Housing developers throughout Somerset are reportedly nearing bankruptcy due to significant delays in planning decisions by Somerset Council, according to local Conservative councillor Mark Healey.
Representing the Huntspill division—which encompasses the Gravity enterprise zone, home to Somerset’s new gigafactory, as well as the villages of Puriton and Woolavington—Mr. Healey voiced his concerns at a full council meeting in Bridgwater on May 20. He criticized the council’s planning service, describing the delays as financial devastation for developers and calling on councillors and officers to end their excuses and take prompt action.
The council has committed to responding to Mr. Healey’s concerns in writing in due course.
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Both Puriton and Woolavington are poised for rapid expansion to accommodate the workforce of the new gigafactory. Earlier this year, Mac Mic Strategic Land proposed plans for 400 new homes west of the M5, while Persimmon Homes Severn Valley submitted revised plans for the ‘West Woolavington’ development, which includes 1,550 homes, commercial spaces, and a primary school.
During his speech in Bridgwater, Mr. Healey emphasized, “I want to address the systemic failure of service that is destroying public confidence in Somerset Council. Our residents are facing a total lack of response and urgency.”
He cited individual cases, including local residents Andy and Rachel Hancock, who experienced a 15-week delay updating their council tax details after moving to Puriton. The couple also endured delays with the council’s planning service, having paid fees in March without receiving timely confirmation that their application was validated—a standard expectation for such submissions.
Mr. Healey expressed frustration: “When did we become an authority that tells local taxpayers to get to the back of another queue? This paralysis isn’t isolated. Local land agents and developers are facing bankruptcy because our planning department takes up to two years to process applications. These are the people who want to build much-needed homes and drive our local economy, yet they are being financially ruined by our inertia.”
He continued, criticizing the council’s reliance on explanations such as restructures and legacy systems: “The public expect basic competence—they want phones answered and emails returned. What immediate actions are being taken to clear this communication backlog? When will the council issue a clear public statement explaining the cause of these delays?”
Mr. Healey warned, “The public’s patience is exhausted. It’s time to stop making excuses and start delivering services.”
Responding at the meeting, Councillor Mike Best, chair of the council, noted that the question posed by Mr. Healey differed from the one previously submitted, preventing an immediate answer. He assured that a written response would be provided.
Council leader Bill Revans agreed, stating, “That wasn’t the question as submitted, so we don’t have a prepared answer for that. If you’d like to send us the text, we’ll ensure you get a written answer.”