Firms and their staff are being urged to help shape a blueprint for the future provision of housing and transport across the West of England.
The major consultation is being led by the area’s four local authorities and follows estimates that 85,000 new and affordable homes will be needed by 2036 – some 29,000 more than those already planned and predicted. 
Over the same period around 95,000 new jobs are likely to be created as the area – already one of the UK’s most successful local economies – continues to power ahead.
The local authorities – Bristol City Council, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath & North East Somerset – have launched a Joint Spatial Plan and Transport Study giving local businesses the opportunity to have their say in how and where future development should happen.
Chief executive of Bristol Chamber & Initiative at Business West James Durie – who is also a board member of the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) – said: “Business in Bristol, Bath and the West of England is on the rise. We are the most successful city region outside of London and are home to an incredibly successful range of companies small to large.
“But if we’re to sustain our growth, our high standard of living, fulfil the potential for all those who live and work here, attract more talent and investment, it’s critical that we have the right number of homes and good transport infrastructure to match our needs.
“Housing and transport are key factors in ensuring that we can seize opportunities for this city-region’s economy. Without these foundations our future growth will be constrained.”
Business West has long encouraged the four councils to plan ambitiously for the long-term future for housing, transport and employment, he said.
“They have committed to do just this and so now is our chance to input into this. We strongly urge all business and employers to engage in this consultation and say what you want to see.”
Chair of the Institute of Directors in Bristol, Rebecca Tregarthen, added: “Now that we’re in a more positive economic position, businesses need to make the best use of resources if they’re to increase productivity and they can’t do that without sufficient infrastructure.
“As it stands, the region can’t cope with the growth of large businesses and if we’re to incentivise a new workforce of 95,000 to move here, then we need to tackle this issue head-on.
“Whilst businesses and individuals have the opportunity to present the current realities in the consultation, people can also be creative with the process and generate new ideas for the future. This is why it’s so important for everyone to join the conversation – together we’re better at mapping our future.”
A number of local businesses are already involved and have joined the call for other employers to do the same.
Ed Brown, co-founder of Friska, the Bristol-based healthy fast food group which has five city centre outlets and one on the Bristol & Bath Science Park, said: “We want to see more big occupiers in Bristol, fuelling growth and contributing to the local economy.
“If we’re to succeed in attracting them to the local area, we really need to improve our cross-region transport network. Current transport infrastructure seems to be a hot topic over the tables at Friska, so it’s great that those people have the opportunity to help shape improvements. We’ll be getting involved and we hope other businesses will share their perspectives too.”
The deadline for comments is January 29. For more information, visit http://www.jointplanningwofe.org.uk
Image courtesy of Jon Craig www.joncraig.co.uk
