When the new housing developments began two years ago in Nailsea the price of a 2-bed home in the town was approximately £200-250,000.

Wimpey Taylor lowest priced 2-bed house came in at £300,000+ which pushed up all the house prices in Nailsea.

This we were told on our tour of Nailsea housing developments early in April is a direct benefit of having new building is it increases the value of all the houses in the area.

Maybe for those who already own a house it could be a good thing but surely not for first-time buyers?

However, contrary to expectations lots of local people, including first time buyers and downsizers are among the new residents at Netherton Grange and Engine Lane.

Of the 127 homes at Netherton Grange 80 per cent are sold.

With its pitched roofs and use of a variety of materials on a sloping site towards open countryside you must admit this is an attractive development, pictured top.

Down the road at Barratts building site called Parish Brook the layout is more barrack-like and there is a backdrop of pylons, but such was the success of a meet-and-greet carol service last December it has a reputation as a very friendly neighbourhood.

The carol service was instigated by Holy Trinity church who have also facilitated the children's play area at Netherton Grange, pictured below.

Already 70 per cent of the 171 are sold or rented via a housing association and the expectation is all will be sold by November and all construction workers will be off the site by March 2025.

Prospective buyers on these two major sites have asked if the roads into Nailsea will be improved and if the bus is likely to run on the estates as per outline plans - who knows?

But it is the tightly packed 17 3and 4-bed homes off Trendlewood Way called Bucklands Place currently under construction and with miniscule gardens being marketed for £400,000-£965,000 which has Nailsea aghast.

That and wondering whether North Somerset Council planners will let two homes be built on the small grass verge next door with a protected tree in the middle of the triangle of land.

North Somerset Local Plan is in its final stages - no more consultations - and later this year it become set in stone as the final blueprint on where development can and cannot take place, while 'guiding investment for new housing, jobs, transport and community facilities' during the next 15 years.

Nearly 500 responses were recorded from town and parish councillors and residents.

North Somerset Council will be reviewing all of the representations made and then submitting them along with the Local Plan and supporting documents to the Government to be scrutinised by an independent inspector. 

The inspector will decide if the Local Plan complies with the necessary requirements for it to be adopted and used in decision making. 

In its draft form Nailsea has been earmarked for thousands of new homes BUT no new roads just a roundabout going nowhere at the end of Station Road before the railway bridge.

To learn more of what is happening a good starting point is the annual meeting of Nailsea Action Group (NAG) at the Grove Sports Centre and Social Club on Wednesday, April 17, at 7:30pm.

A NAG spokesperson said: "The meeting’s theme will be how to defend our public open green spaces."

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