THE results of the 2025 Ilminster Neighbourhood Plan referendum have been shared, and a majority of 82.9 per cent of people voted for the plan to go ahead.
On Thursday, August 21, a Referendum on the adoption of the Ilminster Neighbourhood Plan took place.
Residents were able to vote on whether they want Somerset Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Ilminster "to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area."
What is the Ilminster Neighbourhood Plan?
The Ilminster Neighbourhood Plan, which was developed by Ilminster Town Council over two years, is a community-led, land-based plan which seeks to guide future development, regeneration and conservation within the town.
It is described as the opportunity “to influence and determine the future development of the parish of Ilminster.”
As a parish, Ilminster is required to enable 839 new homes to be built by 2040. The town council has stated that, if the plan is ratified, the development income in Ilminster will increase from 15 to 25 per cent of the Community Infrastructure Levy.
The plan outlines areas for potential and approved developments, including the sizeable southern extension from Canal Way of up to 360 homes, which Persimmon Homes will construct.
The Ilminster Environmental Employment Zone is also outlined, referencing the area that includes the former Horlicks factory to the east of the town. Plans for 150 homes and employment use on the site were resubmitted this year and are pending scrutiny.
The Ilminster Neighbourhood Plan area follows the boundary of the town and encompasses places including Dowlish Ford, Herne Hill, Winterhay, and the northern slope leading to Pretwood Hill.
A consultation on the draft Neighbourhood Plan was undertaken between June and August 2021, with 416 questionnaires completed on the proposals. 77.7 per cent of the respondents online said they agreed or strongly agreed with the “vision and mission” of the plan, whilst some expressed concerns that the vision “did not go far enough.”
On housing, responses revealed that there was a “resounding objection” to the provision of 59 houses in the vicinity of Shudrick Lane. 150 respondents also felt that affordable was very important, and “the vast majority” felt that two to three bedroom bungalows and three bedroom houses "were lacking in Ilminster.”
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Results of the referendum
In total, 779 people voted, of those, the majority of people (646 people) voted in favour of “yes” and the minority of people (131 people) voted in favour of “no”.
The total turnout was 16.78 per cent.
The Ilminster Town Council stated that this is “fantastic news for Ilminster and its residents” meaning that the Ilminster Neighbourhood plan will continue.
A spokesperson for Ilminster Town Council said: “The results of the Ilminster Neighbourhood Plan referendum are in.
“Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote, I am pleased to say that 82.9% voted yes to the plan, which is fantastic news for Ilminster and it's residents.”
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