Stop Bristol Port's car storage plan on the Green Belt
The Issue
Bristol Port Company wants to convert Shipway Farm—a green field—into a car storage area, with a planning application expected in September 2026. What3Words location of the field: ///bristle.rumble.hospitals
This development would:
❌ Destroy vital Green Belt land – This area is a rare wildlife corridor between Portishead, the estuary, the Port and the motorway. Without it, animals cannot move freely, and the nature reserve might greatly suffer from it. In addition, the Greenbelt parcel prevents Portishead from merging with the large built-up area of Bristol and the sprawl of built up areas, and assists in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment.
❌ Threaten Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve – a protected SSSI, SPA and RAMSAR site that relies on Shipway Farm as its essential buffer.
❌ Intensify 24-hour floodlighting to Sheppway - A bat corridor so sensitive that National Grid was legally required to protect it just years ago.
❌ Create drainage and environmental risks – where there are already issues.
The Port wants to expand because dock storage is being developed for industry—but this is Green Belt land. We respectfully ask that already existing industrial plots be considered prior to the planning application.
Sheepway, Portbury, Portishead and the nature reserve are already being developed considerably with the new railway and the Hinkley point pylons. Wildlife is already under pressure.
Whether you live nearby, walk your dog, run, watch wildlife in the Nature Reserve or simply care about nature—please sign this petition to demand North Somerset Council REFUSE this proposal and protect our Green Belt.
By signing this petition, I consent to my name and signature being included, in aggregate, as part of a formal objection to the planning application for the proposed development at Shipway Farm, should it be submitted to North Somerset Council.
PLEASE NOTE: chipping in after signing DOES NOT send money towards other efforts to fight this project. It gives money to Change.org and they will promote the petition. This is not an option we can change when creating the petition.
1,550
The Issue
Bristol Port Company wants to convert Shipway Farm—a green field—into a car storage area, with a planning application expected in September 2026. What3Words location of the field: ///bristle.rumble.hospitals
This development would:
❌ Destroy vital Green Belt land – This area is a rare wildlife corridor between Portishead, the estuary, the Port and the motorway. Without it, animals cannot move freely, and the nature reserve might greatly suffer from it. In addition, the Greenbelt parcel prevents Portishead from merging with the large built-up area of Bristol and the sprawl of built up areas, and assists in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment.
❌ Threaten Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve – a protected SSSI, SPA and RAMSAR site that relies on Shipway Farm as its essential buffer.
❌ Intensify 24-hour floodlighting to Sheppway - A bat corridor so sensitive that National Grid was legally required to protect it just years ago.
❌ Create drainage and environmental risks – where there are already issues.
The Port wants to expand because dock storage is being developed for industry—but this is Green Belt land. We respectfully ask that already existing industrial plots be considered prior to the planning application.
Sheepway, Portbury, Portishead and the nature reserve are already being developed considerably with the new railway and the Hinkley point pylons. Wildlife is already under pressure.
Whether you live nearby, walk your dog, run, watch wildlife in the Nature Reserve or simply care about nature—please sign this petition to demand North Somerset Council REFUSE this proposal and protect our Green Belt.
By signing this petition, I consent to my name and signature being included, in aggregate, as part of a formal objection to the planning application for the proposed development at Shipway Farm, should it be submitted to North Somerset Council.
PLEASE NOTE: chipping in after signing DOES NOT send money towards other efforts to fight this project. It gives money to Change.org and they will promote the petition. This is not an option we can change when creating the petition.
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Petition created on 17 July 2026