5.12 The spatial strategy proposes 7,815 new homes at Yeovil, based upon having an economic led approach to growth, as explained further in the Settlement Strategy section. This level of housing provision helps to maintain a balance with the town's potential job growth, will serve to maintain Yeovil as the focus for growth in the South Somerset economy, and will help to support a vibrant retail, leisure and service base for the town and wider area.

5.13 The extent to which housing development will occur within the existing urban area of Yeovil can be indicated by an assessment of the likely capacity of the town to accommodate growth. An initial assessment undertaken, taking into account the following sources, indicated a theoretical potential capacity of 6250 (rounded) dwellings for Yeovil for the plan period:

• Completions: 1221 dwellings
• Commitments: 2483 dwellings
• Intensification of key sites: 234 dwellings
• Yeovil urban village: 278 dwellings
• Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment sites: 724 dwellings
• Windfall development after 2022 and flats above shops: 1284 dwellings

5.14 An alternative assessment can be undertaken in the light of the National Planning Policy Framework (paragraph 48[1] ). This entails replacing the last two sources of supply above with an estimate of windfalls from 2015 (allowing windfalls contained within the commitments to be built out and assuming all are within the urban frame) of some 1,599 dwellings. This presents an alternative total of 5,815 dwellings. In the light of variability and uncertainty in the estimating sources, the potential to deliver more dwellings through higher quality higher density schemes and the flexibility afforded by the sustainable urban extension, it is considered appropriate to retain the provision of 6,250 dwelings for development within the urban framework of Yeovil as a target to aspire to and be monitored.

5.15 The overall level of growth for the town compared with the expected urban provision leads to the requirement for an urban extension.  It is considered that one extension is preferred over several by virtue of:

• better access for residents for jobs and facilities;
• better CO₂ reduction performance and cheaper energy;
• more sustainable transport potential;
• and likely cheaper overall cost for development.

5.16 The potential size of the urban extension is a minimum 1,565 dwellings to meet the overall Yeovil provision in the plan period.  It is considered however appropriate to retain a scale of development of 2,500 dwellings and anticipate a build out beyond the plan period for a number of reasons.  In particular:

• consistency with the approach adopted at Chard for the strategic allocation delivery of economies of scale;
• enabling a more sustainable community being developed with potentially more services;
• provide for more certainty for the future by reflecting the natural potential for the urban extension location (see below);
• should a lower urban framework figure materialise the Yeovil housing requirement;
• could still be met by a higher proportion of development within the Sustainable Urban Extension up to its full deliverable site capacity of 2,500 dwellings.

5.17 The following delivery bodies will be key in implementing Policy YV1:

• South Somerset District Council;
• Developers and Landowners;
• Infrastructure Providers.