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The council’s Executive Committee will consider the documents, which have been developed in partnership with the town councils, local businesses and community networks through extensive engagement and consultation activity. This has included surveys at public events, stakeholder workshops and online questionnaires.
This is the first time that specific placemaking visions have been created for each of the three towns.
For Clevedon and Nailsea, the strategies focus on the future of the town centres and how to meet the changing needs of communities including business, culture, homes and leisure. They look at how key locations such as Queen’s Square in Clevedon, and the Crown Glass and High Street areas of Nailsea, should be shaped in the future. Over 2,400 people helped to develop the Clevedon and Nailsea strategies, with the engagement activity facilitated by placemaking experts Design West.
For Portishead, a development framework focuses on the future of a large brownfield area between the high street, the marina and the planned MetroWest railway station. This looks to coordinate the evolution of the area through a set of design and placemaking principles for new homes, jobs and active transport links.
The proposed Wyndham Way Development Framework was developed by a steering group made up of representatives from North Somerset Council, Portishead Town Council, local business and Abrdn, supported by a professional team led by Allies and Morrison Architects.
Opportunities for people to engage included sending views through an online portal launched in 2020, which remained open throughout the project. A consultation was held between September and November 2022.
Councillor Mark Canniford, North Somerset Council’s executive member with responsibility for placemaking and economy, said: “Having a placemaking strategy brings with it a range of benefits. In nearby Weston-super-Mare, it has attracted significant investment and a breadth of positive work is happening across communities as a result.
“The strategies for Clevedon, Nailsea and Portishead demonstrate the council’s innovative vision and ambitions for the future of our area. As an Executive, we’re keen to see plans that empower communities, generate local investment, support health and wellbeing, and action our response to the climate emergency.
“While I believe we’ve reached important milestones in the development of our relationships with communities in Clevedon, Nailsea and Portishead, this is just the start. The strategies provide a valuable springboard from which to continue developing ideas and delivery plans, and we’ll only be able to achieve these exciting visions if we continue to work in partnership.”
Councillor Hannah Young, Chair of Clevedon Town Council’s Finance and General Policy Committee, said: “Clevedon residents have told us many times over recent years that we need a clear plan to improve Queen's Square and the surrounding village centre. That has become even more important since the pandemic with the new economic and social pressures on our town. It is very positive to see this investment in working with local people to gather our ideas about how Clevedon can respond to these pressures, develop and thrive. I'm pleased to see that even at this early stage we are seeing local benefits of the approach, with the commitment to protect our local library - which received over £200,000 for recent refurbishment and access improvements - as a cultural and community hub.”
Jo Duffy, Nailsea Town Council Clerk, said: “Nailsea Town Council is looking forward to seeing the ideas generated from the placemaking study come to life and the positive effects that they will bring to our town. The Town Council and our residents will welcome the new opportunities and hope that further investment and business will be created from it, including the setting up of a Business Improvement District (BID) for Nailsea.”
More information is available in the report published today (Tuesday 29 November) on the council’s website.