From the
Bristol Evening Post:
A section of railway line could be moved to open up land in Filton for development.
But local councillors have already launched a campaign against the scheme. They fear hundreds of houses could be proposed for the 14 acres to the north-east of Conygre Grove and Canberra Grove. The land sits directly behind houses in Conygre Grove in an area Network Rail calls the Filton South West Quad. A total of six lines run through the quad, going east to Bristol Parkway station, north to Patchway station, south to Filton Abbey Wood station and west to Severnside.
Network Rail said the so-called chord line affected by the scheme mostly carried freight rather than passenger trains but acknowledged it was a major task to move it. The organisation said it was working with Bristol-based property developer Terramond on the project but that it was in its very early stages.
Network Rail spokeswoman Mavis Choong said the proposal was still at an early stage.
She said: "Network Rail is currently working with Terramond to explore the opportunity to provide around 14 acres of land for private development. As part of this proposal, Network Rail will be moving a chord line at Filton to bring a piece of brownfield land forward for development. The proposal is at the early stage of development and will require approval from the Office of Rail Regulations. Any income from the development will be re-invested to improve the railway."
Councillors said taking the line further back into the site would open up the front, where several hundred homes could be accommodated. They said local residents were alarmed at the prospect, especially as access would be from Filton Avenue and then residential roads.
Filton town councillor, John Tucker (Con, Conygre), lives in nearby Bude Road and said he had major concerns about the housing plan.
He said: "I'm particularly worried about the level of traffic. This would not just increase during construction on the site, but also the ongoing increase in vehicle movements. Site access is proposed only from Filton Avenue via existing and narrow residential roads. I think that idea is hugely inappropriate for the area. Our local roads simply cannot cope with such a development. I've started a local survey so nearby residents have a chance to express their views and have them passed to Network Rail."
Mr Tucker said there was currently only one entrance into the site, which would not be enough if hundreds of homes were built. There is also concern that development could include some warehousing. This could involve lorries going to and from the location.
He said: "The railway line is not terribly busy as it mostly carries freight at night but hundreds of homes would generate a lot of extra traffic around the area. Filton Avenue itself is already used as a rat-run and I think it is pretty dangerous."
If Network Rail gets its permission to move the line, planning consent for the development of the land would then be needed from South Gloucestershire Council. It said it would take all steps possible to prevent disruption to any rail services if the go-ahead was granted.
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