The land at Old Banwell Road, Locking and Banwell Road, Elborough totals approximately 34 hectares (84 acres).  The land comprises several agricultural fields separated by boundary hedgerows and ditches, with the Hutton and Locking Rhyne passing through the land from east to west.

 

The land slopes down from the north to the rhyne, with some steeper areas in the north-east corner.  A Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) is located towards the centre of the site and is designated for semi-improved and wet grassland habitats and botanical species; this would remain undeveloped as part of our proposals.  The site does not lie within any nationally designated landscape, but the Mendip Hills National Landscape does lie a short distance to the south and abuts the site in its south-western corner.

 

A plan highlighting the existing landscape context and character of the site

Land proposed by North Somerset Council for allocation in its Pre-submission (Regulation 19) Local Plan, highlighted in red

North Somerset Council is proposing to allocate a number of these fields – as well as land to the south of Banwell Road, not controlled by Mac Mic Strategic Land – for new homes in its Pre-submission (Regulation 19) Local Plan, published in October 2025.

 

The land North Somerset Council is proposing to allocate is highlighted in red in the image opposite.  The shape of the proposed allocation calls for two essentially separate housing developments – one on the land immediately south of Old Banwell Road, Locking, and one on the land immediately north of Banwell Road, Elborough, with no direct road connection between the two.

 

Our intention is to use most of the land in-between for biodiversity enhancement and public open space.