Issue 15 - January 2026

Local Plan updates

Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment

We received a large number of submissions through our Call for Sites for the new Local Plan and have over 1,600 sites to assess.

We're working on assessing these sites ready to publish the Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) in the spring.

Government changes to plan making

The Government recently published updated guidance on the new 30-month local plan process and a copy of the sequence is outlined above for ease of reference.

We're currently reviewing the Government guidance and will be updating the Local Plan project plan and timetable to ensure it aligns with this new approach.  This will be published and reported to the Planning and Transport Policy Executive Sub-Committee in due course. 

Masterplan updates

Yeovil Town Centre Masterplan

We're preparing the Yeovil Town Centre Masterplan to set out a strategic vision for the Town Centre. It will guide the regeneration of not just the town centre but also the wider urban area.

The intention is for it to be locally adopted and to be a material planning considering, as well as informing emerging local plan policies and proposals for the town centre.

Neighbourhood Plan updates

Ilminster Neighbourhood Plan – Made

On 8 October 2025, the Planning and Transport Policy Sub Committee voted to ‘Make’ (adopt) the Ilminster Neighbourhood Plan. This means it now forms part of the statutory Development Plan for Somerset, to be used in the determination of planning applications, the preparation of masterplans, the provision of pre-application advice, and for all other development management purposes within the Neighbourhood Area (the Parish of Ilminster).

Oake Neighbourhood Plan – Made

On 10 December 2025, the Planning and Transport Policy Sub Committee voted to ‘Make’ (adopt) the Oake Neighbourhood Plan. This means it now forms part of the statutory Development Plan for Somerset, to be used in the determination of planning applications, the preparation of masterplans, the provision of pre-application advice, and for all other development management purposes within the Neighbourhood Area (the Parish of Oake).

Hatch Beauchamp Neighbourhood Plan

Independent Examination of the Hatch Beauchamp Neighbourhood Plan has commenced. The Examiner is independent of both Somerset Council and the Parish Council and is checking the Neighbourhood Plan to see if it meets legal conditions and requirements. The Examiner may make recommendations for changes to the plan to ensure that it meets the legal tests, called “Basic Conditions”, to allow the Neighbourhood Plan to progress to Referendum.

Natural environment and biodiversity

Further S106s completed for BNG habitat banks and phosphate mitigation

Barbara Larkin