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Local Plan

Overview

Wiltshire Local Plan logo
What is a Local Plan

A Local Plan sets out a vision and a framework for the future development of an area. It is drawn up by a Local Planning Authority in consultation with its community, providing a platform for local people to shape their future surroundings. It will look at, and define, how development including housing, business construction and infrastructure (roads and facilities, for example) can best benefit the area a council is responsible for. 

In England, the 'plan-led' approach to the regulation of land and development, places Local Plans at the heart of the town and country planning system. Under this system, Local Plans form part of the statutory 'development plan' for an area, setting out planning policies and proposals for new development, and serving as the starting point for determining local planning applications.

Why we need a Local Plan

If we do not have a Local Plan, development will still take place but, without our own planning policies, we will be less able to ensure the schools, open spaces, and road upgrades that are needed to support development are part of the planning approval process.

Latest update - submission

Wiltshire Council submitted the Wiltshire Local Plan to the Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government for independent examination on 28 November 2024. 

Wiltshire's Local Plan

In Wiltshire, our current Local Plan is the Wiltshire Core Strategy (WCS), adopted in 2015. This incorporates Saved policies from former District Local Plans, that were not replaced by the WCS, and will continue to be saved until replaced as part of the Local Plan Review process. It also includes the following plans and policies:

The Local Plan, together with Made plans (neighbourhood plans) form the development plan for Wiltshire.

National policy states that the planning system should be genuinely plan-led, and places a Local Planning Authorities' development plan at the heart of decision-making. 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.

The Local Plan review

The Government requires every Local Plan to be reviewed at least once every five years. Wiltshire's Local Plan, the Wiltshire Core Strategy, was adopted in 2015, and is therefore being reviewed. This review is termed the 'Local Plan review'.  

Regular reviews support growth, ensuring there is enough land for homes, jobs and the infrastructure necessary to support them. It also helps protect against speculative and unplanned development that might undermine sustainable and resilient communities.

Scope of the Wiltshire Local Plan review

The Local Plan review will:

  • set-out a vision and framework for Wiltshire for the period to 2038, addressing housing needs and other economic, social, and environmental priorities
  • assess the future levels of need, and an appropriate basis, for new homes (including market, affordable, and specialist housing), employment land, and infrastructure provision over that period
  • consider if the existing adopted development strategy remains relevant, identifying new site allocations relating to housing and employment together with supporting services and infrastructure
  • inspect existing Wiltshire Core Strategy development management policies to ensure their continued consistency with national policy
  • introduce further detailed development management policies as part of a review of the saved development management policies not replaced by the Wiltshire Core Strategy
  • develop additional, locally distinctive policies, to plan positively for all town centres in Wiltshire consistent with national policy

The Local Plan review will not:

  • change or remove strategic objectives or policies that remain in accordance with national policy and support the delivery of sustainable development
  • include the needs of Gypsies and Travellers, this has been removed from the scope of the review, and will be addressed through separate DPD. See the Gypsy and Travellers - planning page for more information

Timeline of the Local Plan review

In line with the timeline within the Local Development Scheme, Wiltshire Council submitted the Wiltshire Local Plan to the Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government for independent examination on 28 November 2024. View the Wiltshire Local Plan submission page for further information. 

Wiltshire Local Plan submission page

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.

The anticipated timeline for the progression of the Local Plan review is summarised below.

Local Plan review, timeline
Review stageStart dateEnd date
Initial consultation on the scope of plan2017
quarter 4
N/A
Plan preparation (evidence gathering, informal consultation, and public consultation)2018
quarter 1
2023
quarter 2
Publication of plan for pre‐submission consultation and preparation for submission following consultation2023
quarter 3
2024
quarter 4
Submission to Secretary of State2024
quarter 4
N/A
Examination (including hearing, and receipt of inspector's report)2024
quarter 4
N/A
AdoptionN/A2025
quarter 3

Submission and document library

Wiltshire Council submitted the Wiltshire Local Plan to the Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government for independent examination on 28 November 2024. 

The Wiltshire Local Plan has been through the Regulation 19 consultation (autumn 2023) period which took place between 27 September to 22 November 2023 and is ready for independent examination. Representations on the Wiltshire Local Plan, along with a schedule of proposed changes have been submitted alongside the prescribed submission documents. 

Examination in Public  

The Wiltshire Local Plan will be subject to an independent examination to be conducted by the Planning Inspectorate. This is a continuous process running from the date of submission through to the receipt of the appointed Planning Inspector's Report. The examination process and timescales for public hearing sessions are determined by the appointed Inspector. The Inspector will examine if the Wiltshire Local Plan meets the tests of soundness defined in the National Planning Policy Framework and meets relevant legislative requirements.  

The Inspector will review representations previously made on the Pre-submission (Regulation 19) Local Plan document.  The examination process will likely involve hearing sessions where those invited to attend will have the opportunity to respond to matters raised by the Inspector. Those who made representations on the Wiltshire Local Plan will, if the Inspector deems it appropriate, be offered the opportunity to appear at the examination and will be notified about the examination process by the Programme Officer.  

Programme Officer and examination website

The Council has appointed an independent Programme Officer - Ian Kemp to assist, and work under the direction of the appointed Inspector throughout the examination process. The Programme Officer will act as an independent point of contact between the Inspector, the Council and any third parties participating in the Examination.

All updates relating to the examination will be published on the examination page via the following link:

Examination page (opens new window)

Wiltshire Local Plan submission document library

The Local Plan and relevant accompanying documents are available to view on below. Paper copies of the submission documents are also available to view as per the instruction below. 

 

We have prepared a library of the submission documents submitted to the Secretary of State. To help navigate it, it is organised into sections and each document is assigned a code for ease of reference. 

 

Regulation 19 consultation autumn 2023

Wiltshire Local Plan Regulation 19 consultation (closed)

During the Local Plan consultation held in the autumn 2023 we received more than 10,700 comments from the public, Wiltshire Council members, businesses, community groups, and town and parish councils.

All comments received as part of the Regulation 19 consultation can be seen here: Regulation 19 consultation, comments received

The consultation ran from Wednesday 27 September, to Wednesday 22 November. This was an opportunity for all interested parties to have their say on the proposals. This consultation represented the final stage before the Plan, its accompanying evidence, and all submitted comments are sent to a government Planning Inspector for independent examination. In accordance with the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (legislation.gov.uk) (opens new window), the Planning Inspector will consider all comments made within the consultation period.

This webpage provides information on the consultation that was undertaken.

Drop-in events and webinar

As part of the consultation there were 16 drop-in events at libraries and leisure centres across the county. A live webinar was also held on 10 October, a recording of which is available on our YouTube channel.

YouTube: Wiltshire Council - Local Plan webinar, 10 October 2023 (opens new window)

The webinar included a question and answer session. Due to the volume of questions that were received, it was not possible for all of them to be answered during the event. We have therefore published a document containing all of the questions that were submitted, and their answers.

Local Plan webinar, Q&A responses (OpenDocument text format, 960 KB)(opens new window)

The publication version of the Wiltshire Local Plan builds on the findings of earlier consultations, which can be found on our previous consultations page.

How you could have your say on the Wiltshire Local Plan (the Plan)

Online consultation portal

Comments (known as 'representations' in this context) could be submitted online using the council's consultation portal. This was the recommended route, and the simplest, as it allowed you to comment directly on the Plan as you look through it. Access to the portal and instructions on how to use it are below.

Consultation portal (opens new window)

Email or post

If you were unable to access the consultation portal, you could use this form: Wiltshire Local Plan Regulation 19 representation form (OpenDocument text format, 48 KB)(opens new window), and submit your comments via email or post.

Email

strategicplanning@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window)

Post

Spatial Planning
Planning Directorate
Wiltshire Council
County Hall
Bythesea Road
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8JN

Further information on how to comment, and what to consider when making a comment, could be found within the statement of representation procedure (guidance note) (OpenDocument text format, 35 KB)(opens new window).

All comments submitted, via the portal or otherwise, will be made publicly available. See your personal details, for information.

View the consultation documents

Consultation Portal

The easiest way to view the Plan, and submit your comments directly, was on the consultation portal:

Consultation Portal (opens new window)

Interactive map

You could also view the Plan on our ArcGIS mapping platform, where we created interactive maps that illustrate each of the policies, and made available a series of stories taking you through the chapters of the Wiltshire Local Plan.

Interactive map of the Plan and its policies (arcgis.com) (opens new window) 

PDF download

An accessible PDF version of the Plan is also available for download: Wiltshire Local Plan Pre-Submission Draft 2020-2038 (Regulation 19) (PDF, 44 MB)(opens new window)

Hard copies of the Plan and supporting documents are available

Hard copies of the Plan, and supporting documents, were also available to view, during the consultation period, at the council's main offices and a selection of libraries and community hubs, as detailed below. You could also request individual copies, for which printing and postage costs applied, see below for details.

Frequently asked questions

Contact us for more information

If you would like any further information on the Plan, proposed submission documents, or any of the supporting documents, please contact us.

Email:
strategicplanning@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window)

Telephone:
01225 713223

Post:
Spatial Planning
Planning Directorate
Wiltshire Council
County Hall
Bythesea Road
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8JN

Your personal details

To ensure an effective and fair examination, it is important that the Inspector and all other participants in the examination process are able to know who has made comments (known as 'representations' in this context)on the plan. The council will therefore ensure that the names of those making representations can be made available (including publication on the council's website) and taken into account by the Inspector.

The council therefore cannot accept anonymous representations - you must provide us with your name and contact details. Address details will not be made publicly available. All personal data will be handled in line with the council's Spatial Planning privacy notice.

Previous consultations

Join our mailing list

To be kept informed at key stages of the progression of the Local Plan review, along with other planning policy notifications, you can join our planning policy mailing list.

To join, follow the link below, fill in your personal details and tick the 'Planning policy' option from the 'topics of interest' list. The 'areas of interest' do not relate to the planning policy mailing list.

Join our mailing list (opens new window)

For further information on how the Spatial Planning department treat your personal information, visit our Privacy notice - Strategic Planning and Data Protection page.

Privacy notice - Planning

Information collected through public consultation will be processed in accordance with the data protection legislation.

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: Privacy notice - Strategic 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 copied or scanned and uploaded to our website. Personal information other than the name of the person making the comments will be redacted, including e-mails and postal addresses. 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

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