Shepton Mallet residents face a pivotal moment as they prepare to vote on the much-anticipated Neighbourhood Plan in a public referendum on July 17. Aligned with the local elections, this vote will determine if the community-crafted plan becomes an official, legally binding part of the town’s planning framework.
The Shepton Mallet Neighbourhood Plan is the result of more than 10 years of extensive development and multiple rounds of public consultation. It establishes clear planning policies for Shepton Mallet and its civil parish, guiding decisions on future housing, green space preservation, transport infrastructure, and town centre regeneration.
If approved, the plan will grant residents direct influence over where and how the town grows sustainably over the next decade. It aims to balance the urgent need for new homes with strong protections for the environment and the enhancement of local community life.
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Councillor Matt Harrison, spokesperson for the Neighbourhood Plan team, emphasized the importance of resident participation: “After over a decade of hard work and engagement, residents now hold the power to decide if this plan moves forward. Your vote truly matters.”
To address the national housing shortage, the plan designates land for up to 1,029 new homes by 2034. Unlike previous approaches where developers led the way, this plan offers a community-approved framework that identifies appropriate sites while ensuring developments come with the necessary infrastructure.
A standout proposal is a new housing site west of Cannard’s Grave Road, accommodating up to 150 dwellings. Importantly, planned access routes avoid congesting narrow residential streets, preserving neighborhood tranquility.
The plan also introduces a new community building on this site featuring meeting spaces, social and health services, alongside a community play park, allotments, and garden areas designed to boost social cohesion across generations.
Environmental stewardship plays a central role. Fourteen Local Green Spaces—including Collett Park, Kilver Court Gardens, The Meadows Path, and areas in Tadley Acres and Ridgeway Estate—will receive formal protection from inappropriate development. Additionally, key wildlife corridors will be safeguarded to maintain Shepton Mallet’s ecological network.
Transport improvements respond to local concerns about parking and connectivity. The plan restricts developers from inflating parking spaces by counting garages less, mandates visitor parking provisions, and requires new developments to include pedestrian and cycle paths, supplemented by public transport enhancements funded from developer contributions.
Preserving Shepton Mallet’s historic character is another key objective. New developments must respect the town’s distinctive identity while supporting economic revitalisation, particularly in the town centre.
Moreover, the plan ensures that growth aligns with the town’s capacity to deliver vital health and social services, addressing existing pressures on GP access and parking.
Having undergone rigorous public consultation and review, the plan was formally approved for referendum early in 2025. Residents can cast their vote on July 17 at local polling stations. A simple majority will determine whether this visionary plan becomes the blueprint for Shepton Mallet’s future.