Midsomer Norton, Radstock, and town and parish councils in the area are urged to work closely with planners in the wake of increased housing targets.

Local councillors are being encouraged to work alongside Bath and North East Somerset Council (B&NES) on the reset of the Local Plan.

In July, the government set out new mandatory housing targets resulting in a significant uplift in housing numbers B&NES needs to plan for. Following a consultation, the new targets will be published in the new year.

A letter was sent to parish and town councils that outlined how the government’s new new mandatory housing targets would have ‘very significant implications’ for B&NES’s Local Plan and asked them to continue working closely with the council to reset the plan.

Councillor Matthew McCabe, cabinet member for built environment and sustainable development, has set out in the letter the proposed revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the revised housing figures that would increase the housing requirement for B&NES by 104 per cent from 717 per annum to 1,466.

Proposed revisions also indicate other significant national policy changes.

The Local Plan Options document from B&NES, which was consulted on earlier in the year, was based around building 14,500 new homes by 2042. Though the government’s proposed reforms are still in draft form, the revised housing target could be double this requirement for the council.

Cllr McCabe said: “The proposed revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework and revised standard method housing figures have very significant implications for our Local Plan.

“Given the scale of the challenge presented to us by the government it is important that we continue to work with the parish and town councils as representatives of our local communities. Community input is essential in helping to ensure that the re-set plan addresses important local issues and helps to ensure that we live in sustainable and healthy places.”

Council leader Councillor Kevin Guy has also written to the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner setting out six key issues to enable housing reform in the area.

He said: “The full programme for preparing the re-set Local Plan is still being developed, but the work already carried out including responses received during the earlier Draft Options consultation and stakeholder engagement on the plan will inform the re-set and further work will be undertaken looking at potential new sites as well as consultation.”