Somerset Council is actively reviewing over 1,600 potential sites for new housing developments as it works to establish a new Local Plan for the county. Since taking over planning responsibilities in April 2023, the council has inherited outdated Local Plans from former county and district authorities, prompting this major update.
The new Local Plan, covering all areas except Exmoor National Park, is currently in its initial stages, with the first public consultation scheduled to start in April. Recently, the council concluded its ‘call for sites’, inviting developers and landowners to propose locations for housing and economic development.
These submissions are being assessed in the Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment (HELAA), a technical study that identifies promising sites for residential and commercial use. The HELAA, set for publication this spring, will inform the Local Plan’s evolving framework.
A council spokesperson explained, “The HELAA details all submitted sites and evaluates their potential suitability for development. However, inclusion in the HELAA does not guarantee future allocation or planning approval—it is just an initial assessment.”
Somerset faces significant challenges in meeting housing demand, largely due to the ongoing phosphate pollution issues impacting the Somerset Levels and Moors. Developers must provide mitigation to prevent any increase in phosphates, delaying around 12,000 homes. Additionally, the government has increased Somerset’s housing targets by 41% as part of its nationwide plan to build 1.5 million new homes during this parliamentary term.
These combined pressures suggest that a substantial number of new sites could be identified in the HELAA and advanced in the Local Plan.
The spokesperson added, “After the HELAA is published, we will conduct detailed site assessments to determine which locations warrant further consideration. This process will identify viable options for allocation in the draft Local Plan scheduled for public consultation.”
Residents and stakeholders will have the opportunity to review and respond to the draft plan in two consultation phases: one beginning in April and a second in autumn 2027. Following these consultations, the Local Plan will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in January 2028, with hearings potentially taking place later that year. A final report from the inspector is expected by February 2029, and the council aims to adopt the plan by late March 2029.
This comprehensive approach aims to guide Somerset’s housing growth sustainably, balancing environmental constraints and urgent development needs.