Plans for 154 new homes near the M4 on Bristol’s outskirts have been approved by South Gloucestershire Council, but residents are cautioned that parking challenges could become a “daily frustration.” The development, the second phase of Mulgrove Farm Village, will be constructed on former farmland and forms part of the larger East of Harry Stoke New Neighbourhood, a 2,000-home project launched after the local authority lifted greenbelt restrictions 12 years ago.
Despite the plan falling short by three visitor parking spaces compared to council standards, planning and highways officers expressed confidence in the proposals. The strategic sites delivery committee approved the project with a 7-1 majority vote. However, concerns about potential parking pressures were voiced, notably by ward Councillor Neel Das Gupta and Stoke Gifford Parish Council.
Cllr Das Gupta (Conservative, Stoke Gifford) emphasized that even minor shortfalls in parking can lead to long-term issues. He cited examples like Kings Drive near Parkway Station, where compliance with parking standards did not prevent persistent overspill and blocked pavements. He warned that three missing parking spaces might be the difference between a neighborhood running smoothly and one burdened by parking frustrations.
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Parish Councillor Andrew Shore requested the committee defer the plans to allow developers Wain Homes to reconsider and potentially remove one or two houses to make space for additional visitor parking. Similarly, Cllr Adrian Rush (Lib Dem, Chipping Sodbury & Cotswold Edge) expressed skepticism about the inability to find three more parking spaces, advocating adherence to the established parking policy.
Highways officer Myles Kidd explained he was satisfied with the proposed shortfall, noting that in many developments, residents often park in any available on-street area regardless of designated spaces. He highlighted that most visitors would likely use homeowners’ drives and encouraged focusing on sustainable transport alternatives.
However, Cllr Kris Murphy (Conservative, Longwell Green) challenged this perspective, cautioning that without adequate parking, cars may park dangerously on kerbsides, posing risks to children, elderly, and disabled residents.
Mr. Kidd responded by pointing out that while some parking occurs outside designated areas, social norms generally prevent excessive inappropriate parking and that flexibility in parking policy is often necessary. He also noted that the first phase of Mulgrove Farm Village included a surplus of 20 visitor spaces, resulting in an overall surplus across both phases.
John Rhys-Davies from Wain Homes explained that providing more parking spaces would compromise the project’s goals of creating attractive, landscaped, and pedestrian-friendly streets. He underscored the site’s accessibility, with multiple bus routes, walking and cycling links, and proximity to Parkway Station. Among the 154 new homes, 57 will be affordable housing—exceeding the required number by 20 under the Section 106 agreement.
Labour Councillor John Bradbury (Bradley Stoke South) expressed pragmatic support, stating, “I can’t believe we’re going to hold up a development of 150 houses for the sake of three parking spaces,” and moved to accept the officers’ recommendation.