Neighbourhood Plan and Planning Application update

Published: 09 September 2025

Two days before the parish referendum on 17th July 2025 Lochailort Investments filed a claim in the High Court for Judicial Review of Somerset Council’s decision to hold the referendum.

There is as yet no clarity about how this process will be resolved, but it is likely that the result of the referendum will be quashed, the Neighbourhood Plan re-examined and a fresh referendum held. This is a huge disappointment for the PC and community which has worked so hard to get the Plan to referendum and seen it supported by 97.5% of those who voted. It is likely to be a significant period before a new referendum can be held.

Concurrent with this process, Lochailort has submitted a planning application for the “West” field at Fortescue Fields. This is essentially a resubmission of the application dismissed on Appeal earlier this year and is for 8 houses on the field adjacent to Church Mead. The application number is 2025/1515 and it is on the Agenda for this week’s PC to be held at the Palairet Hall on Wednesday 10th September at 7pm.