Introduction
Please note that there are currently depleted resources in the County Council’s Planning Control Service. We are encountering a particularly challenging situation and a recruitment process is underway. We apologise for this situation and any inconvenience it may cause.
Your local planning authority (district council) can advise you about developments such as extensions, residential and business developments.
We deal with planning applications that relate to minerals, waste or Somerset County Council developments, such as schools, libraries, social care developments and new roads.
We also monitor conditions imposed on our planning permissions and investigate complaints about alleged breaches of conditions or unauthorised activities. The district councils in Somerset do this for the developments they act as the planning authority for.
For matters concerning residential development such as house extensions, leisure developments or retail matters please contact your district council on the numbers below.
- Mendip District Council 0300 303 8588
- Sedgemoor District Council 0300 303 7805
- Somerset West and Taunton Council 0800 304 8000
- South Somerset District Council 01935 462462
Apply for planning permission
You can get information and advice on the application process for applicants and agents, including details of our pre-application advice service, on our Apply for planning permission page.
Applicants and agents are advised to refer to the Environment Agency’s Local Flood Risk Standing Advice for Somerset before making a planning application.
More information
Waste and Minerals Policy Framework
The Minerals and Waste Development Framework is a set of policy documents which will form the blueprint for future mineral extraction and waste management in Somerset over the next 10 to 15 years.
Planning enforcement
You can report an unauthorised development on our Report an unauthorised development page.
Oil and gas development
Somerset does not have an active oil and gas industry. We have not received any planning applications for oil and gas development. However, there are three areas in the county which are licenced by the Government for exploration and extraction of oil and gas reserves. You can see more information about the planning process involved on our Oil and gas page.
Regulation Committee
The Regulation Committee determines planning applications relating to mineral, waste and County Council developments, such as schools, libraries, social care developments and new roads. It also determines planning applications for Rights of Way and Commons Registration issues.
You can attend the Regulation Committee meeting where an application you are interested in is going to be discussed. At the invitation of the chairman, you can address the committee to put forward your views.
Regulation Committee meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month at 2pm at County Hall, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4DY. There are no public parking facilities at County Hall, but there are pay and display car parks nearby.
Anyone wishing to comment on specific items on the Regulation Committee’s agenda can address the Committee.
If you would like to address the Regulation Committee about a specific item on the agenda, please contact the Committee Administrator before the meeting.
Please also be advised that:
- Any questions and comments must be directed through the Chairman
- Each speaker will normally be allowed two minutes
- If a large number of people attending the meeting wish to speak on one item, it is helpful if a representative is nominated to present the views of the group
- An issue will not be deferred if you are unable to attend the meeting
Details of the issues discussed and decisions taken at the meeting will be set out in minutes, which the committee will be asked to approve at it’s next meeting. You can find agendas and minutes on our committee documents page. You can also request them from the Committee Administrator by email planning@somerset.gov.uk.
Search for a planning application
Submit a waste or County Council development application
Search for investigations and enforcement cases relating to minerals and waste