Residents of several small villages in Somerset are preparing to vote on a new plan that will influence how their communities develop over the next ten years. After extensive consultation, the Oake Neighbourhood Plan is set for a local referendum this autumn. If approved, the plan will become a legally binding planning tool for Somerset Council, guiding future developments in Oake, Hillfarrance, Hillcommon, and Heathfield.
The plan outlines a clear vision to protect and enhance the community’s heritage and rural character, while allowing for carefully managed, small-scale growth. It aims to prevent uncontrolled or poorly planned development, ensuring any new constructions complement the existing village aesthetics and environment.
Oake Parish covers around five square miles in the Vale of Taunton Deane, located roughly six miles west of Taunton and near the town of Wellington. The plan emphasizes prioritizing local residents for new housing, limiting the loss of greenfield land, and improving facilities, services, and the local environment. It also addresses challenges that extend beyond the plan’s formal scope.
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The document stresses that maintaining the parish’s distinctive rural feel is essential for both residents and visitors. It will support the planning committee in making decisions that reflect community values and wishes. A key challenge identified is balancing the preservation of open countryside and village character with the need for additional housing—sometimes outside the parish boundaries.
The Development Group behind the plan prioritizes retaining green spaces in the older village areas and recognizes the necessity to address local housing needs amid a wider housing crisis. The plan will offer guidance on the design and impact of new developments, encouraging continuous community engagement throughout the planning process to ensure local support.
This comprehensive 100-page plan includes a local design guide, providing future developers with clear expectations on style and scale. The goal is simple: to keep Oake and its neighbouring villages rural, connected, and sustainable, while putting residents at the heart of decision-making.
The vision statement reinforces the commitment to protect community facilities, enhance communication and transportation networks, foster health and social cohesion, and conserve open spaces, wildlife habitats, and the parish’s agricultural heritage. It pledges to create a solid foundation for the parish’s future, preserving its unique character for current and future generations.
“This referendum gives us the opportunity to shape the future of Oake—not just for ourselves, but for our children and grandchildren,” the plan concludes.
If the majority of voters approve the plan in the October 23 referendum, Somerset Council will be obliged to consider it when evaluating any planning applications within the parish.