Types of Development Plans covering North Wiltshire.

Any particular area will be covered by a number of plans, produced by a variety of different authorities. In North Wiltshire, there is a hierarchy of plans which cover the District, each setting the policy framework for the level below it.

Central Government:

All development plans covering the area have to take account of the Government's national planning policies

Department of Communities and Local Government

Regional Guidance:

The Draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) is a new approach to regional planning as required by the Town and Country Planning Act, 2004. It sets the regional context for planning in the South West until 2026. It will:

Guide the planning process at a local level through Local Development Frameworks (LDF)
Include housing numbers and the broad locations of development.
Plan for economic development, housing, health, culture and the environment.
Provide policy guidance on mineral extraction and waste treatment.
Include a transport strategy.
Help to deliver the regional strategy.

The Draft RSS can be viewed by using the link to the South West Regional Assembly website:

The South West Regional Assembly

The Draft RSS Examination in Public (EiP) Panel Report.

The Draft RSS was considered at an Examination in Public (EiP) between April and July 2007 and was published by the Government Office South West on 10 January 2008. The recommendations made by the Panel on changes to the Draft RSS have been summarised by North Wiltshire District Council and can be downloaded from the following link.

Summary of the EiP Panel Report

The full EiP Panel Report on the Draft RSS can be found by using the following link.
The EiP Panel Report

Structure Plans:

The Wiltshire and Swindon Structure Plan 2016 was adopted in April 2006. The Structure Plan sets out a strategic planning framework for issues such as the scale, pattern and broad location of housing and employment throughout Wiltshire up to 2016.

The Wiltshire and Swindon Structure Plan 2016 can be accessed by using the links below:

Wiltshire and Swindon Structure Plan 2016

Local Plans:

The structure plan provides the strategic policies to guide the production of local plans, where you will find more detailed policies and proposals for specific sites. Each District Council in Wiltshire produces a Local Plan relevant to its own area. The County Council also produces two local plans dealing with policies and sites for mineral and waste issues.

Adopted North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011

What Plans are available

The system of producing Development Plan Documents was changed in 2004. The change will see the removal of Structure Plans and the replacement of Regional Planning Guidance with Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) and also Local Plans gradually being replaced with Local Development Frameworks.