Somerset Local Plan Scoping Consultation 2026

Overview

If you live, work or visit Somerset, the Local Plan is relevant to you. 

It will guide where and how change happens across towns, villages and the countryside over the next 20 years.

We want to know what you think Somerset should look like in the future.

This Scoping Consultation (Regulation 20) is a legal requirement under the new plan‑making system for England (from March 2026). At this consultation stage we must ask for views on these documents: 

• draft Scope of the Somerset Local Plan - what the plan will cover (not detailed policies)  
• draft Local Plan Engagement Plan – how people and organisations will be involved 
• draft Local Plan Vision and Outcomes – what we want to achieve for Somerset 

We are also consulting on emerging work to help shape the Local Plan and inviting your views on

• draft Spatial Strategy Topic Paper – options for where development could go across Somerset  
• draft Role and Function of Settlements Topic Paper – how we understand different towns and villages, including their services and how sustainable they are 
• draft Sustainability Appraisal of the Spatial Strategy options – an initial comparison of how the different options perform against key issues

The consultation will run for 5 weeks, from Friday 19 June to Friday 24 July 2026.

Please note: this consultation is not about specific sites, and no sites are proposed at this stage. You can suggest a site through the Call for Sites and include your reference number where relevant.