Somerset Council is inviting residents and businesses to have their say on how Somerset could change in future.
The Local Plan is relevant to everyone, guiding where and how change happens across towns, villages and the countryside over the next 20 years.
The Scoping Consultation (Regulation 20) is a legal requirement under the new plan‑making system for England (from March 2026) and launches today, Friday 19 June.
At this consultation stage the Council must ask for views on these documents:
- Scope of the Somerset Local Plan – what the plan will cover (not detailed policies)
- Local Plan Engagement Plan – how people and organisations will be involved
- Local Plan Vision and Outcomes – what we want to achieve for Somerset
The Council is also consulting on emerging work to help shape the Local Plan and inviting views on:
- Spatial Strategy Topic Paper – options for where development could go across Somerset
- Role and Function of Settlements Topic Paper – how we understand different towns and villages, including their services and how sustainable they are
- Sustainability Appraisal of the Spatial Strategy options – an initial comparison of how the different options perform against key issues
There is more information on the Council’s Local Plan pages.
Councillor Mike Rigby, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Economic Development, Planning and Assets, said:
“Please get involved in the consultation – we want to hear from people how they would like Somerset to evolve.
“This is just the first step in development of the Local Plan. People’s thoughts will help ensure we build a Plan covering the right issues, around a Vision that people can get behind and focus new development in the right places. It’s important to stress that this consultation is not about specific sites, and no sites are proposed at this stage.”
The consultation will run for five weeks until Friday 24 July 2026. Government advice is that the consultation should last for at least 21 days. Somerset Council’s consultation will run for 35 days.