Ruth Bradley

Somerset Council is urging developers and housing associations to increase affordable housing in the county’s rural communities, where about 20% of people registered for social housing live. The council plans to build 580 homes over six years, while rural developments completed or in progress could deliver hundreds more; planning permission has also been granted for 1,600 affordable homes. Residents and Stonewater Housing Association say such homes help local people remain near family, work, schools and essential services, though the development process can take years.

Ofsted closed a Somerset children’s home after finding serious safety failures, including allegations of staff misconduct and lack of adequate skills to protect the child living there. Somerset Council is also temporarily shutting a second home while it redesigns its residential care model, citing recruitment challenges and rising complexity of children’s needs. Homes2Inspire, the contracted operator, accepted the findings and said staffing shortages affected care quality. The council plans to reopen the homes once a revised model is developed with sector input.

Somerset Council received a final Best Value Notice from the UK government citing weaknesses in financial resilience, management and leadership. The authority, already under financial pressure from rising demand in essential services, must report quarterly on improvements. Council leaders acknowledged the seriousness of the situation while stressing that corrective work is under way, whereas opposition councillors criticised the ruling administration’s handling of finances. Several other local authorities also currently hold Best Value Notices.