The latest version of the South Somerset Local Plan 2006 – 2028 has now been formally “Submitted” to the Planning Inspectorate for public Examination. This follows Full Council’s endorsement of recommended amendments on Thursday 17 January 2013.
The report to Full Council updated growth projections as a result of the publication of the new population figures from the 2011 Census and the latest job figures from the Business Register Employment Survey for 2010-2011. Other changes resulted from the comments of the public following the public consultation period that ran from 28 June until 10 August 2012. There was full community engagement in the consultation with 797 people and organisations responding and a total of 2,418 points were raised.
The emerging Plan is the council’s guide to how the district should develop over the next 15 years. The location for new housing, businesses and transport links is set out and where development should be located. General policies to shape decisions on planning applications are also set out.
The council’s emerging Plan, proposed amendments and evidence material have been submitted to the Inspector appointed to examine the Local Plan. The Inspector will sit in a formal public Examination where individuals and organisations will have a further opportunity to address the Inspector. This is expected to take place in May of this year. Progress to adoption of the plan thereafter will be determined largely by the Planning Inspector through receipt of the Examination report and what it says.
A Programme Officer responsible to the Inspector and for organising the Examination on the Inspector’s behalf has been appointed and will be shortly contacting all those who have made representations on the Plan to inform them and the general public of what is happening. The Programme Officer, Christine Self can be contacted on 01225 872654 or [email protected].
As with every stage of forming the Local Plan, all the submitted documents can be viewed on the council’s web site: www.southsomerset.gov.uk or at the main council offices at Brympton Way, Yeovil.
Cllr Ric Pallister, Leader of the Council said, “South Somerset District Council has been working on the Local Plan for 6 years now and this is an important step towards getting the Plan adopted. This will mean that everyone living and working in South Somerset will have a clear guide as to what development is needed and where it should go. This will make the Council much less vulnerable to inappropriate and opportunistic development.
“Getting the balance right between growth and the environment will never be easy. The plan is about South Somerset being an area where we have homes and jobs that match the demand in a location where there is a real and continuous quality about the place we live in.”