A Neighbourhood Plan is a framework developed by the community i.e. the residents and businesses of Ilminster, to guide the future development of the town. An approved Neighbourhood Plan would run alongside the policies contained in the South Somerset Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework.
This is an opportunity for people who live and work in Ilminster to have their say in the future of the town.
CALL FOR SITES
Background
A Neighbourhood Plan is a mechanism for helping communities, including local residents and businesses to influence the planning of the area in which they live and work. It can be used to:
- Develop a shared vision for the neighbourhood
- Propose where new homes, shops, offices and other development should be built
- Identify and protect important local green spaces
- Influence what new buildings should look like.
The Ilminster Neighbourhood Plan Development Group is developing a Neighbourhood Plan, under the provisions of the Localism Act 2012. It is calling upon landowners and agents of land within the Ilminster Neighbourhood Plan boundary for expressions of interest in applying for future development permission.
Why the calling for sites?
This exercise will not in itself decide whether a site will be allocated for development nor will it commit the proposer(s) to applying for planning consent. It will enable the Town Council to better understand the needs and wishes of residents and businesses within the area. You do not need to own or manage the site.
What to do if you want a site to be considered?
By 1 July 2019 (6 weeks from publication date), please submit the following information for each identified site:
Full address and post code
- Ownership details
- Site plan/map extract clearly showing the exact boundary of the site
- Photo (if possible)
- Site size (estimate)
- Potential or preferred uses.
Please send this by email to: [email protected]
or post to: ECA, 14 High Street, Poole BH15 1BP, The attached form may be also be used – click here to download FORM.
The Ilminster Neighbourhood Plan Story
Town Council agreed on 13th October 2015 to investigate developing a Neighbourhood Plan
The Neighbourhood Plan area formally designated by South Somerset District Council June 2017 Click here for neighbourhood area designations
All households received a leaflet which informed them about the Neighbourhood Plan July 2017 click here for leaflet.
Workshops were held during June and July 2017 to give residents, business and local organisations more information and to encourage participation. There were also information stalls at the Ilminster Midsummer Experience. At all the events participants were asked to complete a form indicating based on their current knowledge of Neighborhood Plan whether or not they would support the development of a Neighborhood Plan for Ilminster; 81 votes were cast of those 76 said they would support the development of the plan, 2 were not sure and 3 would not support.
Click here to download a summary of the themes raised and discussed at the workshops.
The Town Council agreed at the Planning, Highways and Transport Committee meeting on 5th September 2017 to apply for a grant to conduct a Housing Needs Survey which will provide important evidence for the Neighbourhood Plan
Regular meetings of the Neighbourhood Plan Development Group are now taking place. With regular updates to Town Council.
Click here to download the Neighbourhood Plan Development Group’s Terms of Reference
December 2018
The Neighbourhood Plan Development Group sought quotations from suitably experienced people or organisations to provide consultancy support to the Group and a recommendation for the appointment, subject to references was agreed by the Town Council on 22 January 2019.
Housing Needs Report
As part of the evidence gathering for the Neighbourhood Plan, the Town Council commissioned the Community Council for Somerset to undertake a Housing Needs Survey. Survey forms were posted to every household in Ilminster in April / May 2018. The Town Council approved the report compiled for the survey responses, at the Town Council meeting on 23 October 2018. To download a copy of the report Click here for HNS Report
Further Information
For further information about neighbourhood planning please use the links below:
News Update – Work on Ilminster’s Neighbourhood Plan is about to step up a gear! Can you lead us?
