Bristol’s last working farm to be protected under new council plan

The campaign to save Bristol’s last working farm has received a huge boost after the city council promised to protect it in its new 15-year housing blueprint.

The draft Local Plan, published this week, has dropped a previous version’s allocation of 200 homes on grazing land east of Yew Tree Farm – which opponents say would destroy the farm – and the stripping away of greenbelt protection of the fields west of Bridgwater Road, Bedminster Down.

Ward councillor Richard Eddy (Conservative, Bishopsworth), who is chairman of one of Bristol City Council’s two planning committees and has long demanded the changes, said it meant the threat of future residential development affecting the farm was set to end.

Cllr Eddy said house-building on the land would be “virtually impossible in planning terms”.

He said: “Local people have fought long and hard to achieve these important changes to the Local Plan.

“We have been supported by many throughout Bristol who appreciate the unique contribution of Yew Tree Farm and our precious green spaces.

“Moreover, the council has woken up to the importance of retaining these important green lungs and preserving high-value organic food such as Yew Tree Farm produces.

“It is vital Bristol City Council adopts this Local Plan as soon as possible.

“Only that way can we ensure that our planning standards are less likely to be overruled at appeal.

“Obviously there is a risk that some developer might still submit a housing scheme at Yew Tree Farm before the Local Plan is formally adopted.

“However, in this case, any planning application would be determined on the existing Local Plan, which stipulates the land is greenbelt, so it is protected from development.”

The housing strategy, covering the period up to 2040, is set to be endorsed by full council on Tuesday, October 31, and go out to public consultation for the rest of the year before being submitted to Government for examination.

Labour cabinet members announced almost a year ago that initial proposals for the forthcoming Local Plan would no longer include new homes at Yew Tree Farm, and this has now been confirmed in the final draft document.