Land Use, Development and Planning Policy Research

Overview

Research into land use, development and other planning policy issues is carried out by Bristol City Council's Strategic and Citywide Policy team. The team is also responsible for preparation and review of Bristol's Local Development Framework (known as the "Bristol Development Framework" or BDF).  For more information on the BDF go to the council's planning policy pages. 

The purpose of research and monitoring is to inform the planning process and provide a sound factual basis for decision-making, whilst data also contributes to government statistics and maintenance of the National Land Use Database (NLUD). Every year the Strategic and Citywide Policy team produces an Annual Monitoring Report, Residential Development Survey, and Business Development Survey, along with other research required to support planning policy. Much of this work is publicly available and can be accessed in the sections below. If you wish to look at more general information and statistics about Bristol, go to the council's statistics and census information pages.

 For further information email the Research and Monitoring Group: research.monitoring@bristol.gov.uk

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Bristol Annual Monitoring Report (AMR)

Local Authorities have a statutory requirement to prepare an Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. They cover the period 1 April to 31 March and are required to be submitted to the Secretary of State by 31 December. Bristol City Council will prepare an AMR each year on the adopted Bristol Local Plan (1997) and subsequently the Bristol Development Framework (BDF).

The 2009 Annual Monitoring Report shows:

• How the Local Development Framework (LDF) is progressing
• The extent to which the key objectives of the Bristol Local Plan (and in future the LDF) are being achieved; and
• Progress against the Local Development Framework core output indicators.

The AMR also provides a useful set of baseline data relating to the current economic, social and environmental characteristics of Bristol. The latest report can be accessed below in pdf format: 

Bristol Annual Monitoring Report 2009

For further information please telephone 0117 9036796, or e-mail research.monitoring@bristol.gov.uk.

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Five Year Housing Land Supply 2009 - 2014 Report

Local Planning Authorities are required to assess and demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable sites for housing development on an annual basis. This is undertaken to provide evidence to indicate whether there is an appropriate level of available, suitable and achievable land for future housing development. Bristol's five-year housing land supply report, covering the years 2009 to 2014, is available to download via the link below.

Five Year Housing Land Supply Report 2009 - 2014

The previous years Five Year Housing Land Supply report covering 2008 to 2013, is also available to download

Five Year Housing Land Supply Report: 2008 - 2013

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Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment 2009

The Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) 2009 forms part of the evidence base to support the delivery of the Bristol Development Framework (BDF) Core Strategy. 

The SHLAA has been prepared in consultation with stakeholders and aims to identify as many of the potentially developable housing sites in Bristol as possible.  Developable sites are those which are considered to be in a suitable location for housing development and have a reasonable prospect of being developed before 2026. 

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Previous SHLAA Documents

SHLAA Stakeholder Methodology & Technical Assessment 2008

Bristol Housing Land Availability Assessment 2006 
 

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Bristol Residential Development Survey (RDS)

The Bristol RDS is an annual monitoring survey providing information about housing development in the city based on planning permissions and site surveys.  The report includes figures for the provision of new housing and net changes in the dwelling stock reaching back to 1996.  It also shows progress made towards Bristol's housing allocation as set out in the Structure Plan of the former Avon County area (now known as the West of England). The second part of the report contains schedules of all major residential sites developed since 1996, and sites that were in the pipeline at 1 April 2009.

The 2009 RDS report and schedule of sites, can be accessed below in pdf format.

Bristol Residential Survey Report 2009

Bristol Residential Survey Report 2009 - Schedule of Sites

A summary of findings from the 2009 survey is also available to download below.

Bristol Residential Development Survey 2009 - Summary of Findings

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Employment Land Study

Bristol City Council has undertaken an Employment Land Study (ELS) as a part of the Bristol Development Framework (BDF) process. The ELS has two main aims:

1. to identify the city’s employment land requirements for the period 2006-2026 based on an analysis of economic forecasts, recent trends and policy aspirations;
2. to assess the quality of the city’s main employment areas for continued use and identify potential new land to meet future requirements.

Details of the study are provided on the council’s Employment Land Study web page, along with downloadable pdf versions of the report and annexes.

For further information, please contact the Strategic and Citywide Policy Team on 0117 903 6728.

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Bristol Business Development Survey (BDS)

Since 1989, Bristol City Council has conducted an annual Business Development Survey in order to keep track of new employment floorspace and the stock of employment land in the city (i.e. offices, industry and warehousing). In 2007, monitoring was extended to incorporate other types of development including retail, leisure, hotels, residential institutions and non-residential institutions. Results of the 2009 survey can be accessed via the link below:

Business Development Survey 2009

For further information, please contact the Research and Monitoring Group on 0117 903 6727 or email research.monitoring@bristol.gov.uk.

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Bristol Citywide Retail Study

The council commissioned consultants DTZ in 2006 to carry out a Citywide Retail Study. Phase 1 of the study (June 2007) examines the current and future role of retailing in Bristol and forecasts what the future need will be, taking into account issues such as housing growth. Phase 2 (October 2007) presents forecasts of potential new retail capacity across three sub-areas within the city, based on three alternative growth scenarios.

More information is available on the council's Citywide Retail Study web pages.

If you have any comments or queries on the study please contact us at research.monitoring@bristol.gov.uk.

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