Vision for Shepton Mallet

In consultation with the community, the Vision for Shepton Mallet in 14 years’ time has sought to capture the community’s views and aspirations for the Neighbourhood Area. It therefore forms the basis on which the strategic objectives and proposed policies have been formulated.

In 2036, Shepton Mallet is still a pleasant place to live.

It has grown considerably in size, but good planning, which has taken account of the concerns and policies included in the Neighbourhood Plan, has meant that its character as one of Somerset’s historic small market towns has been firmly established.

Shepton Mallet has effectively addressed its key issue of the town centre. It has successfully regenerated the town centre which now boasts a range of independent shops and businesses, and Shepton Mallet has become the “Food and Drink” destination of this area of the Southwest. In particular, the area of the High Street North and Market Place has been developed and has become the retail centre of the town with tourism as its main attraction.

Secondly, there have been great improvements in traffic management and pedestrian safety. The improvements to bus service infrastructure and the development of walkways and cycle paths into and around the town centre have encouraged people to leave their cars at home. This has reduced congestion and the pressure on the town’s car parks, and so has improved the town centre as a place to stop and walk around, and its shops and businesses are thriving in both daytime and evening. This has led to increasing job opportunities for local people.

The protection of the character of the town centre, including the actions taken with regard to former derelict and empty shops and buildings, has led to an increase in the number of visitors and tourists coming to the town.

Access to the countryside and its many walking and cycling routes is easy, and visitors and residents are enjoying the high-quality environment and leisure activities. The environment has been protected with a number of Local Green Spaces being allocated, and our biodiversity has been enhanced.

Better health and leisure facilities have been developed, and those green spaces listed in the Neighbourhood Plan because of their recreational and informal leisure value, have been retained and improved to meet the needs of all sections of the population. In addition, new green spaces have been provided as part of recent housing developments.

Some small-scale housing development has taken place on infill sites, but in accordance with the policies in the Plan it has matched the size, scale and character of the existing built environment and has met local housing needs. This has meant that neither younger nor older people need now to move away to find affordable or suitable housing

A strong community spirit continues to exist, and new residents have successfully integrated into the town, and this has given everyone the opportunity to participate in and live a healthy, safe, and satisfying life.’