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Planning - frequently asked questions

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1. Who is responsible for planning in Wiltshire?
2. What sort of planning do you do at Wiltshire County Council?
3. Do I need planning permission for X ? If so who do I need planning permission from, the District Council or the County Council ?
4. How do I apply for planning permission?
5. How long will it take to get planning permission?
6. How can I complain if I think something is being done without planning permission?
7. What is Development Control?
8. What is the Development Plan?
9. What is the Structure Plan?
10. What is the Minerals Local Plan?
11. What is the Waste Local Plan?
12. What is the current state of the Wiltshire Structure Plan?
13. What is the current state of the Minerals Local Plan?
14. What is the current state of the Waste Local Plan?
15. Where can I see the local plan for my town/village/area?
20. What is an Environmental Impact Assessment?
21. What is an Environmental Statement?
22. How do I make my views known or find out more?
23. Developments affecting the Salisbury Avon

This section is aimed at answering those questions we are most frequently asked about planning at Wiltshire County Council.

There are also more specific FAQ's on the Minerals Local Plan, and the Waste Local Plan.

If you have any more questions or queries on Planning at Wiltshire County Council please contact us.

1. Who is responsible for planning in Wiltshire?

a) Wiltshire County Council

Wiltshire County Council is currently responsible for producing and reviewing the Structure Plan, Minerals Local Plan and the Waste Local Plan in collaboration with Swindon Borough Council. In addition we process and determine planning applications for the following forms of development:

Minerals extraction and all ancillary proposals relating to this form of development;
Waste management;
The County Council’s own development (e.g. new roads, schools, mobile classrooms, social facilities etc.)

b) Swindon Borough Council

As set out above, the Borough Council currently works with Wiltshire County Council to produce and review the Structure Plan, Minerals Local Plan and the Waste Local Plan. However, they are also responsible, as an Unitary Authority, for producing their our Borough-wide Local Plan. In addition the Borough Council process and determine planning applications for the following forms of development:

Minerals extraction;
Waste management;
Major and minor housing schemes;
Economic development (commercial and industrial development); and
Educational facilities.

c) District Council

District Councils are required to prepare District-Wide Local Plans. These contain more detailed policies and information, which accord with the Structure Plan framework, including sites allocated for new development such as housing and employment. The Local Plan's also set out policies for deciding whether to grant planning permission for applications for most kinds of development (excluding minerals and waste developments), including domestic housing extensions/alterations.

d) Town and Parish Councils

Town and Parish councils don't have many powers when it comes to determining planning applications. For planning applications and other planning issues, affecting their area, they have entitlement to be consulted by the relevant District / Borough Council. In Wiltshire there are roughly 263 town and parish councils.

e) Interest Groups and Individuals

These have a legal right at their County, District or Borough planning office to inspect the planning application register – a register of all planning applications received. Then, they can forward their comments to the relevant planning authority on a specific application. The relevant planning authority has a legal obligation to consider any comments submitted within the consultation period and in form the public of its determination of a planning application. Groups and individuals are also consulted and invited to comment in preparation of the draft Structure and Local Plans.

2. What sort of planning do you do at Wiltshire County Council?

The Strategic Planning section of the County Council prepares the Structure Plan, whilst the Local Plan teams prepare the Minerals Local Plan, and the Waste Local Plan. These documents together comprise part of what is known as the Development Plan for the area. In this area the Development Plan system consist of the Structure Plan (prepared by the County and Borough Councils), District-Wide Plans prepared by the for District Councils and Swindon Borough Council, and Waste Local Plans and Minerals Local Plans which are prepared jointly by the County Council and Swindon Borough Council.

The Development Control function of Wiltshire County Council has a responsibility to process and determine planning applications for the following forms of development.

Minerals Extraction (new quarries, extensions to quarries, plant and machinery in quarries, and other related developments)
Waste Disposal (landfill sites, waste transfer stations, waste incinerators, sewage treatment works, waste-processing plants, recycling operations, composting sites, and other related developments.)
County Council's Own Developments (e.g. major road schemes, new schools, mobile classrooms etc.)

As a function of determining planning applications Development Control also undertakes the monitoring of all County Council development sites, minerals and waste sites, as well as handling planning enforcement issues that arise.

3. Do I need planning permission for X ? If so who do I need planning permission from, the District Council or the County Council ?

The County Council deals with determination of planning applications for minerals and waste developments. Your local District or Swindon Borough Council deals with applications for domestic house alterations, extensions, conservatory's, changes of building/land use etc.

It is always best to check with the Local Planning Authority first before you fill in application forms. Developments that proceed without planning permission, when it is required, are likely to lead to enforcement action being taken, which can result in considerable expense for the developer. It's free and confidential to have a pre-application discussion with the relevant local planning authority before you submit an application.

4. How do I apply for planning permission?

Wiltshire County Council has a responsibility to process and determine planning applications for minerals extraction, waste disposal, and County Council's own developments.

N.B. Planning permission and advice for house alterations, building extensions, conservatories, garages or a new house is granted by your local District Council. So for these types of development you need to obtain forms from your Local District Council.

To apply to Wiltshire County Council for minerals or waste planning permission you must complete the appropriate forms and certificates and send them into us along with the appropriate fee. Minerals and waste developments are often large projects, and can also be in environmentally sensitive areas; therefore your proposal may also require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

5. How long will it take to get planning permission?

The County Council is obliged to determine most planning applications within 8 weeks of their receipt. However, proposals involving the submission of an EIA will be determined within 16 weeks of their receipt.

6. How can I complain if I think something is being done without planning permission?

You can contact the Development Control Group or alternatively contact the relevant District council for your area.

7. What is Development Control?

Development Control is the general term used to describe the work we undertake in determining planning applications and the regulation of minerals, waste and County Council sites within Wiltshire. The Development Control Group deal with planning applications for the following forms of development:

Minerals Extraction (new quarries, extensions to quarries, plant and machinery in quarries, and other related developments)
Waste Disposal (landfill sites, waste transfer stations, waste incinerators, sewage treatment works, waste processing plants, recycling operations, composting sites, and other related developments.)
County Council's Own Developments (e.g. major road schemes, new schools, mobile classrooms etc.)

8. What is the Development Plan?

The Government's planning policy is based on a ‘plan-led' system, with the development plan as the primary means of guiding local planning authority's decisions on development proposals.

9. What is the Structure Plan?

The Structure Plan (for which Wiltshire County Council and Swindon Borough Council have joint responsibility), contained in the Wiltshire Structure Plan 2011, sets out a framework of broad planning policies to protect the environment and to guide development and change in Wiltshire. The Structure Plan looks ahead until the year 2011. It takes account of European, national and regional policy - setting out strategic policies as a framework for local planning by District Councils. It covers such matters such as housing and employment development, transport, the natural environment and minerals and waste development.

10. What is the Minerals Local Plan?

The minerals planning policies are contained in a Wiltshire and Swindon Minerals Local Plan (MLP). The Minerals Local Plan provides the basis for determining planning applications relating to the development of Wiltshire's mineral resources, with proposals for preferred mineral extraction (and related processes) sites in the county.

11. What is the Waste Local Plan?

The waste planning policies are contained in the Wiltshire & Swindon Waste local Plan (WLP). The waste local plan provides the basis for determining planning applications relating to the development of waste management facilities in Wiltshire and the Borough of Swindon, with proposals for preferred waste recycling / processing / disposal sites in the county

12. What is the current state of the Wiltshire Structure Plan?

The Wiltshire and Swindon Structure Plan 2011 was adopted in January 2001. It is currently under a period of review.

13. What is the current state of the Minerals Local Plan?

The Wiltshire and Swindon Minerals Local Plan was adopted in November 2001. It is currently under review.

14. What is the current state of the Waste Local Plan?

The Waste Local Plan Team have received and published the Inspectors Report, from the Public Local Inquiry (July 2003). After considering the Inspector’s recommendations the Team will shortly be publishing a schedule of modifications. It is expected the plan will finally be adopted in the winter of 2004.

15. Where can I see the local plan for my town/village/area?

With the exception of minerals and waste plans, which are prepared by the County Council with Swindon Borough Council, local plans are available for purchase or inspection by contacting your relevant District Council.

20. What is an Environmental Impact Assessment?

The process whereby information about the environmental effects of a project is collected, assessed and taken into account on reaching a decision on whether the project should proceed.

21. What is an Environmental Statement?

A document setting out a comprehensive study and analysis of the likely impact of the proposals on all relevant aspects of the environment, the measures take to mitigate adverse effects and any alternatives considered. The statement is prepared by or on behalf of the applicant for the development and is the result of the Environmental Impact Assessment.

22. How do I make my views known or find out more?

For Household or Business developments: planning permission for building extensions, conservatories, garages or a new house, or for business premises, is granted by your local District Council.

23. Developments affecting the Salisbury Avon

The Salisbury Avon receives stringent legal protection under the Habitats Regulations (1994) and is designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Applicants will be expected to provide sufficient supporting information to demonstrate that their proposals will not result in impacts to the River Avon SAC. Guidance has been produced for developers by the River Avon SAC Planning Forum on how to get permission for developments within the vicinity of the River Avon. This booklet explains the type of information that will be required at each stage of the process.

View the document - Protecting the River Avon: Essential Habitats Directive Advice for Developers (pdf 418Kb) .