Evidence Base Information
Development plan document policies must be justified by evidence in order to be considered sound. A series of studies must therefore be carried out, and other data about the local area, its life, economy and environment collected to inform the policy making process. The key pieces of evidence are briefly set out here, the linked pages give more detail.
1. Housing and Community Evidence
Strategic Housing market Assessments describe the characteristics of the housing market within a defined area and set out how well it provides for the population of the area. West Somerset is covered by two overlapping Housing Market Areas (HMA). Further details can be downloaded from the Strategic Housing Market Assessment page.
The West Somerset Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) was signed off by the Somerset Housing Market Partnership on the 25th March 2010. The document, prepared on behalf of the Council in compliance with the requirements of PPS3 demonstrates that the Council has a five year supply of readily developable housing sites.
This involved the assessment of how well land being put forward as having potential for development performed in terms of the PPS3 guidance on land supply, i.e. to what extent it is available, suitable and achievable in terms of its development within the following five years. The current guidance on housing land supply is set out in section 6 of the National Planning Policy Framework (Delivering a wide choice of high quality homes).
This work provides a clear picture of the existing recreational facilities within the Local Plan area and identifies shortfall in provision.
2. Economic Evidence
An Employment Land Review has been carried out in order to assess what the existing provision of employment facilities within the area is, to describe how the employment land market is functioning, and to assess whether additional employment land of certain types is required and if so, where it is needed.
Policies for retail development and other town centre uses within the area have to be based on evidence of the way in which existing provision is working to serve the community. This work has been carried out in accordance with the provisions of the (now cancelled) Planning Policy Statement 4, “Planning for Sustainable Economic Growth” in partnership with the Exmoor National Park Authority in order to gain an up to date picture of this sector of the economy. Current guidance is to be found in the National Planning Policy Framework.
3. Environmental Evidence:
The preparation of a general Level 1 SFRA is required by PPS25 “Development and Flood Risk”. It involves the collection of existing information about past flooding incidents and identifies the extent of the various flood risk zones. This will serve as a source of information for the management of future flood risk through the Local Plan. The Level 1 SFRA has been completed for West Somerset as a whole, in partnership with the Exmoor National Park Authority.
A more detailed Level 2 SFRA has also been completed for the larger settlements within the Local Plan area, where development pressure is greatest, the settlements covered by the study are Minehead (including Dunster Marsh), Watchet and Williton.
Why do we need a study? We need to know what potential renewable and low carbon energy resources lie within the local planning authority area*. Not only does it help us meet government guidance, it helps us understand:
- the changing climate
- national targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from development
- the security of energy supply
- the rising costs of energy
- employment and business opportunities presented by the low carbon economy.
*The local planning authority area is the district of West Somerset outside Exmoor National Park, which has its own planning policies.
A summary of the report's findings is available to download from 'related documents' on this page or follow the heading link to the main report page where the full study can be downloaded.
Heritage Asset Study:
In order the ensure the proper safeguarding of the outstanding built historic and archaeological heritage within West Somerset this work is being carried out in response to Planning Policy Statement 5 so that proper account can be taken of heritage assets in spatial planning and development management decision making.