Latest news with #MarkCanniford
BBC News
26-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
North Somerset Council could auction empty shops leases
A council has been granted the power to auction the lease of empty shops, in a bid to revive its high Somerset Council is one of eight local authorities in the UK that can use High Street Rental Auction powers, if a retail space remains empty for a year and landlords do not take steps to let are now plans to put this into practice in Weston-super-Mare, Nailsea and Mark Canniford told BBC West: "We want to get empty properties let again, so people can have their high streets back." The council must first designate town centre zones to decide where the powers can be will include some public engagement on the plans, expected before summer. Portishead will not be included in the plans initially, but North Somerset Council admitted this could change in future."Other businesses suffer because landlords will not let or allow new businesses to open up in their premises," Mr Canniford explained."People want these spaces, they just can't afford the space at the rates the landlords are looking for, so we need to look at what is a realistic rent." Paul Batts, a local business owner and chairman for Weston Business Improvement District (BID) has an empty shop opposite his own."It's quite an eyesore in a small narrow street, so it isn't really what you want to see. People might look at it and think the street doesn't look very nice and be put off walking further."Reacting to the plans, Mr Batts said: "There'll be some landlords who think it's great they'll be able to get some help, and there'll be some longstanding ones who really don't seem to be bothered and that's a shame."That's when it's down to North Somerset Council to pursue it and get those buildings filled."
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Thousands of homes proposed for Bristol outskirts
Thousands of homes could be built on green belt land on the edge of Bristol. The plans, which are being put out for public consultation by North Somerset Council, could create a new area of 'south west Bristol' and include homes south of Long Ashton and in areas such as Backwell. The local authority has been told by government it needs to build a mandatory 23,895 new homes by 2040. Councillor Mark Canniford, the executive member for spatial planning, placemaking and economy said finding space for the homes was "a difficult balancing act". "This will mean some hard choices and we need local residents and businesses to take part in this consultation and have their say. "In particular, if there are alternative ideas or development sites that we can consider," Cllr Canniford said. The mandatory target by government is 8,620 more homes than North Somerset Council had previously been told it needed to find space for in its local plan. Large areas of the district are protected as a result of being green belt, a flood risk or are part of the Mendip Hills National Landscape, making finding space to build homes challenging. The proposals include major new housing in the new village of Wolvershill, expanding Nailsea to the north, south and west and building about 1,000 more homes in Pill and 400 homes on Portishead Down. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the most controversial proposal is likely to be the area directly south of Long Ashton which could be allocated for 7,000 homes. The village campaigned against plans for US healthcare technology firm Epic to build their European headquarters on land between Long Ashton Bypass and the South Bristol Link Road. Plans for the site were approved by North Somerset Council's planning committee in January, despite the local parish council warning it would "effectively join us to Bristol and we do not wish to be subsumed into Bristol." To hit the housing target, North Somerset will need to build 1,593 homes a year, something Cllr Canniford said could be a logistical challenge. "800 to 900 is the most we've built in a booming year — and now we are being asked to deliver 1,500 houses going forward, without really the skills out there to do this," he said. Councils have been warned if they do not find the space to hit the new mandatory housing targets, the government will step in and identify sites instead. The consultation proposing where new homes could go will run until 21 March. Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Hundreds of homes to be built on neglected land US firm set to build Somerset HQ despite concerns Anger over potential 'fire sale' of council houses Local Democracy Reporting Service North Somerset Council
BBC News
13-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Thousands of homes planned for North Somerset close to Bristol
Thousands of homes could be built on green belt land on the edge of plans, which are being put out for public consultation by North Somerset Council, could create a new area of 'south west Bristol' and include homes south of Long Ashton and in areas such as local authority has been told by government it needs to build a mandatory 23,895 new homes by Mark Canniford, the executive member for spatial planning, placemaking and economy said finding space for the homes was "a difficult balancing act". "This will mean some hard choices and we need local residents and businesses to take part in this consultation and have their say. "In particular, if there are alternative ideas or development sites that we can consider," Cllr Canniford said. The mandatory target by government is 8,620 more homes than North Somerset Council had previously been told it needed to find space for in its local plan. Large areas of the district are protected as a result of being green belt, a flood risk or are part of the Mendip Hills National Landscape, making finding space to build homes proposals include major new housing in the new village of Wolvershill, expanding Nailsea to the north, south and west and building about 1,000 more homes in Pill and 400 homes on Portishead Down. 'Controversial' According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the most controversial proposal is likely to be the area directly south of Long Ashton which could be allocated for 7,000 village campaigned against plans for US healthcare technology firm Epic to build their European headquarters on land between Long Ashton Bypass and the South Bristol Link for the site were approved by North Somerset Council's planning committee in January, despite the local parish council warning it would "effectively join us to Bristol and we do not wish to be subsumed into Bristol." 'Logistical challenge' To hit the housing target, North Somerset will need to build 1,593 homes a year, something Cllr Canniford said could be a logistical challenge."800 to 900 is the most we've built in a booming year — and now we are being asked to deliver 1,500 houses going forward, without really the skills out there to do this," he have been warned if they do not find the space to hit the new mandatory housing targets, the government will step in and identify sites consultation proposing where new homes could go will run until 21 March.
