Decision on controversial Bristol housing development deferred

A decision on a controversial housing development at Brislington Meadows in Bristol has been deferred after a council meeting on 11 March overran before the vote could take place.

The scheme proposes 260 homes, including 78 affordable properties, with around three-quarters expected to be available for social rent.

Planning officers have recommended approval, noting that the principle of housing on the site was established in 2023 when the Planning Inspectorate granted outline planning permission on appeal. The current application relates to the detailed design, layout and landscaping of the development.

The proposal has proved highly controversial locally, with more than 600 objections submitted. Campaigners argue that Brislington Meadows is an important wildlife habitat and valued community green space.

Supporters of the scheme say the development would help address Bristol’s housing shortage, while retaining significant open space. Developers say more than half of the site would remain green space, alongside new tree planting and biodiversity measures.

The site has a long and contested planning history. It was originally allocated for housing in Bristol’s 2014 Local Plan, although it has since been removed from the emerging replacement plan. However, the outline planning permission granted on appeal means the principle of development has already been established.

You can read more information by visiting the BBC website.¹

£10bn Elsham Tech Park set to become one of the UK’s largest AI data-centre campuses

Plans for a major new AI data-centre campus in North Lincolnshire could transform the UK’s digital infrastructure landscape. Elsham Tech Park, a proposed hyperscale computing hub near the village of Elsham, is set to become one of the largest data-centre developments in the country if fully delivered.

The project will be built on the site of the former RAF Elsham Wolds airfield, close to the M180 corridor and within reach of key power infrastructure along the Humber. Developers say the campus could attract up to £10 billion in investment over the lifetime of the scheme.

Plans outline a 176-hectare technology campus capable of supporting up to 1 gigawatt (GW) of computing power - a scale designed to support the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and high-performance data processing.

The development could include up to 15 hyperscale data-centre buildings, alongside energy infrastructure, battery storage, substations, and associated support facilities. Together, the buildings could provide around 1.5 million square metres of floorspace dedicated to digital infrastructure.

Data centres of this scale are typically used by global technology firms and cloud providers to run AI training models, host digital services, and support large-scale computing workloads.

Supporters of the scheme say it could deliver significant economic benefits for the region. Estimates suggest the project could create thousands of construction jobs during development and hundreds of long-term roles once the campus becomes operational.

The developers have also suggested that waste heat generated by the data centres could be reused locally, including potential applications in greenhouse agriculture.

The proposal comes amid a surge in demand for AI-ready data-centre capacity across the UK and Europe. Large technology companies and infrastructure investors are increasingly looking for sites with access to substantial electricity supply, land availability, and strong network connectivity.

With its proximity to major power connections and renewable energy from the Humber’s offshore wind sector, North Lincolnshire is seen as a strategic location for this kind of infrastructure.

If fully built, Elsham Tech Park would rank among the largest data-centre campuses in the UK, highlighting the scale of investment now flowing into the country’s AI and digital infrastructure sector.

You can find further information by visiting the BBC website.²

New Chief Planning Inspector appointed

The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has confirmed the permanent appointment of Rebecca Phillips as its chief planning inspector, following a year in the role on an interim basis.

Phillips, who has been serving as interim chief planning inspector since March 2025, was formally confirmed in the position this week. The role carries responsibility for providing strategic leadership and professional guidance to help maintain an effective, fair and transparent planning system in England.

According to PINS, the chief planning inspector plays a key role in shaping how the planning system supports major infrastructure projects, enables the delivery of local plans and ensures communities can influence development in their areas.

Phillips will mark 20 years with the agency in May. During her tenure she has led work to strengthen inspector learning and development and has collaborated closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and other stakeholders on planning reforms, including the draft new National Planning Policy Framework and emerging approaches to local and strategic planning. We were also incredibly pleased to welcome her to speak at the National Planning Conference last year on a panel addressing the fledglining 'greybelt' categorisation.

Before taking on the interim chief inspector role, Phillips served as professional lead for planning appeals, overseeing professional support, advice and training for inspectors dealing with appeal cases.

Speaking about her appointment, Phillips said she was “honoured” to take on the role at a time when planning casework is evolving rapidly due to policy and legislative changes. She added that her focus will be on strengthening the inspector profession to ensure it remains high-performing and prepared for future challenges.

You can read more on the government's website³

1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd03m9gv837o
2. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y63pl88m5o
3. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/rebecca-phillips-appointed-as-chief-planning-inspector