Plans for more than 1,300 new homes could be approved by Mendip District Council in the coming months.

The coronavirus has made it difficult for planning decisions to be taken in public through committees – which in turn has made its harder for residents to make their voices heard.

Following recent guidance from central government, planning committees will still be able to meet virtually – either to make decisions themselves or to make a recommendation to the chief executive, who will formally make the decision.

With the government determined that as many functions of local government carry on as normal during the crisis, there are numerous applications for large or decent-sized developments across the district which could be approved before the meeting restrictions are lifted.

Here are the major developments in and around Frome which could be approved while the current emergency measures are in place:

Saxonvale in Frome (300 homes and commercial space): formal plans for the council's much-trumpeted regeneration of this brownfield site were submitted in May 2019. In addition to 300 properties, the redevelopment will see the existing 'Western Warehouse' retained for cultural use, as well as new retail and commercial space for bars and restaurants. With council-led regeneration efforts elsewhere in the county moving forward in spite of the coronavirus, the council will be looking to get moving on this project as soon as possible.

Sandy's Hill Lane in Frome (235 homes and commercial space): these outline plans have been put forward by Silverwood (Ditcheat) Ltd. – which, confusingly, is based not in Ditcheat but in Westonbirt in Gloucestershire. This development would straddle Sandy's Hill Lane, east of the current Sainsbury's supermarket and south of the household recycling centre. The commercial space will include a food store and a drive-thru of some description, with the homes being built at the eastern edge of the site.

Little Keyford Lane in Frome (70 homes): this development by Wainhomes is a stone's throw to the east of the Sandy's Hill Lane development. The land to the south could come forward for further housing in the future – something the developer has indicated by providing designs of how these 70 homes could connect to other estates. For now, only the land on the western side of Little Keyford Lane is under consideration.

Coalpit Lane in Stoke St Michael (47 homes): this is another village near Shepton Mallet which could soon see an extension bolted onto its northern boundary. These homes will be built on the eastern side of Coalpit Lane, north of the existing crossroads. The proximity of the Moons Hill Quarry is likely to play into the developer's hands; they will argue it provides enough employment to make the site sustainable in its own right

Fortescue Fields in Norton St Philip (38 homes and community hub): this second phase of a major development in this village between Bath and Frome will involve 38 homes spread across three sites around the phase one development, which was approved back in 2010.

The council's planning board will meet virtually for the first time on April 22 at 11am. Details of how the public can access the meeting will be published on the council's website by Friday (April 17).