Planning and the Bristol Mayoral Elections

Back in 2012, Bristol was the only one of ten cities that chose to appoint an elected Mayor. This followed years of there being no strategic vision or leadership for a city that has an urban area encompassing four local authorities.

Since 2012, Bristol has had architect and past-President of the RIBA, George Ferguson, providing that leadership. Whilst his approach has not been universally popular, Ferguson is standing again in the Mayoral Election to be held on 5 May and the future planning and development of the City has become a key issue in the election hustings.

The Council's plans to sell off parts of its remaining housing stock has led to protests and fears of gentrification. Mayor Ferguson's highest profile project, the long-awaited Bristol Arena, became a political football before finally being granted planning permission (unanimously) earlier this month. The job of balancing the development needs of the City with the politics of four local councils is never going to be an easy one.

As part of his re-election bid, Ferguson, who stands as an independent candidate for Bristol First, has pledged to "deliver as much as is possible within the system". In his housing strategy, More than a roof, the current Mayor outlines how he would review the ways in which housing is delivered in the city, aiming for social landlords to review tenancies for 'affordability'.

The other main party candidates all recognise the importance of having a housing strategy to support their respective Mayoral campaigns.

Labour candidate Marvin Rees has promised to 'get Bristol building again' pledging 2,000 new homes a year by 2020 - 800 per year of which are affordable. He has also said he will free up vacant land and empty buildings for development by removing tax breaks for unoccupied plots.

Charles Lucas, the Conservative candidate is currently a city councillor, and is running a campaign called Get Bristol Building. He has pledged to relax planning requirements in order to build more houses, though he has thus far declined to make any promises on the number of houses he will build.

Liberal Democrat candidate Kay Barnard's campaign materials don't mention plans to solve the city's housing crisis. However, when she spoke to Inside Housing magazine recently she said she would ensure that all brownfield sites are developed, and to include social and affordable housing. If elected, Barnard would commit to building 2,000 more houses a year.

Green candidate Tony Dyer has ambitious plans for Bristol's housing supply, looking to build 8,000 homes by 2020. He says he wants to focus on higher density levels for new housing development.

In his election campaign, UKIP's Paul Turner commits to providing increased numbers of social and low-rent housing if elected. He wants new build housing to be retained as Bristol City Council property with land put into trusts for people of the city "to make sure the land doesn't get sold off in the future."

Of the 12 candidates for Major, many have placed improving Bristol as a location for economic investment high on their agenda. There will be some difficult decisions to make if the City is to provide for its future housing and infrastructure needs as set out in the West of England Joint Spatial Plan.

With the announcement of West of England devolution (Western Mayoral Authority) made in March's budget, the next Major will have a tough job on their hands and there are dissenting voices already. For whoever wins the prize, the morning of 6 May will be the first day of a challenging term of office.

The full list of candidates for Mayor of Bristol is:
Tom Baldwin (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition); Kay Barnard (Liberal Democrat); Tony Britt (Independent); Tony Dyer (Green Party); George Ferguson (Bristol First); Stoney Garnett (Independent); Mayor Festus Kudehinbu (Independent); John Langley (Independent); Charles Lucas (Conservative Party); Martin Rees (Labour Party); Paul Saville (Independent); Charlotte Townsend (Independent); Paul Turner (UKIP).