Planning work under Somerset Council
Somerset Council is the local planning authority for Taunton, Yeovil, Bridgwater, Frome, Wells, Glastonbury, Burnham-on-Sea, Chard, Crewkerne, Wincanton, Shepton Mallet and the rural parishes of the former Somerset West and Taunton, South Somerset, Mendip and Sedgemoor districts. North Somerset and Bath & North East Somerset are different councils. Exmoor National Park Authority is a different LPA again where the Park boundary applies, including on the Somerset side of the park. We name the decision-maker in the quote.
The 2023 unitarisation did not wipe the development plan. Adopted local plans from the former districts, made neighbourhood plans, and emerging Somerset-wide policy all still get cited. We write to the policies the case officer will actually use, not to a slogan about “the new council”.
Somerset jobs fail for local reasons: the Levels and flood zones around Bridgwater and the Parrett; phosphate neutrality in the Somerset Levels and Moors Ramsar catchment; Mendip and Quantock landscape; Wells and Frome heritage; and agricultural-to-residential conversions that needed Class Q or a certificate rather than a hopeful full application. We check catchment, flood maps and the right route before we price the work.
We already run cases for clients in Somerset from the Bournemouth office. Neighbouring authorities we also act under include Dorset Council and Wiltshire Council.
What usually decides Somerset cases
- Confirming Somerset Council versus North Somerset, B&NES or Exmoor NPA
- Former-district local plans and neighbourhood plans still in force
- Flood risk on the Levels, Parrett and coastal strip
- Phosphate / nutrient neutrality where the Ramsar catchment applies
- Mendip, Quantock and rural landscape character
- Heritage towns, village conservation areas and rural conversions
Services we run in this authority
- Householder applications for extensions, lofts, outbuildings and annexes
- Full applications for new dwellings and conversions
- Change of use and lawful development certificates
- Prior approval, including larger home extensions and rural conversions where the GPDO applies
- Appeals, including enforcement and non-determination
Householder applications from £500. Small full applications from £1,000. Written representations appeals £500 to £1,000. Council fees are separate. Every quote is confirmed in writing before work starts.