Planning restructure leads to council expansion

A local authority has restructured its planning department to target growing demand for housing across the west country region.

As part of a restructure, Sedgemoor District Council has expanded its planning team by recruiting a new senior planner.

Andy Reading joined the local authority in Somerset from the Environment Agency to support the planning policy team.

Service manager for policy Nick Tait, told Planning: “We currently have a strong focus on housing and five-year land supplies.

“We recently restructured and this new post is part of that restructure, which identified a need for more senior planning staff."

According to the council it has more than 1,200 listed buildings and 15 conservation areas within its boundaries, as well as a mix of market towns and villages set within a rural context.

Tait said housing demand was contributing to high development pressure but that Sedgemoor had an ambitious growth agenda.

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