Residents of Shepton Mallet have criticised a new vision for car-free housing developments in the future, saying they amount to "social engineering".

Somerset Council recently conducted a public consultation on its 'Creating Places for People' proposals, which lay out a broad vision for how future housing developments will be designed across the county.

The Shepton Mallet Neighbourhood Plan steering group – which has laid out preference where the town's future housing and commercial growth should occur – has broadly endorsed the aims of the consultation, which closed on Monday (October 16).

Artist's Impression Of Planned Enhancements Of Shepton Mallet Town Centre. CREDIT: Mendip District Council

But the group has criticised the emphasis on alternatives to the car in future housing, arguing that the town's design and infrastructure mean that a car is essential for getting around.

The 'Creating Places for People' vision is founded upon the following 12 draft principles:

1. Key facilities and services should be within 20 minutes' walk or wheeling time to reduce short times by private car (known as 'internal trips')
2. Parking provision should be reduced in more urban areas, with public transport being provided alongside electric vehicles charging points, electric bikes and e-scooters (if the latter is legalised) and the provision of car or bike clubs and mobility hubs
3. Parking should be "unobtrusive in the public realm", with secure cycle parking being provided as well as on-street storage and repair facilities
4. Trees should be provided on the highways and green spaces, aiding with water management, biodiversity and phosphate mitigation
5. Traffic calming measures should be implemented across the board, with vehicle speeds in built-up areas being reduced to 20mph or less and priority being given to pedestrians and cyclists
6. Active travel to and from schools should be promoted to reduce congestion at pick-up and drop-off times, making parents less reliant on private cars and improving air quality near schools
7. Buildings should be constructed out of "durable, attractive and easy to maintain" materials to reduced carbon footprint while reflecting the local character of a given area
8. Streets should be designed with clear, unobstructed foot-ways and cycleways, with fixed lighting, signs and charging points to reduce clutter
9. Services and lighting should be considered at an early stage of planning to avoid unnecessary impacts on local wildlife and preventing ransom strips through "undefined" parcels of land
10. Sufficient waste storage should be provided with "convenient access" to reduce littering and preserve the beauty of a given location
11. Rural areas should benefit from "safe connectivity" to local services, without compromising the landscape, character, appearance and ecology of the area
12. People should be engaged with at the earliest possible point in the planning process and be kept informed throughout all decision-making

Richard Thomas, chairman of the steering group, currently serves as vice-chairman of the Tadley Acres Community Association and is a director of the Tadley Acres Phase 7 Estate Management Company.

He said the steering group "strongly supports" the vision, and would push for greater investment in sustainable energy to charge the growing number of electric vehicles on Somerset's road network.

However, he said that transport improvements should precede any punitive restrictions on existing drivers.

He said: "We suggest that the blunt 'social engineering' approach outlined in the principles is an example of 'cart before horse'. Improvements in roads, local transport, and walkways need to lead, not follow, restrictions on motor vehicles.

"The reality for Shepton Mallet, especially for several roads at the centre of town, is that the current road infrastructure provides important access and has pinch points making walkways and cycle routes problematic if not impossible.

"In the short and medium term (alas), car access will remain essential for many people – think single mums with children.

"Longer term changes in the whole transport nexus and to the town's social and economic infrastructure may make more radical changes in walkways etc. more feasible."

Planned Phasing Of The Windsor Hill Active Travel Route In Shepton Mallet. CREDIT: Greenways & Cycle Routes.

Shepton Mallet has seen numerous recent initiatives to try and improve its walking and cycling infrastructure, making journeys both within the town and to the neighbouring settlements more attractive and safer.

Two new sections of the Strawberry Line active travel route were opened in March, making it easier for Tadley Acres residents to access the town centre – with campaigners currently working with National Highways to extend the route towards Wells.

Planning permission was also granted in early-September for a new active travel route from the A37 Kilver Hill over two historic viaducts towards Emborough, which is expected to open to the public before the end of the year.

Mr Thomas continued: "There is a severe lack of local public transport in Shepton Mallet, coupled with narrow roads and steep hills that make cycling and walking difficult.

"Rather than forcing people to abandon internal car journeys by reducing parking spaces and making car journeys even more difficult, we believe a more successful approach is where investment in sustainable local transport, walk and wheel, leads to a free choice to use alternative journeying.

"Without the necessary investment in safe roads, sustainable local transport, and green routes, these principles will not be deliverable, and we cannot currently see sufficient funding being available at county level.

"We strongly support the planned reduction in private car use, but believe this should follow, not lead, investment in alternative forms of transport."

Numerous proposals to make Shepton Mallet town centre more accessible to pedestrians and cyclists were included in a £19.3m bid to the government's levelling up fund, alongside similar proposals in Cheddar and Highbridge.

endip District Council Leader Ros Wyke Opens The New Stretch Of The Strawberry Line In Shepton Mallet. CREDIT: Mendip District Council.

Despite positive feedback from government officials, the bid was ultimately unsuccessful – and there is uncertainty as to whether the proposals will form part of any future regeneration bid.

In its detailed feedback to the consultation, the steering group said that rural communities should "benefit from similar planning principles" as urban areas when it comes to sustainable transport and new homes being within 20 minutes' reach of local amenities.

Mr Thomas added: "We strongly support the use of green infrastructure and green routes to schools. However, these need to be matched with appropriate maintenance.

"We have examples in Shepton Mallet where green paths to schools have become overgrown and unusable because of the lack of hedge and grass trimming.

"We would encourage the development of local groups taking responsibility for maintenance of green areas, either through estate or community management companies (where households contribute to the cost) or the establishment of local volunteer groups to maintain hedges and grass-ways.

"We do not agree with a blanket 20mph speed limit in towns. Research shows that these are widely disliked and ignored.

"We would support targeted speed limits where the reduction in speed can be clearly demonstrated to contribute to safety, health, and well-being."

The consultation responses will be analysed over the coming months, with the council expected to publish a summary and formal response as part of the creation of the new Somerset Local Plan, which will be adopted by mid-2028.