Neighbourhood Plan

Warminster Neighbourhood Plan Post-Referendum

Following the successful Yes vote at the referendum (1660 in favour, 477 against, 3 spoilt papers) Wiltshire Council confirmed that Warminster’s Neighbourhood Plan was Made on 24th November 2016. The Made plan and the decision statement can be found below:

The final Decision Statement from Wiltshire Council can be found below:

Neighbourhood Plan April 2024 update

Work continues with the ongoing review of the Warminster Neighbourhood Plan (WNP). Good progress has been made by the Steering Group in drafting the Plan document itself and working on important elements such as the protection of green spaces through the Plan.

With recent changes to national planning policy by the government, the WNP Steering Group has decided to explore Site Allocation as part of the review process.

Site Allocation is the process of designating specific areas or sites for particular land uses such as residential purposes. One of the key changes in the national policy extends the protection period from speculative development to five years for Neighbourhood Plans that allocate a site to meet housing requirements. This is up from the previous two years.

The first phase of the Site Allocation process involves issuing a Call for Sites. This step aims to compile an initial list of potential development sites within the parish boundary. Landowners and members of the public are encouraged to submit their suggestions for consideration.

Proposed sites will then undergo a thorough evaluation based on an established assessment criteria. Only those that are assessed to be potentially suitable for housing, and that could meet our local objectives and need, will be progressed to stages where our community will have their say on allocation. As the WNP will be voted on at referendum, community input and support are fundamental to the Plan.

Further details regarding the Site Allocation process and how residents can participate will be released in the coming weeks. In the meantime, individuals interested in receiving further information are encouraged to sign-up by emailing admin@warminster-tc.gov.uk.

Councillor Phil Keeble, Chair of the WNP Steering Group, emphasised the importance of community involvement in the Neighbourhood Plan review, stating,

This process presents an invaluable opportunity for residents and stakeholders to contribute to the long-term vision for Warminster. By working together, we can ensure that future development is aligned with our shared values and aspirations for the town.”

For more information and updates on the Warminster Neighbourhood Plan review, please visit the Warminster Neighbourhood Plan website www.warminsterplan.com.

Warminster Neighbourhood Plan Review

Since 2022, local volunteers have been working on collecting information and evidence to update the current Warminster Neighbourhood Plan. As this document is specifically related to the planning policies for Warminster, it will help shape the future vision and development of the town.

Informal Consultation 2023

During March and April 2023, the local community were invited to contribute by providing their thoughts and feedback on the draft Neighbourhood Plan and the data collected. In addition to an overview survey there were also a range of topic specific surveys conducted regarding community facilities, local green spaces and the town centre. More than 1,300 surveys were completed and the majority of responses received were supportive of the development plans. The data collected from this consultation will be taken into consideration when updating the draft plan.

For further information regarding the March/April informal consultation, please see: www.warminsterplan.com.

Wiltshire Council Local Plan

Wiltshire Council’s Local Plan sets out the vision and framework for housing, infrastructure, and land for employment growth in Wiltshire for the next 15 years. The Plan has a designated section on Warminster, dealing with issues directly affecting Warminster such as housing supply, supporting the town centre, education, and climate change.

Find out more on the website for Wiltshire Council’s Local Plan:

https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/article/8029/Overview

Warminster Neighbourhood Plan Review – Assessments

A Strategic Environmental Assessment was completed in January 2024 as part of the Plan Review. The decision was made in March 2024 to include site allocations in the Neighbourhood Plan to increase the land supply protection; site assessments will be required for each potential development site to decide whether they should be allocated in the Neighbourhood Plan.

Warminster Neighbourhood Plan Review – Regulation 14

Currently, it is anticipated that the public consultation on the draft Warminster Neighbourhood Plan will take place in late 2024, following the additional assessments which have had to be undertaken.

Find out more on the website for the Warminster Neighbourhood Plan: www.warminsterplan.com