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Planning committees

We have five committees which are responsible for making planning decisions within North Somerset.

Around 10% of planning applications are decided by our four Area Committees and its parent Planning and Regulatory (P&R) Committee.

They meet every month and are made up of councillors who make decisions on planning applications put forward by businesses and individuals for proposed developments within the district.

Further information about which applications will be dealt with by committee can be found in our Protocol for delegating planning decisions to officers document.

The four area committees decide applications within the following geographical areas:

The exact area covered by each of these committees is shown on our area committee map.

Under certain circumstances they may refer the decision up to the P&R Committee which acts as the next level of authority for planning decisions.

All these decisions are taken by the committees after the careful consideration of reports put together by our planning officers.

Committee reports are available for public inspection five working days before each committee meeting while we aim to publish the draft committee minutes three working days after each meeting.

All these documents can be viewed online or at our offices in Somerset House, Weston-super-Mare.

Members of the public are allowed to speak at the beginning of committee meetings subject to certain conditions.

One or two speakers are normally permitted for each application, one in favour and the other against, with each given a maximum of three minutes to state their case.

When more than one person wants to speak the committee can appoint a spokesperson to speak for the group.

Those wishing to speak must contact our solicitor by noon on the day before the meeting.

For further information download our Public speaking on planning applications - Advice note 1.


Planning committee meeting times

Committee Time
Central Area 6pm
North Area 2.30pm
Planning and Regulatory (P&R) 2.30pm
South Area 6pm
West Area 6pm

For further information please contact Democratic Services on 01934 634 900.