Somerset Local Plan Scoping Consultation 2026
Role and Function - the role of different settlements in Somerset
This section explains the Settlement Role and Function Study, which is an important part of the evidence for the Somerset Local Plan.
The study brings together previous work from the former district councils with the latest data about our settlements to create a single, Somerset-wide settlement hierarchy.
What the study does
The study looks at 176 settlements across Somerset and assesses them based on four main factors:
- Size of the settlement (for example, population)
- Employment role (availability of jobs and economic activity)
- Services and facilities (such as shops, schools and community spaces)
- Accessibility and connectivity (how easy it is to get to jobs, services and other places by different types of transport)
Other information, such as environmental constraints, travel patterns and digital connectivity is also considered to provide context.
How the hierarchy was developed
Summary
Each settlement has been assessed using a scoring approach, based on the key factors above. These scores are then used to group settlements into different tiers.
The factors and data used were identified through:
- Review of previous studies and national guidance
- Local data analysis
- Early engagement with councils and stakeholders
Detailed information
The Settlement Role and Function Study uses a scoring approach to help determine each settlement’s position in the hierarchy.
Four main factors have been assessed. Each uses a range of datasets, which are grouped into seven scoring bands. These bands are weighted to reflect their relative importance (for example, Band 1 scores highest and Band 7 scores lowest). Some datasets are included for context only and are not weighted.
Key factors used in the assessment
Settlement size
This includes:
- Population size
- Number of dwellings
- Projected population change to 2045
Population size has been classified and weighted to contribute to the overall score.
Employment role
This considers:
- Levels of economic activity
- Working-age population
- Number of local jobs and workers
- Whether the settlement attracts workers in or sends workers out
- Employment density (jobs compared to workers)
- Travel-to-work patterns
The number of local jobs has been classified and weighted as part of the overall score.
Services and facilities
This includes:
- Role of town centres and the retail hierarchy
- Availability of strategic and local services (such as health, education and community facilities)
- Access to ultrafast broadband
The provision of both strategic and local services and facilities has been classified and weighted.
Accessibility and connectivity
This considers how easily people can travel to jobs and services, including:
- Access to larger towns and major employment sites within 20 minutes (by walking, cycling or public transport)
- Public transport availability, including frequency and range of routes
- Rail accessibility, including the number of larger towns reachable within 60 minutes
These elements are combined into an overall score, which is then classified and weighted.
Environmental constraints (context only)
This includes factors such as national and local environmental designations. These are not scored or weighted, but are included to provide important context in the assessment.
How the methodology was developed
The factors used in this assessment were identified through:
- Review of previous district-level studies and wider best practice
- Consideration of national policy and the Somerset context
- Data analysis and evidence base work
- Internal workshops and early engagement with City, Town and Parish Councils during 2024
How scores are used
Scores from each of the four main factors are combined to give an overall score for each settlement.
Settlements are then grouped into tiers based on score ranges, which reflect typical characteristics and roles of different types of places across Somerset.
Why this approach is used
This method provides a consistent and evidence-based way to compare settlements and to help inform the settlement hierarchy, which in turn supports decisions about how development may be distributed.
Why this matters
The aim is to create a clear hierarchy to help guide where development should go. This helps to:
- Reduce the need to travel
- Improve access to jobs, services and facilities
- Reflect the different roles of urban and rural areas across Somerset
The proposed settlement hierarchy
At this stage, we are proposing a hierarchy with the following tiers:
- Tier 1: Largest towns (e.g. Taunton, Yeovil, Bridgwater)
- Tier 2: Main towns across Somerset
- Tier 3a and 3b: Smaller towns and larger villages
- Tier 4: Villages with a core range of services
- Open countryside: Settlements not included within the hierarchy
To be included in the hierarchy, a settlement must typically have at least four key services, including a primary school. These services include things like a GP surgery, food shop, community space and play area.
Important: The hierarchy is not a judgement about the importance of a place. Every settlement plays a vital role for the people who live and work there.
Tier |
Settlements |
||||
|
Tier 1 |
Taunton, Yeovil, Bridgwater | ||||
|
Tier 2 |
Chard, Cheddar, Crewkerne, Frome, Glastonbury, Highbridge & Burnham, Minehead & Alcombe, Shepton Mallet, Street, Wellington, Wells, Wincanton | ||||
|
Tier 3a |
Bruton, Castle Cary, Ilminster, Langport, North Petherton, Somerton | ||||
|
Tier 3b |
Abbas & Templecombe Axbridge Berrow & Brean Bishops Lydeard Cannington |
Chilcompton Cotford St Luke Creech St Michael Evercreech Ilchester |
Martock Milborne Port Nether Stowey South Petherton Watchet |
Williton Wiveliscombe |
|
| Tier 4 All settlements have 4 out of 6 key services including a primary school. |
Ash Ashcott Baltonsborough Beckington Blackford Brent Knoll North Coker & Easter Coker Catcott & Edington Charlton Horethorne Chewton Mendip Chilthorne Domer Coleford Combe St Nicholas Combwich Coxley Croscombe |
Crowcombe Curry Mallet Curry Rivel Ditcheat Draycott East Brent Hambridge Haselbury Plucknett Hatch Beauchamp Henstridge High Ham Hillcommon Hinton St George Horton (and Broadway) Huntspill Ilton |
Keinton Mandeville Kilmersdon Kingston St Mary Langford Budville Leigh-On-Mendip Long Sutton Lympsham Mark Mells Merriott Middlezoy Milverton Montacute North Cadbury North Curry North Newton |
Norton St Philip Norton Sub Hamdon Nunney & Nunney Catch Oakhill Puriton Queen Camel Rode Ruishton Shepton Beauchamp Shipham Spaxton Stogumber Stogursey Stoke St Gregory Stoke St Michael Stoke Sub Hamdon |
Tatworth Tintinhull Walton Washford Weare and Lower Weare Wedmore West Chinnock West Coker Westbury Sub Mendip Westonzoyland Winsham Wookey Woolavington |
| Open Countryside | Others that have 4/6, but not a primary school in the village: Binegar & Gurney Slade, Churchinford, Compton Dundon, Hardington Moor/Mandeville, Kilve, Kingsbury Episcopi, Kingsdon, The Lydfords, Pawlett, Pilton, Seavington St Michael, Sparkford | ||||
| All remaining settlements | |||||
As you answer the questions, please refer to the supporting document and information provided. You may find it helpful to keep these open in separate tabs or windows.
Settlement Role and Function Topic Paper
You can download the Settlement Role and Function Topic Paper to read, or view the document below: