THOUSANDS of new homes could still be approved in Somerset in 2021 if the government acts to end local authorities’ planning paralysis. The four Somerset district councils have been struggling to make decisions on major planning applications since a court ruling which required additional tests to be carried out on developments planned in the county. The councils have requested assistance from central government to carry out these tests and help them clear this backlog. If successful, thousands more homes could be approved across the county on top of those permissions already granted. 2020 has seen a number of large housing developments given the go-ahead across Somerset by the four district councils – Mendip, Sedgemoor, Somerset West & Taunton and South Somerset.