NEW housing estates, new roads and lots of new jobs – but no new towns or a bypass – are included in Sedgemoor’s new local plan.

The planners have had their go at suggesting what goes where and when - but now it's your turn. The district council's ambitious plans are now out for consultation over the next few weeks with the final report due to be endorsed by next summer.

In the meantime the council hope villages, towns, individuals, businesses, schools and anyone interested in the future of the area will give their feedback.

Information packs will go out, presentations will be made to parish and district councils and the council say they welcome views from the wider community, online, in person or by telephone.

The draft plan outlines future development of the area and indicates where new homes, roads and industrial units should go.

Sedgemoor's Nick Tait who led the work on the document described it as an “employment-led” strategy.

He said: “Our starting point was to look at realistic employment forecasts to see what that would mean in terms of new housing.”

The Sedgemoor officer outlined the projected need for 10,300 new homes at a rate of around 500 a year but which could be as high as more than 12,000 homes at nearly 600 a year if economic growth was high up to 2032.

With around 25,000 workers are expected to be employed with the construction of Hinkley C and the surrounding infrastructure and support projects clearly large numbers of new homes will be needed.

At Cokerhurst Farm, Wembdon and land south of Quantock Road, the proposals suggest 1,200 new homes could be built along with a primary school, the relocation of Haygrove school, and a shopping centre.

In north east Bridgwater, the land east of Dunwear Lane could be earmarked for up to 400 houses along with another section of the eastern distributor road, as well as 400 homes off Bower Lane and more commercial development.

Another area for growth is land north of Chilton Trinity where another 2,500 new homes and mixed industry were earmarked. However despite the expectation that this develop can only proceed with a new flood prevention barrier and a bridge over the River Parrett there is no mention of a bypass linking the two strands of the A39 from Dunball to Cannington.

Another 300 houses could be built on land near J24 at Bridgwater Gateway, along with commercial premises further expanding this zone cutting the green space between North Petherton and Bridgwater to a minimum.

On the other side of the M5 from J24 around one million square feet of land has been proposed as potential commercial use pushing the development of the Gateway area across towards Huntworth.

North Petherton could also take its fair share of development with various locations suggested as being able to take more development. Some 70 homes could go up at Shovel Lane, land to the east of the A38 could accommodate 60 dwellings along with developments at Stafflands Farm and Baymead Lane.

And of course the plans don't necessarily include projects already under way, in particular those that are regenerating parts of Bridgwater.

The consultation is will run to December 18, and can be seen online at Sedgemoor's website or in their Bridgwater offices.

What do you think of Sedgemoor's plans? Should they include a bypass, a barrage and a new town north of Bridgwater or do you think they about right? Let us know you views on this important stage in the development of the district by emailing harry.mottram@nqsw.co.uk