Taylor Wimpey has submitted a detailed planning application for the second phase of its development at Netherton Grange.

The overall scheme will see 450 homes built over the 60-acre site.

Work on the first phase to build 130 homes, 41 of which are ‘affordable’ - loosely defined as under £325,000, by local councillors - started last year.

The second phase will see a further 217 homes built, 63 of which will be affordable housing.

There will be a mix of two, three and four bed homes in the second phase of the development.

In the master plan submitted with the application it shows areas for the houses, playgrounds and green space.

It also shows with a blue dotted line a proposed bus route going from Netherton Wood Lane past Bizley House and coming out at Youngwood Lane.

To read all 56-documents submitted to North Somerset click HERE.

However, it hasn’t joined up the dots on the road network although it does give an indication those living on the new housing estate should be able to drive to the railway station?

In an invitation to prospective house owners, it says Nailsea has ‘more local amenities’ and ‘more green space’ giving ‘more reasons to move’ into the development on the western edge of the town.

And its latest marketing missile adds ‘Among the many advantages of Netherton Grange is the opportunity to join a friendly new community. Some features of the development will include orchards, allotments, and play areas for you to explore. Find your new home today and start your journey’.

The planning application for 450 homes to the north of Youngwood Lane and east of Netherton Wood Lane was first submitted in July 2016 after a presentation and consultation headed by Scottish house builders Mactaggart & Mickel.

But North Somerset Council failed to make a decision in time, so the developer now Taylor Wimpey lodged an appeal and the plan was approved by a Government planning inspector in November 2019.

The scheme has proved controversial with Nailsea Town Council raising concerns against the area being developed, claiming it was in the ‘wrong location’ and would set a precedent for further ‘piecemeal development’ in the town.

This was despite it was recommending developing on ‘recreational’ land it sold to Barratt Homes at Engine Lane a stone’s throw away at the same time.

Councillors said at the time that the Netherton Grange development would put ‘unacceptable pressure’ on existing infrastructure and would put additional stress on the already congested road network.

And with more houses proposed on fields at Flax Bourton the joined-up thinking is a link road from the A370 skirting Backwell and going through Backwell Lake is still somewhere on the drawing board.

As part of the scheme, Taylor Wimpey Bristol will make contributions of more than £1.1m to the surrounding community, including highway improvements and green travel initiatives.

 A Taylor Wimpey spokesman said "Netherton Grange will provide much needed homes, including affordable housing, and investments for the local community.”

Nailsea is expected to see thousands of new homes built over the coming decade.

North Somerset Council executive member with responsibility for placemaking and economy Mark Canniford is the Lib Dem ward councillor for Weston Hillside.

He said: "The Government has told North Somerset Council to provide 20,880 homes by 2038 which is extremely challenging when all the environmental constraints are taken into account, including flood zones, green belt and the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

"We have undertaken a robust assessment of development opportunities but there are no easy sites left and the standard method housing target is unrealistic.

"We are therefore interested that in statements following the recent Queen's Speech the Government appears to be moving away from mandatory housing targets based on need.

“As an area with considerable Green Belt challenges, we hope to be held to a lower housing requirement than less constrained councils.

“We will continue to engage with the Government on this sensitive issue.  

"We would like to thank everyone who took part in our recent local plan consultation and played their part in helping to shape the future of North Somerset."

Contained in this plan are the words in the highways section ‘Nailsea orbital route’ but no details.

However, Nailsea Town Council is hosting a drop-in session at 65 High Street with North Somerset Council executive members and a highways officer – no date agreed yet.

Among the questions sure to be asked are plans for High Street, West End, potholes, rewilding encroaching on footpaths and thoroughfares plus a commuter route by road out of Nailsea given more and more people are coming here to live.

For more information visit www.n-somerset.gov.uk/newlocalplan