South Somerset District Councillors have voted overwhelmingly to adopt the South Somerset Local Plan (2006 – 2028).

The decision to adopt the Local Plan was taken after receiving the Government-appointed Inspector’s Report in January 2015 which concluded that the SSDC Local Plan was ‘sound’ and, subject to the inclusion of 12 modifications, could proceed to officially adopted.

The finalised plan sets out proposals to deliver 15,950 homes and 11,250 jobs in South Somerset by 2028. The plan focuses on delivering the majority of growth in Yeovil as the district’s main settlement with additional growth targeted towards the larger towns such as Chard, Crewkerne, Wincanton and Ilminster. The overall aim is to deliver sustainable development, capitalising on South Somerset’s unique assets whilst protecting the wider countryside.

Councillor Tim Carroll, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Spatial Planning commented, “This now marks the end of what has been a pretty lengthy process. From the outset, we were determined to deliver the Local Plan as a single document rather than processing it in separate parts as in examples like Croydon and Mendip. This is because we considered that it was imperative to get in as much detail as we could at the earliest opportunity – doing it this way gives far more certainty and clarity and adds to our ability to resist inappropriate and speculative planning applications.

“When we started out preparing the SSDC Local Plan, housing and employment growth levels for the District were dictated by the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) which specified an equivalent housing requirement of 21,600 dwellings for the period 2006 to 2028. With the demise of the Regional Strategies, we did undertake a very comprehensive exercise to determine what the likely housing and employment requirements were likely to be and a more reasonable and realistic figure of 15,950 was adopted and accepted by the Planning Inspector.

“South Somerset is the largest District Council in the SW with more residents and businesses than any other in the region. We need to maintain and build on the strengths of our local economy, ensure adequate housing provision for our residents while addressing infrastructure requirements across the District and this Local Plan will help to deliver those aspirations.

“So the adoption of this Local Plan is a significant achievement for South Somerset, especially when so many other plans across the country are failing to reach this stage. We have worked hard to overcome previous setbacks to satisfy the Inspector that we now have a robust plan that can shape the future of the district.

“I am also very pleased that when it came to the final vote on adoption, the SSDC Local Plan was overwhelmingly supported by 44 Councillors across the political spectrum with only 5 others abstaining and none voting against.

“This is by no means the end of the process, the task now is to deliver on the strategy and realise the much needed homes and jobs in the district and bring about long term positive benefits to South Somerset.”

The adopted South Somerset Local Plan (2006 – 2028) is available to the public via the Council’s website at www.southsomerset.gov.uk/localplan, and can be found at each of the Council’s offices and public libraries.