Evidence Base

Planning Policy Statement 12: Local Spatial Planning, states that it is essential that the Core Strategy, the key document of the Local Development Framework (LDF), is based on thorough evidence.

The Evidence Base consists of:

Planning Policy Guidance Notes (PPGs) and their replacements Planning Policy Statements (PPSs) are prepared by the government after public consultation to explain statutory provisions and provide guidance to local authorities and others on planning policy and the operation of the planning system.

County-wide Strategies and Assessments;

Somerset County Council responsibilities include education, highways, the environment and economic development.

District Wide Documents;

District wide documents support the Core Strategy themes of Strategy, Housing, Economic Prosperity, Transport and Accessibility, Health and Well Being, Environmental Quality and Development Management.

Parish Plans;

The development of Parish Plans and Village Design Statements is seen by the District Council as a way of identifying our communities' needs and aspirations, and being better placed to respond to these.

Yeovil Urban Development Framework and other documents specific to Yeovil and the proposed urban extension including the Draft Summerhouse Village Masterplan 2011;

Chard Regeneration Framework; and

Ilminster Capacity Assessment.

There is also a Glossary of Terms [48kb] (pdf document).

Together these documents provide a framework giving robust, up-to-date evidence of the social, economic and environmental characteristics of the District, thus informing the development of appropriate objectives and policies in the LDF.