AN expanded wedding venue, improvements to a town’s library and new town centre flats among the schemes people are trying to get planning permission for in Somerset.

Every week, hundreds of planning applications are submitted to Somerset Council for determination – and we have selected some of the most interesting proposals.

Most plans will be decided by council planning officers, using their legally delegated powers, but some of the most significant or contentious will go before one of the council’s five planning committees.

Planning committees are made up of elected councillors, but the decisions they make should be decided based on the council’s planning policies, not local politics.

Old Oak Farm Wedding Venue, Back Lane, Curry Rivel

Andy & Rebecca Jones have run Old Oak Farm Wedding Venue in Curry Rivel since hosting their own wedding on site in 2011.

The purpose-built venue has steadily grown over time, with a customised barn being completed in 2022 to replace the marquee that had been used for the first 11 years of the business.

The couple are now seeking to build a small extension to the complex which will serve as a “hairdressing, beauty and wedding dress workshop”.

Planning reference number: 24/01774/FUL

The venue has grown steadily over time.  (Image: Daniel Mumby)

Ham Road, Wellington

Camelot Care (Somerset) Ltd. currently runs both the Camelot House and Camelot Lodge care homes, located to the north of the A38 Taunton Road on the eastern edge of Wellington.

The Taunton-based care company has now applied to build an additional care home to the north of these sites, which will be specifically geared towards resident with dementia.

The new facility will be accessed from Ham Road (in the neighbouring parish of West Buckland) and will provide up to 62 beds.

Planning reference number: 46/24/0010

The new facility will be accessed from Ham Road. (Image: Google Street View)

Bridgwater Library, Binford Place, Bridgwater

Bridgwater’s library lies on Binford Place on the west bank of the River Parrett, near the Blake Gardens green space which is now run by the town council.

Somerset Council intends to carry out extensive repairs to the roof of the grade two listed building, following reports that it has been extensively leaking.

The council will also take the opportunity to put right “previous inappropriate and unsympathetic temporary repairs” which were carried out in previous decades, helping to future-proof the library for future generations.

Planning reference number: 08/24/00099

Manor Farm, A357 Combe Hill, Templecombe

Manor Farm lies off the A357 Combe Hill at the southern edge of Templecombe, not far from a planned development of 140 new houses.

Mr P. Phillips has applied for permission to convert the existing agricultural buildings into ten residential properties.

The new homes would use the existing access road onto Combe Hill, and each would have two bedrooms, a bathroom and an open plan kitchen-dining area.

Planning reference number: 24/02035/PAMB

2a Eastover, Bridgwater

Abdul Ulgut secured planning permission in late-August to convert the ground floor of 2 Eastover (at the corner of Eastover and Salmon Parade) into a hot food restaurant and takeaway

Mr Ulgut is now seeking permission to convert the first and second floors into accommodation, providing a total of seven flats.

The new flats lie on the Celebration Mile (which is currently under construction), with the new tenants being within walking distance of most of the town’s local services.

Planning reference number: 08/24/00077

To comment on any of these applications (and others), visit www.somerset.gov.uk/planning-buildings-and-land/view-and-comment-on-a-planning-application.