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SPC says "NO" to 90 houses on local Green Belt

SEG submits its objection to 90 houses on Saltford's Green Belt

Crest Nicholson applies to build up to 90 houses on Saltford's Green Belt - SEG's guide can help you respond

St Mary's Churchyard - A peaceful haven for nature

Large surplus of new homes built in England since 2000, but for whom?

More news in our news archive >>

SPC says "NO" to 90 houses on local Green Belt

June 2026

At its meeting on 2nd June, Saltford Parish Council discussed and resolved a robust and detailed evidence based objection response to the outline planning application 26/01700/OUT from Crest Nicholson Operations Ltd and the landowner(s) to build up to 90 houses on Saltford's precious Green Belt, on the fields/paddocks south of Manor Road.

SPC said it strongly objects to the planning application and reminded BaNES Council that in March 2014 the Secretary of State had concluded that the (similar) proposals from Crest Nicholson were inappropriate development in the Green Belt. The proposed development was in the Secretary of State's opinion harmful to the Green Belt's openness and harmful to the Green Belt's purpose of preventing encroachment into the countryside that, represented considerable harm, to which he attributed substantial weight.

Due to the fact that this parcel of land was NOT included in the Options Menu from BaNES Council for the draft Local Plan 2025-2043, SPC said BaNES Council should take into account its own landscape value and protection reasons for the exclusion of the land from the Options Menu.

The SPC set out the reasoning for its strong objection response under 5 subject headings:-

• Green Belt & the correct use & interpretation of the grey belt policy definition

• Protecting the landscape setting & wildlife (& Environmental Impact Assessment request)

• Housing need & Saltford's historic growth

• Transport including safety, access & traffic congestion

• Other matters including flood risk management & sensitive archaeology

As supporting evidence, SPC also included with its response two key papers:-

• "The Saltford Area of Great Landscape Value - Planning Policy and Character Appraisal by Saltford Parish Council (March 2024) + Annex (Photographic Record)", and

• "Landscape and Heritage Sensitivity Assessment of Saltford South of the A4" (June 2024).

SEG fully supports the detailed and strong case presented by SPC. You can find the full text and content of SPC's response on the SPC website by clicking on this link >>

Local MP for NE Somerset and Hanham, Dan Norris MP, informed SEG on 5th June that he had sent his own objection response to BaNES and its receipt had been acknowledged. The BaNES Council deadline for responding to the planning application was Friday 5th June 2026.

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SEG submits its objection to 90 houses on Saltford's Green Belt

May 2026

Saltford Environment Group has submitted a strong OBJECTION to the outline planning application to build up to 90 houses on Saltford's precious Green Belt, on the fields/paddocks south of Manor Road opposite Saltford School's rear entrance, and has asked BaNES Council to refuse consent.

Don't forget to make your response by the 5th June deadline! Our response guide in the news story below can help you.

In its response to planning application 26/01700/OUT Parcel 8966, Manor Road, Saltford, from Crest Nicholson Operations Ltd & the landowner(s), SEG has reminded BaNES Council that it properly refused planning permission to Crest Nicholson for this site in 2013. That decision by BaNES earned the gratitude of the local community including SEG. It was greatly appreciated that BaNES had recognised the inappropriateness of a new housing development on this green field, Green Belt site, a site that was also then, as now, not included in the Local Plan.

After the application went to appeal in August 2013, the Secretary of State on examining the evidence given at the Appeal Inquiry in August 2013 and the Inspector's report itself, agreed with BaNES Council and the local community and concluded that the proposed development was harmful to the Green Belt's openness and harmful to the Green Belt's purpose of preventing encroachment into the countryside that, represented considerable harm, to which he attributed substantial weight.

Since the Secretary of State's decision in 2014, there are no new exceptional circumstances to devalue the importance of the paddocks to the setting, character and openness of Saltford's Green Belt at this location.

It would be extremely harmful to local communities if the Government's raised national housing target is used as a blunt instrument by developers or landowners to try and build what they want where they want regardless of the negative consequences for local communities and their local green spaces. It is premature and even more unjustified when it ignores a new (draft) Local Plan that is currently being actively progressed by BaNES Council and is intended to deliver housing alongside the appropriate infrastructure in a planned way, rather than an ad hoc approach from speculative planning applications. The local primary school, for example is already full, and demand for local essential services (e.g. GP) already exceeds current capacity.

To build the new homes the nation needs, the Government has stated it is committed to a brownfield-first approach, to protect sensible use of the Green Belt, and that only genuine brownfield sites such as disused petrol stations and abandoned car parks will be developed. This particular Green Belt site, chosen by the developer despite a previous failed attempt, ignores the need to build affordable housing near employment.

SEG's detailed response included many important points and issues, including:-

• SEG supports the Parish Council's evidence-based application for a protective landscape designation for this area of our rural setting and welcomes its acceptance by BaNES Planning Officers for why this parcel of land is NOT included in the draft Local Plan options for development list.

• Residents already feel trapped in their own village for large parts of the day due to traffic congestion and increasingly frequent grid-locks in Saltford on the A4. Saltford's residential side-roads and back-lanes have become severely blocked at peak times due to the level of new developments by or near the A4 in recent years.

• The incremental growth of housing due to recent new housing developments in the area mean our residential roads have become "Park and Ride" car parks for users of the main bus services to Bristol and Bath.

• New homes here will not be affordable but will create yet more commuter travel on roads that are already beyond their carrying capacity at peak times. Saltford is rural and not a centre of employment. New affordable homes should be built in Bristol and Bath close to future employment.

• This parcel of land is immediately east of Longwood, one of only two mature woodlands in Saltford. The proposal, if consented, would result in the removal of approximately 200m of mature hedgerows (including over 25 mature trees) along the fringe of Manor Road and the hedgerow running north to south through the site; that would be a substantial loss of mature vegetation and would result in irreversible harm to habitat connectivity, wildlife corridors and the ecological function of the site.

• Loss of this green open landscape area will be harmful to residents' health and well-being, an important factor that should not be under-estimated. Furthermore, therapy animals for people with mental and physical health needs are kept and used in the paddocks for health support work commissioned by social services. The therapy provided is a very valuable service to the wider community and should be protected.

In summary, SEG asks BaNES Council to deliver on its responsibilities for protecting its rural communities, green spaces, future food security, wildlife habitats, nature and the crucial contribution to health and well-being that the Green Belt between Bristol and Bath provides, by rejecting this planning application. Saltford's Green Belt provides a useful buffer zone that helps keep Bristol, Keynsham and Bath from merging into one large urban sprawl. Incremental developments in the Green Belt, including speculative planning applications from developers if permitted, undermine all our futures and slowly eradicates the "countryside next door" for both rural and city dwellers.

You can download the full text (pdf) of SEG's objection response from this link >>

Don't forget to make your response by the 5th June deadline! Our response guide in the news story below can help you.

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Crest Nicholson applies to build up to 90 houses on Saltford's Green Belt - SEG's guide can help you respond

May 2026

On 1st May, Crest Nicholson applied to BaNES Council for outline planning permission to build up to 90 houses on Saltford's precious Green Belt, on the fields/paddocks south of Manor Road opposite Saltford School's rear entrance (see picture). The previous attempt by Crest Nicholson in 2013 to obtain planning permission to build 99 houses on this parcel of land led to over 400 objections from residents submitted to BaNES.

In 2013 BaNES refused planning permission. After a local campaign & the appeal inquiry in August 2013, the appeal was dismissed in March 2014 by the Secretary of State & planning permission was refused. The paddocks were confirmed as important Green Belt.

This is a speculative application to develop land additional to current BaNES draft Local Plan options for development.

You can download response guide (below) from SEG to help you make an effective OBJECTION response if you care about protecting the Green Belt that surrounds our rural village. The deadline for responding to BaNES Council is 5 June 2026 - make sure you submit your response before then.

Don't leave it to others to respond - the more objections submitted, the greater the likelihood of stopping this unwelcome attempt to develop land in our Green Belt. If permitted, other attempts to destroy the Green Belt landscape we value for wildlife & for our health & well-being are inevitable.

You can download the guide here (in word, click on blue link) or if this is easier for you, the guide is also reproduced below this link to our guide:-

• Manor Road Paddocks - RESPONSE GUIDE (doc, opens in new window)

• Please display a SAVE OUR GREEN BELT poster (see top of our home page) in your window to show you care about your local countryside.

Text from our guide (including link to application for responding):-

To see the planning application on the BaNES website visit this link: shorturl.at/LKA5B

  1. Enter the planning application reference no. 26/01700/OUT in the search box (make sure there are no spaces) & click on SEARCH.

  2. Click on the application. The first page for the planning application will appear. Click on the "Comment on this application" link button.

  3. Read the "Before you start" advice then click the "Start now" button & follow the instructions.

In your own words give planning reasons why you object to the proposed development. Your reasons could include points from this list:-

Traffic congestion & increasingly frequent grid-locks in Saltford on the A4: Our residential side-roads and back-lanes have become severely blocked at peak times due to the level of new developments by or near the A4 in recent years. As a result, residents now already feel trapped in their own village for large parts of the day.

Recent new housing developments in the area mean our residential roads have become "Park and Ride" car parks for users of the main bus services to Bristol and Bath.

Loss of this green open landscape area will be harmful to residents' health and well-being.

Access to the Bath Road A4 and bus services will be past the adjacent primary school's rear entrance, along the walk/ride-to-school route, and via residential roads already badly affected by peak time congestion and parking. This area cannot take any more vehicular traffic.

New homes here will not be affordable. Saltford is rural & not a centre of employment. New affordable homes should be built in Bristol & Bath close to the predicted jobs.

I support the Parish Council's application for a protective landscape designation for this area of our rural setting which has been accepted by BaNES Planning Officers.

I agree with the Parish Council's assessment in January 2025 that this land is not Grey Belt; it is undeveloped land in the Green Belt.

In March 2014 the Secretary of State determined that this land was not suitable for development which, if permitted, would result in an unacceptable reduction of the Green Belt in that area and would represent "considerable harm".

This site is not in the draft Local Plan and as such this application should be refused.

Therapy animals for people with mental and physical health needs are kept and used in the paddocks for health support work commissioned by social services. The therapy provided is a very valuable service to the wider community.

~

UPDATE 21 May 2026: The text of SEG's formal response to BaNES Council can be found in our news story "SEG submits its objection to 90 houses on Saltford's Green Belt".

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St Mary's Churchyard - A peaceful haven for nature

May 2026

Like many churchyards in England's rural villages, St Mary's churchyard forms a small and peaceful haven where visitors can experience nature and wildlife.

Insects abound, especially in areas where grasses have been uncut and allowed to grow tall. Several species of bees and hoverflies provide a gentle background hum on warm spring and summer days whilst the Purple Hairstreak butterfly, for example, is attracted to the large oak tree that itself provides an important eco-system used by many species of birds, mammals, invertebrates and fungi.

Yew trees are known to be favourite habitats for Britain's smallest bird, the Goldcrest, and the churchyard's large Yew near the entrance is no exception, providing food and cover for many species of the birds that we regularly observe in our gardens - and Tawny Owls too.

Slow-worms, hedgehogs, foxes and Little Owls are other noteworthy visitors to the churchyard. On late summer evenings, bats can be seen feeding on moths and other insects around the trees and church tower.

Old stone walls, and other exposed stonework, are often colonised by plants and other wildlife in a similar way to cliffs and scree. The churchyard's boundary wall, due to the traditional use of lime mortar, provides good habitat potential for specialised plants so it is worth watching out for interesting flora there in the summer months.

SOURCE: From an article published on our Gardening page.

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Large surplus of new homes built in England since 2000, but for whom?

April 2026

According to ONS published data, from 2000 to 2025 England's housing stock grew by 4.5 million whilst England's population grew by 7 to 8 million. England's average household size is 2.35 persons/household (English Housing Survey 2021-22). Thus, 4.5 million new homes times 2.3 persons per household provides new capacity for 10.35 million persons, representing a built capacity "surplus" for 2.35 million persons more than the population growth.

Where is the "need" claimed by the Government for 1.5 million new homes by 2029? Surely the need now is for new homes to be affordable and near centres of employment, not developer-led housing developments in the Green Belt and green field sites away from employment, creating more commuter traffic, reduced habitat for nature and less food security from English/British sourced and farmed produce?

If the 1980s privatisation of social housing (right to buy) created a reduced affordable housing stock, forcing more households into the private sector, creating long-term supply challenges, where is the strategic approach in planning policy to correct this anomaly?

Land and its ability to provide a healthy environment that also supports ecology is a fundamental need that underpins the economy, but it is a finite resource. Its care and its development should be based on sustainable development principles and not lost to short term political fixes or for temporary economic growth benefiting a few landowners or developers but worsening everything else including the nation's health and economic well-being for the future.

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Current areas of local volunteer assistance sought by SEG

Whilst our partner organisations such as Saltford Wombles (for tackling litter), Saltford4Nature (for making for Saltford's green public spaces more pollinator friendly) and the Fairtrade Group always welcome volunteer assistance, SEG sometimes has specific roles or posts that need filling. Here are the current vacancies:-

Updated January 2025

Executive Committee: Want to help steer SEG?

SEG is seeking new Executive Committee members to help steer and develop SEG's role in the community as we address the environmental concerns of our local community. If you think you might like to get involved and join our Executive Committee (enthusiasm and a "can do" attitude is more important than expertise!), please contact our Chairman, Phil Harding, for an informal non-committal chat.

The Executive Committee only meets 4 times a year and its working method is more about sharing ideas and getting things done in a friendly and productive atmosphere than being bogged down with time-consuming administration.

Website skills wanted!

Our website is a popular resource for our local community which means that in addition to keeping it relevant we want to make sure it continues to function as it should.

If you live in or near Saltford, care about your local environment and have current knowledge of website design and might be interested in using your IT skills for a bit of IT volunteering to help us behind the scenes please get in touch with our Chairman by email to philharding27@gmail.com for a no-obligation chat on possible volunteer help.

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Contact Us

All general & urgent (e.g. Press) enquiries by email to our Chairman please from whom SEG's postal address, if required, can be obtained on authenticated* request *(to avoid junk mailing etc.).

CONTACTS:

Chairman: Phil Harding
philharding27@gmail.com

Website Editor is Phil Harding but see website editorial/contact info. below BEFORE contacting SEG about this website

Secretary: Vacant post

Treasurer: Andrew Stainer
andrew.stainer@outlook.com

SEG Green Belt Campaign: Contact our Chairman (contact details above)

Saltford Station Campaign: Chris Warren
cherokee1883@live.com

Saltford Fairtrade Group:
saltfordfairtrade@hotmail.co.uk

History of Saltford
Project Curators: Phil Harding & Andrew Stainer (contact details above).

Saltford Wombles is independent of SEG but contact details can be found on our Less Waste page.

Saltford4Nature community gardening group is a sub-group of SEG; contact details can be found on our Gardening page.

Cookies and Privacy Policy Statement

SEG respects the privacy of visitors to our website. We do not use cookies to collect personal or other data about visitors to our website; the only data we collect via our ISP's hosting service, and without the use of cookies, is the number of visits to each of our web pages but not who the individual visitors are.

*EDITORIAL POLICY including SEO, web design and marketing for www.saltfordenvironmentgroup.org.uk

As a general rule our editorial content is sourced locally in Saltford and NE Somerset or from reputable non-commercial organisations based in the UK.

Will Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), website design, "content providers" and other similar companies please note that this website has all the SEO ranking, social media links, and smartphone compatibility that it requires to meet its specific objectives and enquiry emails on this topic including link requests will not receive a reply to save your time and ours.

SEG is not a commercial enterprise therefore companies that produce bespoke marketing materials or sponsored editorial content should also note that marketing emails or requests for placing links to other websites* will not receive a reply as it is our policy not to reply to marketing emails of this nature unless they are from a Saltford-based organisation seeking to assist SEG.

*SEG is not in a position to authenticate the accuracy and legitimacy of third party websites and/or third party editorial content.

Do you care about the village of Saltford, its environment, wildlife and future as a thriving, more sustainable community? Then follow us on Facebook, look out for our news items in Saltford Association Community News (SCAN) and regularly visit our website. Sometimes we have vacancies on our Executive Committee, so if you are interested in joining the committee, contact our Chairman for advice.

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SUPPORT FROM BUSINESS:
We welcome support from local businesses to help cover our costs and keep membership free for our members. If your local business would like to support SEG (e.g. a logo + link on this page is very inexpensive), please contact our Chairman (see above for contact details).