Local Plan
Overview
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
Following a series of consultations, informing a review of the Local Plan, a draft version underwent pre-submission consultation (Regulation 19) in autumn 2023. This ran from Wednesday 27 September, to Wednesday 22 November 2023. Having analysed all the comments and undertaken further work, at its Full Council meeting on Tuesday 15 October 2024, following Cabinet approval (8 October 2024), Wiltshire Council confirmed that the Wiltshire Local Plan will be submitted to the Secretary of State before the end of 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
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.
Review stage | Start date | End date |
---|---|---|
Initial consultation on the scope of plan | 2017 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 consultation | 2023 quarter 3 | 2024 quarter 4 |
Submission to Secretary of State | 2024 quarter 4 | N/A |
Examination (including hearing, and receipt of inspector's report) | 2024 quarter 4 | N/A |
Adoption | N/A | 2025 quarter 3 |
Submission and Document library
Wiltshire Local Plan: Preparing for submission
Following the Regulation 19 consultation (autumn 2023) period, the next step is to submit the Local Plan, its accompanying evidence and all comments, to the Secretary of State. They will appoint an Inspector to undertake an independent examination to assess whether the Plan meets the relevant legal requirements, complies with the Duty to Cooperate, and is sound. Our timeline for the Local Plan anticipates this submission will take place in quarter four of this year (2024).
At its Full Council meeting on Tuesday 15 October 2024, following Cabinet approval (8 October 2024), Wiltshire Council confirmed that the Wiltshire Local Plan will be submitted to the Secretary of State before the end of the year.
To support the 'Wiltshire Local Plan review - Submission of Draft Plan' report to Cabinet on 8 October, and Full Council on 15 October, we made available some new documents that had not previously been published:
- Housing Topic Paper (PDF) [4MB] (opens new window)
- Heritage Topic Paper (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
- Wiltshire Local Plan Heritage Impact Assessments, CBA, September 2024 (PDF) [8MB] (opens new window)
- Habitat Regulations Assessment Appropriate Assessment (September 2024) (PDF) [24MB] (opens new window)
- Addendum to Sustainability Appraisal, September 2024 (PDF) [220KB] (opens new window)
-
Transport Topic Paper
(PDF)
[2MB]
(opens new window)
- Transport Topic Paper Appendix A Wiltshire Transport Model LPR (2024) (PDF) [10MB] (opens new window)
- Transport Topic Paper Appendix B A338 Salisbury Local Plan VISSIM Assessment (PDF) [726KB] (opens new window)
- Transport Topic Paper Appendix C A338 Salisbury Junctions VISSIM Local Model Validation Report (PDF) [2MB] (opens new window)
- Transport Topic Paper Appendix D Wiltshire Strategic Model Traffic Forecasting Report (PDF) [9MB] (opens new window)
- Transport Topic Paper Appendix E Wiltshire Strategic 2018 Base Model Local Validation Report in Support A350 Chippenham FBC (PDF) [17MB] (opens new window)
- Transport Topic Paper Appendix F Melksham Bypass OBC Model Forecasting Report Issue (PDF) [12MB] (opens new window)
All comments received in the Regulation 19 consultation can be seen here: Regulation 19 consultation, comments received (consult.wiltshire.gov.uk) (opens new window).
Wiltshire Local Plan document library
We have prepared a library of the documents published during the preparation of the Local Plan. To help navigate it, it is organised into sections based on the stage of the Local Plan preparation, and each document is assigned a code for ease of reference.
This document library will be updated when the Local Plan is submitted to the Secretary of State.
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) [960KB] (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) [48KB] (opens new window) , and submit your comments via email or post.
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) [35KB] (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) [44MB] (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