Three new villages which have been proposed near Barrow Gurney could provide 1,800 homes for people in North Somerset.

North Somerset Times: How the Vale development could look.How the Vale development could look. (Image: Archant)

Taylor Wimpey wants to build 4,500 new homes, schools and a college on greenbelt land between Long Ashton and Barrow Gurney.

The developer has confirmed 40 per cent of the homes would be discounted for people who cannot afford to buy or rent on the open market.

Half of the affordable homes would be for rent, managed by a housing association, and the rest would be starter homes sold at a 20 per cent discount.

Project director Gareth Hawke said: “There is a desperate need for new homes in North Somerset.

“Building 1,800 new affordable homes would be fantastic news for those currently struggling to afford to rent or buy their own home.

“Very often developers are unable to deliver so many affordable homes.

“This is sometimes due to the complexities and costs of regenerating brownfield sites or – in the case of some of the proposed major sites for new homes in the draft Joint Spatial Plan (JSP) – because of the huge costs of putting in roads and other infrastructure.

“But at the Vale the infrastructure is already there – so we can commit to a full 40 per cent, which is great news for those currently unable to afford their own home.”

The developer put the proposal forward as part of the consultation on the JSP, which is being drawn up North Somerset, Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire councils.

The proposals for the Vale are currently excluded from the draft JSP but a number of town and parish councils have supported the development as they believe it is in the most sustainable location.

North Somerset Villages Alliance (NSVA) said: “It is near Bristol and all the transport links leading into and out of it, as well as the new MetroBus service, at least one Park and Ride and several cycle routes.

“Development here would not swamp the existing settlements but would deliver much needed housing numbers to fulfil North Somerset’s requirement identified in the JSP.”