The Inspector said the Strategy was "positively prepared", broadly consistent with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and, subject to a few amendments, sound. It is the third Core Strategy to be approved following the publication of the NPPF.
The Core Strategy set a target of building 17,000 new homes and outlined the long-term strategic plan for the future of development the Borough over the years to 2028. homes.
It is based on a number of urban extensions at Monkton Heathfield and Nerrols near Taunton, as well as Longforth and Cades/Jurston at Wellington, and also established the principle of development at Comeytrowe, Trull and Staplegrove on the outskirts of Taunton.
The Inspector recommended a number of modifications to the Strategy to enable the Council to adopt the Plan. One such modification was the inclusion of the Planning Inspectorate's "model policy" wording for the NPPF's "presumption in favour of sustainable development".
The model wording was published by the Inspectorate to assist local authorities in meeting the expectation within the NPPF to have policies guiding the local application of the presumption in favour of sustainable development.
The Planning Inspectorate said that it considers that the model policy would, if incorporated into a draft Local Plan submitted for examination, be an appropriate way of meeting this expectation.
Other modifications included adding additional text to set out the process for advancing sites into the five-year housing land supply and the removal of a reference to an interim policy pending the introduction of a CIL charging schedule.
The Inspector also recommended that amendments be made to a policy relating to housing allocations in minor rural centres to allow for greater flexibility.
"Taunton Deane's Core Strategy is likely to be one of the first in the country adopted following the introduction of the NPPF. This is a real achievement and reflects the hard work and dedication of the team involved in its preparation," said Councillor Mark Edwards, who holds the Planning Policy brief at the Borough Council.
"It is vital that, as a local authority and community, we plan for our future and by making sure we have this strategic document in place we can decide the future development of Taunton and take away the risk of unwanted, unplanned and unsustainable development.
"The economy is extremely challenging at present but we need to plan for what should be possible in the future and not be negative in the vision of future economic development across our district and this document is vital in us achieving that aim."
Central Lancashire and the London Borough of Barnet are the two other Councils that have had their Core Strategies approved since the introduction of the NPPF.
