A plan to build hundreds of homes on a green space in South Bristol have been scaled right back after Mayor Marvin Rees announced the site was an important environmental haven.
The Western Slopes - the green hillside between Knowle West and the Hartcliffe Way main road - had been earmarked in 2014 for as many as 440 new homes under plans drawn up by the council and its housebuilding company Goram Homes.
But after a huge campaign by local residents, backed by Avon Wildlife Trust, the Mayor has now announced that a maximum of 70 homes should be built there, on the site of a former school at the top of the hill and the stableyard on Novers Lane.
READ MORE: Council gives Hengrove Park to its own housebuilding company to deliver 1,400 new homes
The council own around two-thirds of the steeply sloping hillside, which currently has horse pastures, woodland and the Pigeonhouse Stream at the bottom of it.
The other third is currently the subject of a different plan for 157 new homes from property developer Lovell Homes, which local residents and the Friends of the Western Slopes have been campaigning against ever since Bristol Live first revealed the double threat to the Western Slopes almost a year ago.
The Mayor said that a new ecology report commissioned into the environmental importance of the Western Slopes had changed the council's mind. Just last month, Bristol Live revealed the discovery of otters living in the Pigeonhouse Stream either side of Hartcliffe Way at Crox Bottom, and also reported the objections of the Avon Wildlife Trust to development anywhere on the site.
Now, the council has said that as a result of that ecological report, and detailed discussions with Avon Wildlife Trust, the plans would be reduced to 'protect the important wildlife corridor and meadow and grassland habitats'.
"The council have now allocated to Goram Homes a much smaller area of brownfield land for new homes on the previously developed site of the old school near Belstone Walk and part of the existing stables. This will enable new homes to be delivered in the area, while protecting the areas of the site with the highest ecological value. Goram Homes estimate that 70 much-needed homes can be delivered on this land," a spokesperson said.
"The council will now look for other options for the additional homes in its development pipeline previously earmarked for the site. In line with its commitment to tackle the climate and ecological emergencies and to protect green spaces whilst also tackling the housing crisis, the council will explore brownfield locations elsewhere in the city to build new homes," they added.
"This could involve increasing the density of current developments or identifying new sites to locate the much-needed new affordable housing," they added.
Yesterday, Bristol City Council announced it was handing over Hengrove Park to Goram Homes to get 1,400 new homes built - including 670 new council homes - a move which could ease the pressure on Goram Homes to build new council houses in South Bristol.
Mr Rees said: "We need to tackle the housing crisis in Bristol, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of our commitments to confronting the climate and ecological emergencies. It’s now clear that Western Slopes is a hugely important wildlife corridor and ecologically significant site.
"We are committed to tackling the ecological emergency head on so it’s only right that we pause the proposals for development of council land on Western Slopes.
“Cities are complicated with competing demands and where we locate new homes and how they are built is a nuanced debate. Bristol has limited space, and, if we want to protect green spaces, this means building more densely in brownfield locations, close to sustainable travel, jobs, and public spaces," he said.
"We now need to find other, more suitable sites for these desperately needed new homes, and to make sure we meet the current and future needs of Bristol’s citizens as we do," he added.
The boss of Avon Wildlife Trust, Ian Barrett, welcomed the news. "This is fantastic news," he said.
"It is more important than ever that we preserve important wildlife corridors and protect areas of ecological significance. The Western Slopes play a key role in Bristol’s nature networks and I am delighted that we have found a way to protect them.
"I look forward to working with Goram Homes, Bristol City Council and local residents to see how we can further enhance these habitats and bring more wildlife back to the city."
A spokesperson for Goram Homes said the ecological report - highlighting the Western Slopes' importance environmentally - had made a difference.
"We now propose to bring forward a much smaller number of homes – around 70 – on previously developed brownfield land on the site of the old school near Belstone Walk, and on part of the existing stables, to meet the need for new homes in the area, while protecting the areas with the highest ecological value," she said.
There was also good news for those who had been campaigning against the prospect of new homes on the green space outside the Knowle West Health Park, at the top of the Northern Slopes, nearby.
""In response to public consultation feedback, Knowle West Health Park will be removed from our pipeline, and we will no longer pursue the development of this site," she added.
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