A vision for how Yate could look in the next 15 to 20 years, which could attract hundreds of millions of pounds of investment, has been unveiled.
Developed with partners, including the Town Council, local business and residents’ groups, the Town Improvement Masterplan for Yate will be important in helping to shape the future of Yate.
The vision sets out how organisations can work together to help the town change over time, for the benefit of existing residents and businesses, as well as for the next generation.
The plan, which could see in the region of £600 million invested in the town, will build on Yate’s existing character to make it an even more welcoming, healthy, sustainable and prosperous place to live, work and visit.
A 12-week consultation held over the summer allowed local people to share their views on a draft vision, which included options for the town centre, the railway station, the western gateway/ industrial area and Station Road.
During the consultation local people fed back that they want to see more investment in Yate and a modernised town. They said that they liked the vision for enhancing active travel, such as walking and cycling, and to reduce congestion. There was also support for developing the town in line with climate change commitments and enhancing access to nature, for example making better use of the River Frome as somewhere to enjoy and experience nature in the heart of the community.
Residents were also positive about plans for transforming the train station and updating the town centre, with an emphasis on active shop frontages, public spaces and keeping the community at the heart of the town centre.
The feedback highlighted a number of priorities for people living in the town and these have been used to shape a final version of the Masterplan for Yate, which is now available to view on the Council’s website.
For the town centre, the Masterplan proposes to keep the leisure centre and bus station in their current locations, although as investment and new designs come forward, there could be further discussions about relocating them to alternative places. The Masterplan also proposes to maintain overall parking availability and keep building heights sensible.
South Gloucestershire Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Environment and Strategic Infrastructure, Cllr Steve Reade, said: “Yate is our largest town in South Gloucestershire and has a unique identity that we want to see enhanced.
“This new masterplan is ambitious but what is proposed will help strengthen a sustainable and prosperous town. We want to support those living and working in Yate now and in the future.
“We will strive to work with our partners to help realise this vision and we are committed to help deliver the Masterplan ambitions. As a Council we are already demonstrating this commitment with the construction of the new Yate Park and Ride and through our investments to protect local businesses.
“I would like to thank all those who took part in our consultation on the vision for Yate. It is really important that people get involved in shaping the future of their local area. Through the consultation a number of important issues were raised and discussed, and these have been fed into the final version of the Town Improvement Masterplan for Yate.”
The Town Improvement Masterplan for Yate is available to view on our website at www.southglos.gov.uk/yatemasterplan
