The government’s directive for Somerset to build an overwhelming 75,000 new homes over the next 20 years has sparked concern among local councillors and residents, who warn the target is unrealistic and risks ignoring local priorities.
Somerset Council is currently developing a new county-wide Local Plan, set to be formally adopted by spring 2029 after extensive public consultation and review by the Planning Inspectorate. This plan comes in the wake of a government commitment to build 1.5 million homes across the country during the current parliament, resulting in a 41% increase in Somerset’s housing target.
Local representatives argue that the scale of this demand is excessively high and may marginalise the voices of local communities in shaping their neighbourhoods. At a recent meeting of the council’s planning and transport policy sub-committee in Taunton, multiple parish councillors voiced their frustrations.
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Colin Fisher, chairman of Stoke St. Mary Parish Council, criticised the approach as “developer-led” and disconnected from local realities. Speaking for 12 parish councils, he emphasised the importance of Neighbourhood Plans, which incorporate detailed local knowledge often overlooked in broader strategies. “A better plan,” he argued, “focuses on places, not arbitrary housing targets.”
Isobel Beacom from Wedmore Parish Council raised concerns about the government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill, currently under consideration in the House of Lords. She warned that the bill’s emphasis on centralisation and rapid development threatens local democracy and could impose unsustainable pressures on rural infrastructure such as schools, health services, drainage, and roads.
Similarly, Harriet Chappell of Queen Camel Parish Council highlighted the disproportionate impact of new housing on small villages. With planning already approved for 43 houses on West Camel Road—exceeding their original Neighbourhood Plan’s target—the village faces a potential 20% growth if further development proceeds. She questioned the effect on village character and infrastructure, especially given heavy traffic concerns.
Somerset Council’s planning portfolio holder, Councillor Mike Rigby, acknowledged that the government’s housing figure is “too high” and potentially undeliverable under local conditions. He cited Somerset’s geographic challenges, including flood-prone areas and multiple protected landscapes such as Exmoor National Park. Rigby lamented the diminishing role of local input in planning, describing the process as increasingly driven by central government rather than true local governance.
Councillor Sarah Wakefield, responsible for adult services, housing, and homelessness, stressed the need for the Local Plan to reflect societal changes — particularly the growing demand for single-person homes as family structures evolve. She pointed to the council’s Homefinder register, which has nearly 12,900 households waiting for housing, with over half seeking single-occupancy accommodation.
The timeline for the new Local Plan includes a first public consultation slated for April 2026, followed by a second round in October 2027. Submission to the Planning Inspectorate will occur in January 2028, with hearings and revisions to follow. The plan is expected to be finalized and adopted by March 2029.
In the interim, planning decisions will continue based on legacy plans from the former district councils that were dissolved in April 2023.