7.49 The South Somerset Role and Function Study (April 2009) identifies Milborne Port as a Rural Centre this will enable the settlement to grow and expand its identified role by allowing for additional employment growth.  The provision of additional retail premises and modest housing growth all of which will encourage greater self-containment.

7.50 To enable the settlement to grow and continue to expand its identified role 299 dwellings are proposed over the Local Plan period 2006-28. Of these 299 dwellings, 210 are already committed[1], with a residual requirement for 89 new dwellings, which is considered to be commensurate with the size of the settlement and deliverable through the Development Management process.

7.51 Additional employment and retail opportunities should be exploited to strengthen the service function of the settlement and additional employment land is required to be developed to 2028 in order to broaden the range of opportunities and to provide greater self-containment. There is a demand locally to strengthen the retail offer.

7.52 There is virtually no existing supply of employment land in Milborne Port (0.04 hectares), yet the settlement should see an additional 299 homes minimum over the plan period. In order to promote self-contained growth and cater for this additional housing it is considered that 2 hectares of new employment land should be delivered through the Local Plan to provide an option for employment. As this is not strategically significant the growth should be delivered through the Development Management process.

7.53 Retailing

7.54 As set out in Policy EP9, Milborne Port is a Local Centre in retail terms and the focus for any new retail development should be within the defined Town Centre. Proposals for retail development in excess of 250 sq m will be required to undertake a Retail Impact Assessment.

7.55 The infrastructure Delivery Plan does not indicate the need for any 'critical' infrastructure[2] requirements to be provided in Milborne Port as a result of the proposed new development. It does however identify a number of 'necessary' infrastructure[3] requirements, which generally relate to open space and sport facilities.

7.56 The following delivery bodies will be key in implementing the proposed development at Milborne Port:

• South Somerset District Council;
• Town and Parish Councils;
• Developers and Landowners.