Somerset County Council and the Exmoor National Park Authority adopted the policies and proposals in this document on 20 April 2000.The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions gave careful consideration to the proposals and decided not to intervene in the adoption of the Plan. In reaching this decision he noted the commitments that had been given to the close monitoring of the Structure Plan and the commitment by the County Council to undertake an early review of the Plan. 

The Strategic Planning Authorities acknowledge that this Structure Plan is in part based upon 'old thinking, being formulated in the mid 1990s. Of particular importance is the fact that since the decisions were taken to adopt the Plan, a replacement Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: Housing has been published. This has abandoned the 'predict and provide' approach to the provision of housing, something the Authorities argued for throughout the preparation of this Plan. The Strategic Planning Authorities also acknowledge the length of time that it has taken to prepare the Plan. Therefore, this Structure Plan will be comprehensively reviewed once the Regional Planning Guidance is put in to place for the period to 2016, and it is intended that the review will be progressed rapidly. 

The Strategic Planning Authorities are committed to the close monitoring of the Plan, and have set up arrangements with the Local Planning Authorities to undertake monitoring. The results of the monitoring will shape the policies and proposals of the next Structure Plan, within the framework of 'Plan, Monitor and Manage'. The monitoring arrangements will inform new approaches to the provision of development and the more regular reviews of the development plan, so that the development needs of the Plan area can be met, including the phased release of land for development to give local planning authorities greater control and flexibility over the release of land.