with 30% being affordable.
  • Mix of 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes including a number of single storey units.
  • Accessible, sustainable established residential location.
  • Legacy through carefully designed spaces, beautiful homes and gardens.
  • Unconstrained land outside of high flood risk area allowing development to come forward within a short timeframe.
  • Significant areas of public open space to provide natural infrastructure, such as landscaping, play spaces, biodiversity offsetting, tree planting and natural green space.
  • Ecological mitigation – in relation to loss of tree roosts/foraging habitat and from lighting impacts.
  • Strong defensible boundaries with proposed clustered tree planting, hedgerow strengthening and species rich meadow grasslands.
  • Compliments the viability and vitality of Kewstoke.

 

High Quality & Sustainable Design

The UK has a legal commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. The North Somerset Core Strategy is the main planning document which guides development choices and decisions. This includes, Policy CS1: Addressing climate change and carbon reduction and Policy CS2: Delivering sustainable design and construction 

The Council is  committed to reducing carbon emissions and tackling climate change by employing the following principles;

  • Development should demonstrate a commitment to reducing energy demand through good design, and utilising renewable energy where feasible.
  • Developers are encouraged  to incorporate site-wide renewable energy solutions.
  • Opportunities for walking, cycling and use of public transport should be maximised through new development.
  • A network of multifunctional green infrastructure will be planned for and delivered through new development.
  • Protecting and enhancing biodiversity across North Somerset including species and habitats that are characteristic of the area, in order to support adaptation to climate change.
 

The council will require designs that are energy efficient and designed to reduce their energy demands, this will include the use of on-site renewable energy sources and the application of best practice in Sustainable Drainage Systems, to reduce the impact of additional surface water run-off from new development. 

Access, Movement & Amenities

The site is sustainably located, abutting the village of Kewstoke which lies on the northern edge of Weston-super-Mare, a few minutes away. The City of Bristol is 20 miles (32.2 km) north-east using either the A370 or M5 routes. The M5 is just 2 miles from the site.
The proposed new homes will have easy access to local services and facilities, public transport links and to the Public Right of Way (PRoW) network. The number 50 bus service runs hourly, from early morning to early evening Monday to Saturday, in both directions between West Wick and Hutton. The service calls in at Worle, Worlebury, Grove Park, Weston town centre, Uphill, Weston General Hospital and Bleadon. The number 7 service picks up at Ebdon Road, approx 0.6 miles from the site which starts at Worle, calls in at Weston-super-Mare and ends in Haywood Village.

A new footway/cycleway is proposed between the proposed site access and Lyefield Road. This will connect with the existing footway/cycleway on the north side of Queen’s Way to the east of Lyefield Road. The walk distance to the nearest bus stops, located on Queens Way, are within approximately 200m of the proposed site entrance.

There are three rail stations close to the site. Worle railway station within approximately 2 miles distance, Weston Milton train station is approximately 2.5 miles distance and Weston-super-Mare train station is located within 4 miles of the site and loops to the Bristol to Taunton line. 

A Transport Assessment and Travel Plan will be required to support the planning application for the site.

1. The proposed vehicular and pedestrian access will be from Lower Norton Lane 

2. A street pattern has been identified to provide good connectivity and efficient residential blocks

3. A footpath around the development connects to public open space.

 

Pedestrian & vehicular links across the site.

Community Benefits

  • The development will positively contribute to the growth of the local economy by delivering new homes and employment opportunities.
  • 30% affordable housing to meet North Somerset Council requirements.
  • Walking connections to the local street network and improving the accessibility of existing public rights of way
  • New green infrastructure and public open space will provide amenity, with play facilities.
  • Retained hedgerows and trees creating a network of habitats corridors around walking routes.
  • A secured boundary of the site on all edges, with development fronting the open space.
  • Transitional open space with proposed clustered tree planting, hedgerow strengthening and species rich meadow grasslands.
  • Sustainable drainage attenuation features designed to create wetland habitats.
  • Section 106 contributions towards local improvements to services.
  • Community Infrastructure Levy payments.

Planning Application & Project Status

We are currently at the stage of preparing an Outline Planning Application to submit to North Somerset Council. By submitting an ‘Outline Planning Application’, we are seeking approval from the local planning authority for the design of our proposal (including the amount, scale, layout and appearance of the development, as well as any landscaping) and the proposed access arrangements.

Prior to submitting the application, we wish to engage with the community to understand local views and considerations that will positively assist in the formulation of our plans. Whether you are in favour of, or opposed to new housing on this site, please tell us why.

A summary of the feedback received through this consultation will be provided in a Statement of Community Involvement, which will form part of our planning application to North Somerset Council. 

Have your say

Please send us your comments for us at [email protected]