Proposals to build 40 new homes at Bitton and secure the future of the village football club by installing an artificial pitch have been submitted to South Gloucestershire Council.
Woodstock Homes’ scheme covers 2.4 hectares of land next to the A431 Bath Road. The site is currently an open field, grazing land and a football pitch.
Bitton AFC was founded in 1892 and has played at Bitton Recreation Ground since 1922. Bitton Sports and Social Club, the trading name for Bitton AFC, was founded in the 1950s.
There are 17 football teams across different age groups as well as cricket and archery clubs.
Bitton AFC has been experiencing an unsustainable financial decline and without investment, the club and its facilities will cease to operate in 2028.
Bitton AFC has estimated that the conversion of the existing first team pitch to a 3G surface will cost £960,000 and the sale of some of its land for housing will provide a capital receipt of £1.4m. This would be spent directly on improvements to property owned by the Bitton Recreation Ground charity and leased by Bitton AFC, and into the long-term financial sustainability of the club.
An artificial surface will result in significantly more playable hours in all weathers by multiple clubs, bringing in future financial investment.
The site is within but at the edge of the Green Belt and the part not in Bitton AFC’s control is earmarked for housing in South Gloucestershire Council’s emerging Local Plan.
There would be both market and affordable housing. The plans include 82 parking places and 40 cycle spaces and the site is said to be in a highly sustainable and accessible location.
Woodstock Homes is a privately-owned developer based in Westbury-on-Trym in north Bristol. During a pre-application engagement in the summer 137 feedback responses were received with 54% (74) expressing support for the proposals while 37% (51) objected.
Many respondents supported family-sized and affordable homes. A majority also supported the link to Bitton AFC.
Concerns were voiced about congestion on Bath Road and match-day parking. There were some objections about building on Green Belt land and the pressure on local schools, GPs, and public transport.
The developer says the pe-application consultation has led to “tangible refinements” to the scheme.
The planning reference is P25/02501/F and any comments must be submitted to the council by December 11.