Additional land near the Mid Somerset Showground will have to be developed in order to meet Shepton Mallet's future housing need.

The Shepton Mallet Neighbourhood Plan has been formally adopted into Somerset Council's planning policy following a successful referendum, with 84 per cent of local residents voting in favour of the plan on July 17.

In line with the existing Mendip Local Plan Part I, the bulk of the town's new housing will be delivered on land south of the A371 Cannard's Grave Road – with C. G. Fry's plans for 620 homes, commercial space, a care home and a new primary school expected to come before councillors before Christmas for a final decision.

However, the Neighbourhood Plan has allocated neighbouring land for a further 150 homes in light of the government's raised housing targets and delays in delivering other sites in the last few years.

Following the referendum (which had a turnout of 15 per cent), the Neighbourhood Plan came before the council's planning and transport policy sub-committee in Taunton on August 13 for formal adoption.

The additional site allocated for residential development lies adjacent to the Cannard's Grave site on the western side of Compton Road, south of the existing houses.

The Neighbourhood Plan estimates that up to 150 homes could be delivered at this location, with the majority of these expected to be built by 2034.

The plan states: "This site is required to meet the housing needs of the town, to complement and potentially be delivered alongside the larger strategic site at Cannard's Grave Road, whose start has been delayed.

"The site is well-connected to adjoining developments, and its location and links should ensure the least impact on traffic growth in the historic centre.

"It has the potential to satisfy the range of different housing needs identified in this plan, an incorporate green corridors and open space to ensure that the site is visually and physically integrated with the wider countryside, and should avoid the potential flooding issues that are more likely to arise on more low-lying sites closer to the River Sheppey."

In addition to new homes, this site is expected to deliver a community building with "meeting rooms, social and health facilities", along with a children's play area, allotments and a community garden.

Richard Thomas, chairman of the Shepton Mallet Neighbourhood Plan steering group, said that it was essential that this additional site provide such amenities after previous developments had failed to provide them.

In a statement read aloud to the sub-committee, he said: "Shepton Mallet has no publicly-owned community meeting spaces.

"The previous strategic site at Tadley Acres was promised a community meeting room by developers that has never been delivered – and the current developer of the Cannard's Grave Road site is resisting this provision with the current proposals.

"This is a major community health need, which is one of the main gains of the Neighbourhood Plan, and it needs the support and commitment of councillors."

The Neighbourhood Plan also contains policies surrounding the character of new homes, the amount of parking which should be provided within new housing estates, and walking and cycling improvements – including a demand that developers contribute to the ongoing delivery of the Strawberry Line and other elements of the 'Somerset Circle' active travel network.

The plan also identified 15 green spaces within the town's boundary which are to be protected and enhanced – including Collett Park, Kilver Court Gardens, the land surrounding the River Sheppey Weir, and The Meadows.

Councillor Mike Rigby, portfolio holder for economic development, planning and assets, praised the volunteers who had participated in creating the Neighbourhood Plan – some of which had been involved for nearly 11 years.

He said: "I would like to thank everyone who worked on the plan; without your efforts, these things don't get done."

Now that the Neighbourhood Plan has been formally adopted, it can form the basis of future decisions on planning applications which are brought forward in Shepton Mallet – including on the allocated sites.

Alison Blom-Cooper, the council's chief planning officer, told the sub-committee: "We hope to take a report on the Cannard's Grave Road site to the planning committee east very shortly.

"The policies within the Neighbourhood Plan will be a material planning consideration in determining this application."