Local Plan Review
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Following Cabinet approval on 1 December 2020, we held a consultation on the Wiltshire Local Plan Review between 13 January 2021 and 9 March 2021.
The consultation was not on a draft Local Plan but on key components to inform one, including proposals for the scale and distribution of housing and employment growth across Wiltshire. It also sought views on the role of the Local Plan in helping the County adapt to and mitigate for climate change. To view the consultation content, see the Local Plan Review consultation page.
A report to Cabinet on 29 June 2021 provided an initial summary of the main issues that were raised through the consultation and the next steps.
We have now prepared a full consultation report which, along with the submitted responses, can be found under the 'work undertaken so far' heading on this webpage.
As part of the Local Plan Review consultation, taking place from Wednesday 13 January to Tuesday 9 March 2021, we held a series of live online consultation events for communities and other stakeholders. These events summarised the content of the consultation, explaining the proposals relevant to each area while also explaining how to make comments.
A summary of the event schedule and write-ups of the questions and answers from these sessions, along with the PowerPoint presentation delivered at each event, is available below:
- Main settlements live events question and answer sessions: responses ( Live Event Question Responses Main Settlements (PDF) [996KB] (opens new window) )
- Rural settlements live events question and answer sessions: responses ( Live Event Question Responses Rural Events (PDF) [603KB] (opens new window) )
- Rural events, which include all other Wiltshire villages and settlements, Monday 1 February and Tuesday 2 February ( Empowering Rural Communities Live Event Presentation (PDF) [587KB] (opens new window) )
- Amesbury, Thursday 21 January ( Amesbury PowerPoint presentation (PDF) [792KB] (opens new window) )
- Bradford-on-Avon, 25 January ( Bradford-on-AvonPowerpoint Presentation (PDF) [850KB] (opens new window)
- Calne, Monday 18 January ( Calne PowerPoint presentation (PDF) [764KB] (opens new window) )
- Chippenham, Wednesday 20 January ( Chippenham PowerPoint presentation (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window) )
- Corsham, Tuesday 19 January ( Corsham PowerPoint presentation (PDF) [717KB] (opens new window) )
- Devizes, Wednesday 27 January ( Devizes Powerpoint Presentation (PDF) [745KB] (opens new window) )
- Malmesbury, Thursday 21 January ( Malmesbury PowerPoint presentation (PDF) [750KB] (opens new window) )
- Marlborough, Monday 25 January ( Marlborough Powerpoint Presentation (PDF) [835KB] (opens new window) )
- Melksham, Thursday 28 January ( Melksham Powerpoint Presentation (PDF) [648KB] (opens new window) )
- Royal Wootton Bassett, Tuesday 19 January ( Royal Wootton Bassett PowerPoint presentation (PDF) [656KB] (opens new window) )
- Salisbury, Tuesday 26 January ( Salisbury Powerpoint Presentation (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window) )
- Tidworth and Ludgershall, Wednesday 20 January ( Tidworth and Ludgershall PowerPoint presentation (PDF) [581KB] (opens new window) )
- Trowbridge, Wednesday 27 January ( Trowbridge Powerpoint Presentation (PDF) [2MB] (opens new window) )
- Warminster, Thursday 28 January ( Warminster Powerpoint Presentation (PDF) [756KB] (opens new window) )
- Westbury, Tuesday 26 January ( Westbury Powerpoint Presentation (PDF) [717KB] (opens new window) )
If you would like to be kept informed at key stages of the progression of the Local Plan review, along with other planning policy notifications, you can do so by joining our planning policy mailing list.
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Understanding the Local Plan review
National policy states that the planning system should be genuinely plan-led. This plan led system places a Local Planning Authorities development plan at the heart of decision making.
In Wiltshire, the Local Plan includes the Wiltshire Core Strategy (incorporating Saved policies from District Local Plans), Chippenham Site Allocations Plan, Wiltshire Housing Site Allocations Plan and Minerals and Waste. The Local Plan together with Made plans forms the Development Plan for Wiltshire.
The Wiltshire Core Strategy (and saved policies from district local plans), which form a substantive part of the development plan, are under review. This review is termed the 'Local Plan review'. The Local Plan review will set out a positive vision for the future of Wiltshire for the period to 2038 and a framework for addressing housing needs and other economic, social and environmental priorities.
The Local Plan, as a key component of the development plan, will be the basis against which planning applications are determined and neighbourhood plans developed. It is a legally required document containing planning policies and site allocations to deliver the Council's strategic priorities.
Drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community, the Local Plan provides a platform for local people to shape their future surroundings.
The current Local Plan is the Wiltshire Core Strategy. The Government requires every Local Plan to be reviewed at least once every five years. The Core Strategy was adopted in 2015 and is therefore being reviewed.
Maintaining an up-to-date plan supports growth, ensuring there is enough land for homes, jobs and the infrastructure necessary to support them. Having an up-to-date plan helps protect against speculative and unplanned development that might undermine sustainable and resilient communities.
The purpose of the review of the adopted Local Plan will be to assess the future levels of need for new homes (including market, affordable and specialist housing) and employment land over the period 2020-2038 and to provide an appropriate basis for housing, employment land and infrastructure provision over that period.
It will involve considering if the existing adopted development strategy remains relevant, identifying new site allocations relating to housing and employment together with supporting services and infrastructure.
It will not be the purpose of the review to change or remove strategic objectives or policies that remain in accordance with national policy and support the delivery of sustainable development.
The review will also include:
- targeted updating of existing Wiltshire Core Strategy development management policies to ensure their continued consistency with national policy;
- the introduction of further detailed development management policies as part of a review of the saved development management policies not replaced by the Wiltshire Core Strategy; and
- developing additional locally distinctive policies to plan positively for all town centres in Wiltshire consistent with national policy
The scope of the review has been amended to exclude the needs of Gypsies and Travellers, which will be addressed through a separate DPD. See the Gypsy and Travellers - planning page for more information.
The Wiltshire Local Development Scheme (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 Development Plan for Wiltshire.
For more information on the Local Development Scheme, please visit the Local Development Scheme page. The anticipated timeline for the progression of the Local Plan Review has been summarised below:
- Initial consultation on the scope of plan: Commenced November 2017
- Plan preparation (including evidence gathering and informal consultation, with public consultation completed Qtr 1 2021): Over the period Qtr 1 2018 to Qtr 2 2023
- Publication of plan for pre‐submission consultation and preparation for submission following consultation: Qrt 3 2023 - Qtr 2 2024
- Submission to Secretary of State: Qtr 2 2024
- Examination (including hearing and receipt of Inspector's report): Commencing Qtr 2 2024
- Adoption: End Qtr 4 2024.
Work undertaken so far
Following Cabinet approval on 1 December 2020, we held a consultation on the Wiltshire Local Plan Review between 13 January 2021 and 9 March 2021.
The consultation was not on a draft Local Plan but on key components to inform one, including proposals for the scale and distribution of housing and employment growth across Wiltshire. It also sought views on the role of the Local Plan in helping the County adapt to and mitigate for climate change.
A report to Cabinet on 29 June 2021 provided an initial summary of the main issues that were raised through the consultation and the next steps.
We have now prepared a full consultation report which can be downloaded below along with the submitted responses.
Appendix 15:This appendix to the consultation statement consists of all responses submitted to the consultation. These responses have been published on a place/consultation paper basis. Where a response refers to an attachment, the attachments have been coded correspondingly and published alongside in a separate document(s).
Following the emerging spatial strategy, empowering rural communities, addressing climate change and supporting documents sections, these are listed in alphabetical order on a place basis.
Emerging spatial strategy responses (PDF) [5MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses STRAT008-STRAT 044 (PDF) [19MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses STRAT045-STRAT 147 (PDF) [24MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses STRAT156-STRAT199 (PDF) [13MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses STRAT200-STRAT223 (PDF) [18MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses STRAT224-STRAT234 (PDF) [18MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses STRAT235-STRAT240 (PDF) [27MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses STRAT242-STRAT246 (PDF) [18MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses STRAT247-STRAT248 (PDF) [12MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses STRAT250-STRAT254 (PDF) [16MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses STRAT257-STRAT280 (PDF) [21MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses STRAT281-STRAT293 (PDF) [21MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses STRAT296-STRAT313 (PDF) [21MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses STRAT314-STRAT321 (PDF) [19MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses STRAT322-STRAT330 (PDF) [14MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses STRAT331-STRAT351 (PDF) [22MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses STRAT352-STRAT373 (PDF) [15MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses STRAT374-STRAT397 (PDF) [26MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses STRAT398-STRAT406 (PDF) [26MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses STRAT407-STRAT421 (PDF) [20MB] (opens new window)
Empowering rural communities' responses (PDF) [4MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses RURAL010-RURAL072 (PDF) [25MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses RURAL075a-RURAL223 (PDF) [18MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses RURAL235-RURAL275c (PDF) [27MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses RURAL275d-RURAL285 (PDF) [28MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses RURAL286-RURAL312b (PDF) [17MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses RURAL313a-RURAL 340b (PDF) [21MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses RURAL341- RURAL358 (PDF) [12MB] (opens new window)
Addressing climate change and biodiversity net gain responses (PDF) [5MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses CLIMATE19-CLIMATE123 (PDF) [24MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses CLIMATE124a-CLIMATE132 (PDF) [18MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses CLIMATE135a-CLIMATE159a (PDF) [26MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses CLIMATE159b-CLIMATE175 (PDF) [25MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses CLIMATE176-CLIMATE180 (PDF) [22MB] (opens new window)
Supporting documents responses (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
Planning for Amesbury responses (PDF) [479KB] (opens new window)
Planning for Bradford on Avon responses (PDF) [7MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for Bradford on Avon responses BOA27-BOA655 (PDF) [28MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for Bradford on Avon responses BOA660-BOA87 (PDF) [12MB] (opens new window)
Planning for Calne responses (PDF) [2MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses CALNE17-134 (PDF) [15MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses CALNE139-CALNE154 (PDF) [15MB] (opens new window)
Planning for Chippenham (proposals) responses (PDF) [4MB] (opens new window)
Planning for Chippenham (concept plan) responses (PDF) [2MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses CHIPP95-CHIPP295 (PDF) [10MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses CHIPP301-CHIPP317 (PDF) [18MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses CHIPP321-CHIPP342f (PDF) [21MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses CHIPP342g-CHIPP346 (PDF) [18MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses CHIPP349-CHIPP368 (PDF) [11MB] (opens new window)
Planning for Corsham responses (PDF) [919KB] (opens new window)
Planning for Devizes responses (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses DEV006-DEV106d (PDF) [22MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses DEV106e-DEV115c (PDF) [25MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses DEV124-DEV127 (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
Planning for Malmesbury responses (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
Planning for Marlborough responses (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
Planning for Melksham responses (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses MELKS018-MELKS092 (PDF) [27MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses MELKS093-MELKS105 (PDF) [22MB] (opens new window)
Planning for Royal Wootton Bassett responses (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses RWB46-047c (PDF) [26MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses RWB048 (PDF) [28MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses RWB049-RWB056a (PDF) [17MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses RWB056b-RWB064b (PDF) [25MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses RWB065-067 (PDF) [22MB] (opens new window)
Planning for Salisbury (proposals) responses (PDF) [3MB] (opens new window)
Planning for Salisbury (concept plan) responses (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses SALIS040-SALIS213 (PDF) [21MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses SALIS218-SALIS244a (PDF) [25MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses SALIS244b-257 (PDF) [17MB] (opens new window)
Planning for Tidworth and Ludgershall responses (PDF) [429KB] (opens new window)
Planning for Trowbridge (proposals) responses (PDF) [3MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses TROWBP206-TROWBP323 (PDF) [20MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses TROWBP335-TROWBP338 (PDF) [14MB] (opens new window)
- Attachments for responses TROWBP339-TROWBP354 (PDF) [28MB] (opens new window)
Planning for Trowbridge (concept plan) responses (PDF) [755KB] (opens new window)
Planning for Warminster responses (PDF) [640KB] (opens new window)
Planning for Westbury responses (PDF) [771KB] (opens new window)
Local planning authorities are legally required to co-operate with each other over issues that cross administrative boundaries.
Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council are working together on an ongoing basis. In 2017 the intention was for a Joint Spatial Framework (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window) to guide the overall pattern of development across the wider area of the two councils, setting out a distribution of new jobs, homes and infrastructure to inform the councils' individual local plan reviews.
The National Planning Policy Framework in 2019 placed more emphasis on the role of a Statement of Common Ground. It became clear there was likely to be some overlap between the intent of the proposed Joint Spatial Framework and the intent of the new format Statement of Common Ground.
The authorities are, therefore, preparing a Statement of Common Ground which will establish the existence or otherwise of unmet needs for housing or economic development and lay the foundations for joint working between the two authorities. Further information be be found on the Swindon and Wiltshire Joint Spatial Framework webpage.
During 2019 a series of workshops were held with Town and Parish Councils, as well as Developers to provide updates on the Local Plan Review process. The focus for these sessions was largely centred on how the overall housing numbers could be distributed across Wiltshire in line with the Settlement Strategy set out in the adopted Wiltshire Core Strategy. In addition, the Developer Forum meeting looked at the issue of development viability and market signals.
Reports on these events can be found below:
- Town Meetings Report - Autumn 2019 (PDF) [111KB] (opens new window)
- Appendices to Town Meetings - Autumn 2019 (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
- Rural Workshops Report - Autumn 2019 (PDF) [371KB] (opens new window)
- Rural Worksop Appendices - Autumn 2019 (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
- Developers Forum Report - July 2019 (PDF) [2MB] (opens new window)
Following the Issues and Options Consultation in Autumn 2017, a number of parish events were held in Autumn 2018 to help develop our thinking further on planning for new homes to 2036. Specifically, the events helped to address the following questions:
How can approximately 44,000 homes be distributed across Wiltshire, with a focus on Wiltshire's market towns and principal settlements, to maintain the role and function of those places and promote sustainable development?
How can policies within the Local Plan support proportionate housing growth outside named market towns and principal settlements (the rural area) and support the role of neighbourhood plans?
A report on the events can be found below:
An initial consultation asked about the issues the Local Plan review should address in order to plan for the period to 2036. The consultation documents were prepared to stimulate discussion on how the review of the Wiltshire Local Plan should be carried out. The consultation documents along with the outputs from the consultation can be viewed below. An explanatory leaflet was produced as part of the consultation and that can be downloaded here (PDF) [248KB] (opens new window) .
A report on the Issues consultation, including a summary of the actions that were taken to raise awareness of the consultation and a summary of the comments received, can be found below. As part of the awareness raising process, informal consultation events were held and reports of these events can also be found below (this included meetings with Town and Parish Councils and a Developer Forum with developers and landowners).
- Scope of the Plan (Regulation 18 consultation) – Report of Consultation Process (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
- Scope of the Plan (Regulation 18 consultation) - Report of Consultation Process Appendices (PDF) [2MB] (opens new window)
- Scope of the Plan (Regulation 18 consultation) - Report of Parish Briefings (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
- Scope of the Plan (Regulation 18 consultation) - Report of Developer Forum (PDF) [2MB] (opens new window)
During the consultation, comments were invited on the Sustainability Appraisal Draft Scoping Report. Following consideration of comments, the final Scoping Report has been produced and can be viewed below.
- Wiltshire Local Plan Scoping Report (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
- Wiltshire Local Plan Scoping Report Appendix A (PDF) [1018KB] (opens new window)
- Wiltshire Local Plan Scoping Report Appendix B (PDF) [2MB] (opens new window)
The initial consultation asked about the issues the review should address in order to plan for the period to 2036. The consultation documents included:
- Wiltshire Local Plan Review: Consultation Paper (PDF) [441KB] (opens new window)
- Swindon and Wiltshire Joint Spatial Framework: Issues Paper (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
- Chippenham Housing Market Area - Individual Settlement and Housing Market Area Profile (PDF) [6MB] (opens new window)
- Salisbury Housing Market Area - Individual Settlement and Housing Market Area Profile (PDF) [3MB] (opens new window)
- Swindon Housing Market Area - Individual Settlement and Housing Market Area Profile (PDF) [4MB] (opens new window)
- Trowbridge Housing Market Area - Individual Settlement and Housing Market Area Profile (PDF) [4MB] (opens new window)
These were prepared to stimulate discussion on how the review of the Wiltshire Local Plan should be carried out.
Information collected through public consultation will be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.
For more information on how the Council uses your personal information visit Privacy notice - Public Protection.
For more information on how the Spatial Planning department use your personal information see thePrivacy notice - Spatial Planning and Data Protection.
Comments submitted as part of a consultation will be made public but your personal data will not be published.
Comments submitted via email or other means will be scanned/copied and uploaded to our website. Personal information other than the name of the person making the comments will be redacted including e-mail and address. In order to enable us to do so personal information should be clearly distinguished from the comments, preferably by use of the form provided or by use of a cover sheet. Please be aware that any personal information contained within the body of the comment, including that may be inferred, may not be redacted.
Subject to the above, comments received:
- Will be made available for public inspection, and cannot be treated as confidential;
- Will be available to view on the Council's website for the duration of the Local Plan review process;
- Will be used by the Council to inform the review of the Wiltshire Local Plan;
- Will be retained by the Council until such time as the Review of the Local Plan is superseded by other Development Plan Document(s);
- Will be stored in electronic format within the Council's consultation portal and servers (hard copy letters, where received, will be stored at the Council's offices or secure storage facility);
- May be forwarded to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration as part of the Local Plan review examination;
- May be summarised and presented in summary form.
