Bristol City Council has published its planning strategy and policies for the future development of the city.

The Core Strategy is part of the Bristol Development Framework, the council’s development plan. It has been prepared over the past three years with involvement from Bristol residents, businesses and stakeholders.

It sets out the council’s strategic policies for different parts of the city, identifying the type, scale and broad location of where new homes, transport improvements, jobs, shops, open spaces and services will be located in the period to 2026.

The key policy components of the Core Strategy include:

1. Protecting the existing Green Belt within the city boundaries from housing development for at least the next twelve years.
2. Implementing some of the UK’s most stringent standards for the construction of new buildings, especially concerning energy efficiency.
3. Actively supporting the development of renewable energy production through one of the UK’s most progressive energy policies.
4. Extending the obligation of developers to provide affordable housing to create mixed and sustainable communities.
5. Focussing regeneration on south Bristol, the ‘Northern Arc’ and the Inner East area (St Phillips) and providing 30,000 new homes by 2026.

Assistant Executive Member for Sustainability, Councillor Neil Harrison, said: “The Core Strategy is a vital document for driving forward our vision for Bristol. We want the city to be in the vanguard of green and sustainable development, while also recognising the need for additional affordable homes and continued economic competitiveness.”

The council is now inviting the public to make ‘representations’ on the Core Strategy. These representations will be considered by a planning inspector appointed by the Secretary of State to carry out a public examination of the Core Strategy.

The strategy can be viewed at the following locations:

• The Council House, College Green, Bristol BS1 5TR (Mon-Fri 7am-7pm)
• All Bristol City Council Customer Service Points (Mon, Tue and Thu 8.30am-5pm, Wed 10.30am-5pm, Fri 8.30am-4.30pm):
• 2-3 Waring House, Redcliff Hill, Redcliffe, Bristol, BS1 6TB
• Robinson House, Hockeys Lane, Fishponds, BS16 3HL
• Symes House, Peterson Square, Hartcliffe, BS13 0BD
• Salcombe House, 147 Salcombe Road, Knowle, BS4 1AB
• Ridingleaze House, Ridingleaze, Lawrence Weston, BS11 0QE
• Phoenix Court, Bond Street South, Bristol, BS1 3PH
• Southmead House, Greystoke Avenue, Southmead, BS10 6BQ
• All Bristol City Council public libraries during their normal opening hours.

It can also be viewed on the council’s website: www.bristol.gov.uk/bdf

Written comments can be submitted via a representation form to:

Core Strategy Consultation (CD/BH), FREEPOST BS6529, Bristol BS1 5BR or by email to bdf@bristol.gov.uk.

Representations forms will be available at the above locations. Additional copies can also be downloaded from the council’s website.

All representations must be with the council by Friday 15 January 2010. Following this the council will send the Core Strategy, supporting documents and any representations to the Secretary of State and hopes to do this in Spring 2010. The examination is then expected to take place in the summer of 2010.