Planning policy

Planning policy documents are produced to inform decisions when approving or rejecting planning applications as well as to outline a vision for when and where future development in the area should take place.

All of the planning policy documents within one local planning authority area are collectively known as the Development Plan. These documents are prepared to implement plans that help address needs and opportunities in relation to housing, the economy, community facilities and infrastructure as well as forming a basis for safeguarding the environment and securing good design.

Within Wiltshire there are a number of planning policy documents that collectively form the Development Plan and these document can be viewed further down the page.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is a key part of the government's reforms to make the planning system less complex and more accessible. The NPPF sets out the government's planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied, vastly simplifying the content and reducing the quantity of planning policy pages. The NPPF acts as guidance for Wiltshire Council both in drawing up plans and making decisions about planning applications.

To support the NPPF the government produced National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG) which is published and regularly updated online. The NPPG adds further context to the NPPF and replaces thousands of pages of guidance that was previously published in separate documents.

In August 2020 the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government launched a 'planning for the  future' consultation proposing reforms to the planning system. More information on this consultation can be found here.

Wiltshire Council have composed a response to this consultation that can be found here. [284.82KB].

For the latest updates on the progress of the Local Plan Review please visit the following webpage.

Article 4(1) Direction with 'Immediate Effect' - Land at 'Old Nurseries', adj. Burton Field, Mere, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 6FH 

This Direction was 'made' with immediate effect on 7 September 2020, and so from that date removed 'permitted development' entitlement for development otherwise permitted by Article 3 of the Order and described in Schedule 2, Part 2, Class A of the Order - that is, the erection, construction, maintenance, improvement or alteration of a gate, fence, wall or other means of enclosure.

Following public consultation the Council has now 'confirmed' the Article 4 Direction meaning that it now has permanent effect.

The attachments shown in the downloads section of this page are the confirmed Article 4(1) Direction itself (including a plan showing the land effected), the confirmation Notice, and the delegated report.  Any questions relating to the Direction should be emailed to enforcement@wiltshire.gov.uk quoting reference 20/00637/ENF.

On the Monitoring and Evidence you will find the following information:

• Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment: Information on how to submit a site is also contained on this webpage.
• Housing Land Supply Statement
• Housing Land Availability Report
• Infrastructure Delivery Plan

The Brownfield land register sets out previously developed land that a local planning authority considers appropriate for residential development.

The Wiltshire LDS sets out the Development Plan Documents (DPDs) prioritised for production by Wiltshire Council and the timetable for their preparation that will, when complete, together with other adopted documents, comprise the Local Plan for Wiltshire.

National legislation and policy require councils in England to provide for the accommodation needs of travellers. Further information on any Gypsy and Traveller planning policies and assessments can be found via this webpage.

The SCI sets out the process and methods for community involvement for different types of plans and for different stages of plan preparation.

In May 2015, the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) came into force locally in Wiltshire. We adopted a CIL charging schedule, Regulation 123 list, Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and an instalments policy for the payment of CIL.

Economic Development and Planning at Wiltshire Council take your privacy very seriously and will keep your personal data secure. Our data protection page contains information on how and why Spatial Planning may collect and process your personal data in our role as a data controller.

Our data protection page enables you to view our Privacy Statement and Data Subject Information Notice.