South Gloucestershire Local Plan: Core Strategy 2006 – 2027 Inspector’s Draft Main Modifications. October 2012 Representation by The Bristol Port Company The Bristol Port Company’s (TBPC) comments are as follows. The Inspector comments in his Preliminary Findings – The Way Forward, at 15.5 that in respect of Policy CS15 “Distribution of Housing” that the Core Strategy should “……carry out a comprehensive and detailed review of its Green Belt boundaries” Furthermore he goes on to say that “Ideally this should be done in conjunction with the adjacent West of England authorities because of the interrelationship between them and need for a correlated strategy to deliver a sound and coherent development framework for the longer term” Whilst this recommendation is made in the context of housing provision it is a matter that TBPC has raised in its representations at the three Core Strategy Examinations in which it has participated, Bristol City, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. The “Avon Green Belt” was identified and adopted in the 1970s and whilst it has been incrementally modified in the intervening years the dated nature of this policy context is now considered to be worthy of review. If the long term planning in the West of England, in the form of Core Strategies, is to perform a relevant and realistic framework for development in the first half of the 21st century the Green Belt necessitates a comprehensive review. In respect of the availability of employment land, specifically at Avonmouth/Severnside, South Gloucestershire Council, together with Bristol City Council and the Environment Agency, has already given consideration to the potential in the period up to 2050. An appreciation of such forward thinking can best be enhanced across the whole of the West of England and include a comprehensive review of the Green Belt. Such a comprehensive review would not only accord with the general Government principles of Local Authority’s duties to co-operate, inherent in the sub-region since the abolition of Avon County, but could also take account of the changing planning context e.g. sustainability was not an explicit planning objective in the 1970s, but also could also make a fundamental contribution to an effective planning framework for the next 40 years. To this end TBPC supports the Inspector’s recommendation for a comprehensive review of the West of England Green Belt, with South Gloucestershire Council encouraged to agree with the other constituent Authorities, Bristol City Council, North Somerset Council, and BANES that a co-ordinated review should be represented in the Local Development Scheme of each Authority. 13 November 2012 .