Somerset includes Taunton, Yeovil, and Bridgwater. About 0.2% of the county is Green Belt, affecting only minor edges. Known for historic towns, rural villages, and scenic landscapes, planning focuses on residential, commercial, and conversion projects while balancing conservation. We can advise and support projects across Somerset.
In the last year Somerset decided 3,851 applications which is well above the national average of 988. The approval rate was 89% (roughly equal to the national average of 88%) and 58% of applications were decided on time, (on par with the national average of 59%). Stats updated March 2026 from gov. sources. See how Somerset performs relative to other LPAs in our LPA hub.
The Green Belt is a policy protecting land around many English towns and cities, where development is tightly controlled to safeguard the open countryside.
0.2% of Somerset is within the Green Belt and proposals in these areas can be subject to reasonable levels of scrutiny.
The Somerset Green Belt protects key villages and towns such as Frome, Glastonbury, and Shepton Mallet, preserving the Mendip Hills’ rolling landscapes, historic parklands, and river valleys, which are particularly sensitive to development pressure and prevent coalescence between settlements across the rural Somerset countryside.
In our experience, one of the top reasons poorly conceived Green Belt proposals are refused is causing 'harm to openness'. We can lower the risk of refusal with site-specific guidance. Contact us here.
You can also check whether your land is within the Green Belt using our interactive Green Belt map.
Open Countryside within Somerset refers to land situated outside built-up areas and Green Belt boundaries, typically comprising farmland or natural landscapes. Residential development is generally restricted unless special circumstances can be demonstrated.
Somerset includes the Mendip Hills, Exmoor fringes, and the levels and moors, where open countryside is highly sensitive to development.
One of the top reasons poorly prepared proposals in the Open Countryside are refused is that they fail to demonstrate a policy-supported need. To minimise that risk with bespoke advice contact us here.
In some areas of the LPA, flood risk plays a key role in determining planning proposals. The Somerset Levels and Moors, which cover a substantial part of the county, sit largely within Flood Zone 3 and were inundated for weeks in the winter of 2013/14, making flood risk the dominant land use planning constraint in the county. Where constraints permit, we can develop proposals that manage flood risk thoughtfully to give applications the best chance of approval.
Nutrient Neutrality ensures new developments do not increase harmful nitrogen or phosphorus levels in sensitive waterways. Somerset is affected by multiple catchments including the Somerset Levels and Moors and River Axe, all designated as sensitive for phosphorus; phosphate neutrality is required across significant parts of the county. Unfortunately, Nutrient Neutrality can halt development completely. If you need early-stage, project-specific advice contact us here.
As well as acting as Planning Consultants we are ARB registered architects with over 25 years’ experience. Our site-specific planning proposals balance creativity with strategic insight. We use the following field-tested work stages to help clients in Somerset achieve successful planning outcomes:
We can review your site in Somerset and offer informed guidance on how proposals can be developed in order to maximise your chances of securing Planning Permission.
Somerset includes Taunton, Yeovil, and Bridgwater. About 0.2% of the county is Green Belt, affecting only minor edges. Known for historic towns, rural villages, and scenic landscapes, planning focuses on residential, commercial, and conversion projects while balancing conservation. We can advise and support projects across Somerset.
In the last year Somerset decided 3,851 applications which is well above the national average of 988. The approval rate was 89% (roughly equal to the national average of 88%) and 58% of applications were decided on time, (on par with the national average of 59%). Stats updated March 2026 from gov. sources. See how Somerset performs relative to other LPAs in our LPA hub.
The Green Belt is a policy protecting land around many English towns and cities, where development is tightly controlled to safeguard the open countryside.
0.2% of Somerset is within the Green Belt and proposals in these areas can be subject to reasonable levels of scrutiny.
The Somerset Green Belt protects key villages and towns such as Frome, Glastonbury, and Shepton Mallet, preserving the Mendip Hills’ rolling landscapes, historic parklands, and river valleys, which are particularly sensitive to development pressure and prevent coalescence between settlements across the rural Somerset countryside.
In our experience, one of the top reasons poorly conceived Green Belt proposals are refused is causing 'harm to openness'. We can lower the risk of refusal with site-specific guidance. Contact us here.
You can also check whether your land is within the Green Belt using our interactive Green Belt map.
Open Countryside within Somerset refers to land situated outside built-up areas and Green Belt boundaries, typically comprising farmland or natural landscapes. Residential development is generally restricted unless special circumstances can be demonstrated.
Somerset includes the Mendip Hills, Exmoor fringes, and the levels and moors, where open countryside is highly sensitive to development.
One of the top reasons poorly prepared proposals in the Open Countryside are refused is that they fail to demonstrate a policy-supported need. To minimise that risk with bespoke advice contact us here.
In some areas of the LPA, flood risk plays a key role in determining planning proposals. The Somerset Levels and Moors, which cover a substantial part of the county, sit largely within Flood Zone 3 and were inundated for weeks in the winter of 2013/14, making flood risk the dominant land use planning constraint in the county. Where constraints permit, we can develop proposals that manage flood risk thoughtfully to give applications the best chance of approval.
Nutrient Neutrality ensures new developments do not increase harmful nitrogen or phosphorus levels in sensitive waterways. Somerset is affected by multiple catchments including the Somerset Levels and Moors and River Axe, all designated as sensitive for phosphorus; phosphate neutrality is required across significant parts of the county. Unfortunately, Nutrient Neutrality can halt development completely. If you need early-stage, project-specific advice contact us here.
As well as acting as Planning Consultants we are ARB registered architects with over 25 years’ experience. Our site-specific planning proposals balance creativity with strategic insight. We use the following field-tested work stages to help clients in Somerset achieve successful planning outcomes:
We can review your site in Somerset and offer informed guidance on how proposals can be developed in order to maximise your chances of securing Planning Permission.
