Core Strategy

The Core Strategy will set out the long term planning framework for the district up to the year 2026. It has to work within national and regional planning policy guidance, and will be informed by other evidence studies and council strategies. It is about meeting the needs of people up to the year 2026, by providing enough homes, jobs and services, in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way.

South Somerset District Council held a public consultation late in 2010 on the Draft Core Strategy. We asked for local people's views on every aspect of the growth proposals for the District. This was followed by a Consultation on Yeovil Transport matters for those who made transport comments regarding the Eco-extension during the Draft Core Strategy consultation. Comments received as part of these consultation processes are currently being considered by Officers. The County Council's response to the representations on the Transport Matters Consultation are available on the County Council web site at www.somerset.gov.uk/transportstrategy

Since the public consultation we have been using the responses, together with updated transport research, and household and economic projections, to suggest refinements to the proposals.

Representations made on the Draft Core Strategy during the consultation have been considered by:

• corporate officer and Project Management Board (Member Steering Group) meetings commencing in May 2011
• Area Members workshops in June / July 2011
• corporate officer Project Management Board review meetings

The Agendas, Reports and Notes of the Local Development Framework Project Management Board are now available.

Part of the evidence needed to accompany our Core Strategy, when it is submitted to the Planning Inspector, is an Infrastructure Delivery Plan, which looks at the infrastructure associated with any new development, its' deliverability and likely cost. This has been received from the Consultants later than expected and it is clear that there is more work to be done in evaluating its findings before it will be ready to inform the Core Strategy process, and for public scrutiny.

Over recent months officers have been considering and responding to the issues that arose during the consultation process. Their findings and recommendations will be reported to and considered by Area Committees, District Executive and Full Council at the meetings listed below.

The timetable for the remainder of the process is set out below:

• Production of Publication Plan incorporating agreed changes. A Publication Plan is the next version of the Draft Core Strategy, incorporating any changes made as a result of representations made and the consideration of the most up to date information on transport, population, economy issues.
• 6 week consultation period on the Publication Plan.
• Submission of Plan and representations (and synopsis of representations).
• Examination by Planning Inspector (to be agreed with Inspector).
• Receipt of Inspector's report.
• Consideration of report and adoption.

NB Letters/emails will be sent to all respondents in advance of public meetings informing them of time and venue of meetings and what will be presented in outline.  All key stages will be reported to respondents in advance by letter/email.

Consultation was carried out in 2008 on the Core Strategy Issues and Options Document, and there has also been ongoing consultation with Town and Parish Councils via Parish Cluster Workshops. Advice and guidance has also been received from the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) via the PINS Frontloading Project.