Somerset councillors critical of planning officer shortage

Somerset Council’s planning department has been tightly stretched since the authority came into being, with numerous planning officers leaving as a result of the ongoing transformation programme or being offered other opportunities elsewhere.

At a recent full council meeting, two Conservative councillors openly criticised the planning and enforcement teams, arguing the lack of personnel was holding up much-needed housing and allowing planning law breaches to go unpunished.

The council said that recruiting and retaining planning officers was a “top priority” and that every effort would be made to clear the current backlog.

Around 2,300 planning applications in Somerset are currently awaiting determination, with some applicants waiting years for a decision.

Some of the delays can be attributed to the ongoing phosphates crisis, with around 12,000 home being in limbo while developers and the council negotiate additional, often costly mitigation to prevent damage to the Somerset Levels and Moors.

Other delays have come about as a result of changing personnel, with the council’s planning committee south having to recently defer a decision on plans for new industrial units in Sparkford because the relevant officer had left the organisation – plans which were put forward back in 2022.

Councillor Mark Healey represents the Huntspill division near Bridgwater, which is likely to see significant housing growth in the coming years as the new ‘gigafactory’ is delivered within the Gravity enterprise zone, between Puriton and Woolavington.

Councillor Mark Healey (Conservative, Huntspill) (Image: Somerset Council)

At a full council meeting held in Bridgwater on September 26, he criticised the lack of resources within the council’s planning department, claiming it was taking “literally years” to deliver much-needed affordable homes in the county.

He said: “It appears that the council has resource issues regarding the amount of planners we have. This affects the public and businesses alike, regarding the delivery of new and affordable housing.

“The council needs to understand that the length of time gaining planning permission in some cases taking literally years to achieve – let alone the increased burden of ever-increasing costs to the developers and public alike, which has a knock-on effect.

“How do you intend to deliver changes to this when there is little or no money to achieve this aim?

“It saddens me that the most complaints I am receiving to date is regarding planning, which I am sure fellow colleagues must be getting as well.”

Councillor Diogo Rodrigues (who represents the Bridgwater East and Bawdrip division) said he had faced similar delays regarding the council’s enforcement team, citing an ongoing case in the village of Westonzoyland.

Councillor Diogo Rodrigues (Conservative, Bridgwater East and Bawdrip) (Image: Somerset Council)

He said: “Could the council inform me, Westonzoyland Parish Council and concerned parish residents of the progress, decisions or action relating to the parish council’s request for enforcement investigations relating to three separate areas of the Towens Weston site on Springway Lane?

“The parish council first raised concerns to Somerset Council back on August 9, 2023, covering areas of concern around transport, environmental impact and potential breaches of planning conditions.

“The parish council provided further detail in December 2023, and again more detail in June or July of this year, but are yet to see any change or adequate response.”

Councillor Mike Rigby, portfolio holder for economic development, planning and assets, said that getting on top of planning delays was “his top priority” in his new role (which he began in mid-August following a reshuffle of the council’s executive).

Councillor Mike Rigby, portfolio holder for economic development, planning and assets (Image: Somerset Council)

He elaborated: “It’s fair to say that across the country, local authorities are facing capacity challenges in delivering their planning functions, and in recruiting and retaining planners and other specialist professionals that are important to planning.

“We are facing these challenges, and it is important that we do all we can to address this.

“The chief executive has established and chairs a planning stability board to manage these issues. Senior officers are working closely with our HR department to address our recruitment and retention challenges.

“Operationally, the planning service is working to reduce the backlog of planning applications, and putting in measures to stabilise the service.”

Mr Rigby said upcoming changes to the council’s IT systems would help to ease this backlog and improve the transparency of the planning service.

Regarding the enforcement issues in Westonzoyland, he added: “We’ve received a number of reports of activity on the former airfield from numerous groups and others – some have been directed to our area enforcement team and some to the minerals and waste enforcement team.

“The two teams are working together to establish exactly what is occurring at each of the three sites.

“There’s been constructive dialogue with regard to the recycling centre and regularising the current uses, and it is anticipated that a planning application will be received in the near-future, which will be subject to the usual consultation processes.

“It’s fair to say that once that process has been completed, if, for example, the planning application were refused, then we would look again at enforcement action to deal with those issues covered by the retrospective application.”