8th January 2026
The claim lodged with the High Court by Lochailort Investments Ltd was successful. This means that the decision by Somerset Council to hold the Referendum on the Norton St Philip Neighbourhood Plan has been found unlawful. The outcome of the Referendum, supported by 97% of those who voted, has been quashed. The Order, together with its Statement of Reasons, can be found here.
17th July 2025
The referendum proceeded as planned and the result published by Somerset Council is here.
404 votes were cast with 398 in favour and 6 against. The majority in favour of the NP being “made” was thus 98.5%. The Declaration of the result is here.
16th July 2025
Both Somerset Council and the PC have been served with papers stating that Lochailort Investments Ltd are commencing a judicial review of the decision by Somerset Council of 3rd June 2025 that the NP satisfies the basic conditions and can proceed to referendum.
11th June 2025
Somerset Council has published the Notice of the parish referendum to be held on 17th July 2025. The Notice is here.
10th June 2025
The Council has published an Information Statement in advance of the Neighbourhood Plan referendum scheduled for 17th July 2025. This can be seen here.
4th June 2025
Somerset Council as Local Planning Authority has decided that the Neighbourhood Plan is compliant with the legislation and can progress to referendum. This is scheduled for Thursday 17th July 2025. Details are on the “2025 Referendum” page here.
4th June 2025
Amendments to the draft NP have been agreed with SC. These are on the 2025 Examination page and can also be seen here.
12th May 2025
The Examiner’s Report has been published. It recommends that the Neighbourhood Plan should, subject to modifications, in due course proceed to referendum. The Report which includes the proposed modifications can be seen here and via the Examination page of this website.
3rd April 2025
The Examiner has issued “Additional Comments” on 31st March and requested that the PC consider these. They can be seen here and also on the Examination Page. The PC has prepared a draft response for consideration at its April Meeting which can be seen here. .
28th March 2025
The Examiner has issued a Note confirming that he is “dealing with
the examination on the basis of the written material.” The Note is here.
14th March 2025
Somerset Council’s responses to both the Examiner’s “Initial Comments” and the Regulation 16 representation submitted by Lochailort Investments Ltd are on the Examination page of this website, together with the Historic England comments requested by him.
13th March 2025
At its meeting on 12th March the PC resolved to submit to the Examiner its agreed responses to his “Initial Comments” and to the representations made at Regulation 16. They are on the Examination page here.
12th March 2025
The PC will be considering its draft responses to both the Examiner’s “Initial Comments” and the Regulation 16 representations at its meeting today (12th March). The draft response to the “Initial Comments” is here and to the Reg16 Representations here.
19th February 2025
The Examiner has issued his “Initial Comments: which are published on the “Examination” page of this website.
9th February 2025
The Examiner has issued his “Introductory Notes”. These can be seen on the Examination page.
31st January 2025
Somerset Council have published the responses received during the December 2024/January 2025 Regulation 16 Consultation. They can be viewed here.
26th November 2024
Somerset Council have announced that the statutory Regulation 16 consultation will run from 29th November 2024 until 17th January 2025, a period of seven weeks which allows for the Christmas and New Year holidays. The Notice is here. The submission documents have been published on the Council’s website here -the full address being: https://somersetcc.sharepoint.com/sites/SCCPublic/Planning%20and%20Land/Forms/AllItems.aspx?id=%2Fsites%2FSCCPublic%2FPlanning%20and%20Land%2FNorton%20St%20Philip%20Documents%2FNorton%20St%20Philip%20Documents%2C%20Reg%2016%20Nov%202024&p=true&ga=1
14th November 2024
At its 13th November Meeting, the PC unanimously resolved to submit the draft Neighbourhood Plan and supporting documents to Somerset Council under Regulation 15 of The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012. The submitted documents can be seen here; the covering letter from the PC is here.
7th November 2024
Following the conclusion of the recent Regulation 14 consultation, at its Meeting on 13th November the Parish Council will consider whether to submit the Neighbourhood Plan for NSP and supporting documents to Somerset Council under Regulation 15 of The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012. The Meeting is at 7pm in the Palairet Hall and is open to the public. All are welcome.
The Draft Plan and supporting documents can be seen on this website by clicking here.
29th August 2024
The PC, having resolved to hold a Regulation 14 (Neighbourhood Planning [General] Regulations 2012) Public Consultation on the Draft Neighbourhood Plan and Character Assessment, commence the consultation on 30th August 2024. It will run for six weeks, ending at 18.00 on 12th October 2024. Details are on this website at https://nortonstphilipneighbourhoodplan.com/2024-regulation-14-consultation/
The Notice of the Consultation can be seen here.
The PC would like to have the views of all parish residents, landowners, businesses and stakeholders on the contents of the Neighbourhood Plan. The Notice gives details of how comments and representations may be submitted. These methods include by post, email or by responding to the online survey at
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/V7VC6BP
Responses are not limited to households so can be made by individuals.Please let the PC have your thoughts, issues and concerns.
The results of the survey will be published on this website soon after the survey closes. Individual names will not be published, but comments made will be included in the report.
There are 9 questions-one relating to each Policy in the Plan. Responses also allow for a comment on that Policy should you wish. A tenth question allows for general comments on the Plan.
All issues and concerns raised will be considered and responded to prior to the PC submitting the Plan to Somerset Council. Amendments to the Plan by the PC are possible at this stage.
15th August 2024
At its meeting on 14th August the PC resolved to hold a Regulation 14 Consultation. This will start on 30th August 2024 and run for just over 6 weeks, ending on 12th October. The following documents were approved for consultation purposes:
Draft Neighbourhood Plan (dated 15th August 2024)
Schedule of Amendments to 2023 draft Neighbourhood Plan
Character Assessment
SEA/HRA Reports
They, together with an Addendum to the Consultation Statement and SEA Scoping Report can be seen here (at https://nortonstphilipneighbourhoodplan.com/2024-regulation-14-versions-of-draft-neighbourhood-plan-and-character-assessment/ )
Details of how to make representations will be published on both the PC and this website shortly before the start of the consultation on 30th August. These details, together with any updates will be on the 2024 Regulation 14 page here.
14th August 2024
At its 14th August meeting the PC will consider proposed amendments to the Draft NP and the SEA and HRA Reports. It will resolve whether to commence a fresh Regulation 14 Consultation, with a 6 week period during which representations may be made commencing on 30th August 2024. The proposed amendments can be seen here.
February 2024
Somerset Council has published its Regulation 18 Consultation documents following the ‘Call for Sites’ undertaken in 2023. 10 sites in NSP were put forward; none are proposed for allocation as a result of this exercise. All 10 sites were considered with one being too small to meet the threshold of 6 proposed dwellings. The remaining 9 were subjected to Sustainability Appraisal.
Full detail of the appraisals relating to the NSP sites can be seen here.
14th February 2024
Following consideration of representations made during the Reg 14 consultation, the PC resolved to make the amendments to the draft Plan as summarised in the Schedule of Amendments. This, together with the Reg 14 reports, can be seen here.
9th February 2024
At its Meeting on 14th February, the PC will consider possible amendments to the Draft Plan. The updated Reg 14 reports together with draft amendments can be seen on the 2023 Regulation 14 Consultation Page.
4th January 2024
The HRA/SEA Screening Report was received by the PC on 22nd December 2023. It concludes that the allocation of the Bell Hill Garage site will have a significant effect on the Bath and Bradford on Avon Bats SAC and the Mells Valley SAC (Special Areas of Conservation) and that as a result there is a requirement to undertake HRA and a full SEA. The Report can be seen here.
8th September 2023
Reports on responses received during the Regulation 14 Consultation have been tabled for consideration at the September 2023 PC Meeting. These reports, together with the data from the online survey, can be seen on the Regulation 14 page of this website here.
July 2023
The Judicial Review into the former MDC’s decision to amend the Policies Map showing the former NSP1 site as lying outside the village development limit was dismissed and permission to Appeal refused.
Details are here.
10th May 2023
The PC resolved to hold a Regulation 14 (Neighbourhood Planning [General] Regulations 2012) Public Consultation on the Draft Neighbourhood Plan and Character Assessment. Details are on this website at https://nortonstphilipneighbourhoodplan.com/2023-regulation-14-consultation/
The Notice of the Consultation can be seen here.
The PC would like to have the views of all parish residents, landowners, businesses and stakeholders on the contents of the Neighbourhood Plan. The Notice gives details of how comments and representations may be submitted. These methods include by post, email or by responding to the online survey at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CVNXSX6
Responses are not limited to households so can be made by individuals.Please let the PC have your thoughts, issues and concerns.
The results of the survey will be published on this website soon after the survey closes. Individual names will not be published, but comments made will be included in the report.
There are 6 questions-one relating to each Policy in the Plan. Responses also allow for a comment on that Policy should you wish. The final question allows for general comments on the Plan.
All issues and concerns raised will be considered and responded to prior to the PC submitting the Plan to Somerset Council.
5th May 2023
At its Meeting on 10th May the PC will receive a report on a recent meeting with the Locality Liaison Officer and Somerset Council Planning Policy Officers.The PC will resolve whether a second Regulation 14 consultation exercise is commenced in respect of the amended and updated Neighbourhood Plan.
12th April 2023
The PC received the results of the January 2023 Housing Survey together with a report. These can be found on the Documents page here.
16th December 2022
Following MDC’s decision to adopt Local Plan Pt 2 which allocated a further 505 dwellings to North East Mendip, the Parish Council sought a Judicial Review. This was heard in the High Court in October 2022 and the Judgement in favour of the PC was handed down today.
The full Judgement and Order can be found here Local Plan Part 2- Judicial Review, together with the PC’s Press Release.Much of the historical documentation can be seen here.
May 2021
Consultation on further modifications to the Plan, together with the earlier modifications identified by the Examiner and at the Cabinet meeting of 2nd September 2019 took place from 3rd March – 23rd April 2021, Consultation Responses can be found here.
The cabinet report of 1st March 2021 set out an intention to bring a report back as soon as possible to consider responses to the consultation before determining whether the Plan (as modified) should proceed to a referendum.
Officers are considering the representations made. A report to Cabinet will follow, which will also recommend whether the NP (as modified) meets the basic conditions and should proceed to referendum, taking into account any material changes in circumstances since September 2019.
23rd April 2021
The PC held an Extraordinary Virtual Meeting in order to receive and consider the NP Steering Group Report. The PC unanimously resolved to support the modifications to the Neighbourhood Plan as proposed by Mendip District Council and to submit the PC’s response as circulated with two (typographical)amendments. The Minutes can be seen here.
The schedule of proposed modifications can be seen here.
Representations made during the Consultation on the Proposed Modifications are here.
9th April 2021
Minutes of the Steering Group Meeting of 24th March are here. The Steering Group’s report to the PC on the amendments to the draft NP by MDC are here.
17th March 2021
A Virtual Meeting of the Steering Group will be held on 24th March at 12 noon. The Notice, Agenda and joining details can be found on the Meetings page here
3rd March 2021
On 1st March 2021 MDC’s Cabinet agreed to carry out consultation on further modifications to the Plan, together with the earlier modifications identified by the Examiner and at the Cabinet meeting of 2nd September 2019. Details of the proposed modifications are at
Comments are invited on the proposed further modification.
The consultation will run between Wednesday 3rd March 2021 and Wednesday 14th April 2021 and representations received outside this period may not be accepted.
Documents are available on the Council’s website www.mendip.gov.uk/neighbourhoodplanning or available to view at the following locations:
- Church Porch, Church Street, Norton St Philip BA2 7LU
19th February 2021
The Draft Neighbourhood Plan with an amended Policy 5 (Local Green Spaces) is on the Agenda for consideration at Mendip DC’s Cabinet Meeting on 1st March 2021. MDC’s webpage for this meeting is https://www.mendip.gov.uk/article/8732/Cabinet-Monday-1-March-2021
The Agenda item can be seen here
2nd October 2020
The Court of Appeal has allowed the appeal on one ground (Ground 1). The other three grounds of appeal were rejected by the Court. In summary, the Court held that:
- each of the areas was lawfully designated as an Local Green Space; but
- Policy 5 is not consistent with national planning policies for managing development within the Green Belt; and
- in the absence of reasoned justification, the consequence is that Policy 5 is unlawful.
The Judgment can be seen here
28th July 2020
Following the decision to allow an Appeal, the Court of Appeal hearing was held today (28th July). The judgement is not expected before October 2020.
20th May 2020
MDC has issued a Press Release with its reaction to the outcome of the Judicial Review. The Press Release is here
11th May 2020- Judicial Review Outcome
The judge has found in favour of Mendip District Council and dismissed the claim on all grounds.
The interim injunction on the referendum is discharged – however a restriction on the council remains in place depending the outcome of an application to the Court of Appeal. Covid 19 emergency legislation restricts the holding of referendums in any case, until May next year.
The Court Documents may be seen here
11th October-Referendum Cancelled
The Norton St Philip Referendum due to take place on 17th October 2019 relating to the adoption of the Norton St Philip Neighbourhood Plan will no longer take place for the following reasons:
- The Council must comply the injunction granted on 7th October.
- A referendum will not take place on 17th October.
- No referendum can take place until a judicial review into the neighbourhood plan is decided.
- The council has sought leave to appeal the injunction and is awaiting a decision.
Injunction
The Court judgement to cancel the referendum can be found here: 
Norton St Philip Injunction document [160.59KB]
9th October -Injunction
It appears from the link below that Lochailort Investments Ltd have been granted an interim injunction postponing the NP Referendum.
https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/housing-developer-wins-legal-challenge-3405251
This has not been confirmed to us by Mendip DC; we understand however that they will be issuing a statement soon. It will appear on this website as soon as possible after its release.
Referendum Date Set-17th October
The referendum has now been cancelled. Please see the item for 11th October above.
Mendip Cabinet Meeting 2nd September
On 2nd September 2019, Mendip District Council’s Cabinet agreed to proceed to referendum on the draft Neighbourhood Plan. All the documents presented to Cabinet and the Approved Minutes are here.
Forthcoming MDC Cabinet Meeting (2nd September)
Mindful of the relevant provisions cited above, and what was recommended by the Examining Inspector as set out below, once the Council is satisfied that the basic conditions have been met, it ought to proceed to a referendum ”.
The note concludes that;
“ In summary , the challenge which seeks to suggest that The Plan fails to meet the basic conditions is unfair and unsustainable. The Examining Inspector in her report stated,
“I am satisfied that the North S t Philip Neighbourhood Development Plan subject to the modifications I have recommended, meets the basic conditions and the other statutory requirements outlined earlier in this report. I am therefore pleased to recommend to Mendip District Council that, subject to the modifications proposed in this report, the Norton St Philip Neighbourhood Development Plan can proceed to a referendum.”
This is a sound recommendation and Members should follow it.”
MDC Cabinet Meeting 5th August
Following the Examiner’s report on the Norton St Philip Neighbourhood Plan (‘the NP’), in which she expressed herself satisfied that the NP had met the ‘Basic Conditions’, the NP was considered by Mendip DC’s (MDC) Cabinet on 5 August. The officer recommendation to the Cabinet had been that it should be endorsed and should then proceed to a parish referendum.
During the course of 5 August, MDC received a number of representations (which can be seen here), some of which requested that a decision should be deferred pending MDC consideration of issues raised in those representations. MDC then took external legal advice. Following receipt of that advice, MDC officers then recommended the Cabinet to defer a decision until its next meeting on 2 September. The Cabinet accepted that advice and so decided.
The Chairman of the PC, together with Cllr George Hitchins and Mr Ian Hasell (Chairman of the NP Steering Group) attended the meeting. Speaking briefly in the Public Participation session of the meeting, the Chairman said that the PC, noting that consideration of the NP was to be deferred, looked forward to the matter coming back to MDC’s Cabinet at the beginning of September.
Independent Examiners report
The Examiner’s Report was received on 19th July 2019. The Examiner recommends that the Neighbourhood Plan should proceed to Referendum. As soon as a date for the Referendum is known this page will be updated.
The Examiner’s report can be seen on this page
Appointment of Examiner
Mendip DC have appointed an Examiner who will now begin work on an independent examination of the Draft Plan. The Examiner will prepare a report on whether the Draft Plan meets the legal tests required for it to proceed to referendum. (12th May 2019)
Regulation 16 representations
The documents submitted to MDC together with further information and representations received during the consultation period can be seen here:
A response to the representations received under Reg 16 was submitted to the Examiner by Norton St Philip Parish Council as the Qualifying Body. This response can be seen here
Regulation 16
Mendip District Council, being the Local Planning Authority for the parish of Norton St Philip have published the Draft Plan together with supporting documents on their website. The supporting documents include information on how representations may be made before the Draft Plan is submitted for Examination. The period during which representations may be made runs from Friday 1st March 2019 until Friday 12th April 2019.
Regulation 14
The Pre-Submission consultation period ran from 7th December 2018 to 25th January 2019. Copies of the Draft Neighbourhood plan and character Assessment were displayed in the Co-Op, Parish Church, Village Hall, Fleur de Lys and St Leonards Farleigh Hungerford. Every household in the parish had a leaflet delivered which explained the process and contained a survey form. Both the leaflet and survey were available online available online. The link below directs to a page containing further information and representations received during the consultation period:
Welcome to the website for the proposed Norton St Philip Neighbourhood Plan. 