WEST Somerset Council has received official endorsement of its Local Plan to 2032 from an independent Planning Inspector.

The Inspectors’ Final Report supports the proposed development strategy in those parts of the district outside of the Exmoor National Park for the 20-year period 2012–2032.

The report comes after an examination in public of the local plan proposals, held at West Somerset House in March of this year where the Inspector heard from individuals, representatives of the development industry and local organisations about concerns over proposals in the plan and how they might affect them.

This was followed by a period of consultation on possible changes to the contents of the local plan arising from the issues discussed at the examination hearing sessions and through correspondence between the Council and the Inspector following its submission to the Secretary of State at the end of July 2015.

Work on the West Somerset Local Plan to 2032 commenced in 2009. Evidence was collected to support and inform the strategy and policies as they evolved.

These have been through a process involving three informal and one formal consultation periods prior to submission to the Secretary of State.

The Local Plan seeks to provide for 2,900 new dwellings over the 20-year period up to 2032.

Most of this and other types of development will be directed towards the three main settlements of Minehead, Watchet and Williton.

It also recognises the importance of smaller communities and their local contribution in a predominantly rural area.

The new local plan will replace many but not all of the policies in the existing West Somerset District Local Plan which was adopted in April 2006.

The Inspectors findings and verdict will be reported to the Council’s Local Development Panel at its meeting in October before being presented to Full Council in November 2016.

The Inspectors Final Report, along with all the other documents used in the examination stage, can be found on the Council’s web-site at; https://www.westsomersetonline.gov.uk/Planning---Building/Planning-Policy/Local-Plan-to-2032/Latest-Examination-news