The Spatial Plans Team has recently undertaken a successful recruitment process and it is expected that the current team will be joined by new colleagues in the coming weeks and this will assist in the delivery of vital work for the LDF.

The Draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) Panel Report has been received and considered by the Spatial Plans Team.  The Report has increased the number of houses that need to be provided in the District from 10,000 to 13,700 (2006-2026).   A summary of the Panel Report, produced by the Spatial Plans Team can be viewed via the following link.

Summary of the RSS EiP Panel Report

It is still the case that no decision has been taken in respect of this Council’s advocacy of an early merger of LDF service across the county. However, there have been important discussions on this subject over the last few weeks during various Development Plans Group meetings. This involves the Spatial Plans Managers from all four Districts and is chaired by Laurie Bell (Front Line Services Workstream Owner). Such meetings are important stages that consider the options for LDF service across the county.

It is expected that the options will be considered by the Implementation Executive and a recommendation given in Spring 2008.

During this time the Spatial Plans Team will continue to work towards the delivery of housing and employment post 2011.  North Wiltshire continues to undertake vital work and evidence gathering that will be important whichever option is taken.  The Spatial Plans Team is aware that this period of uncertainty has impacted on our ability to deliver in accordance with our Local Development Scheme (LDS).  The Spatial Plans Team is in discussion with the Government Office South West on this matter.

One Council for Wiltshire - Looking ahead to the New Year. (December 2007)

The Spatial Planning Team is currently experiencing significant staff shortages and this will have an impact on the delivery of the LDF. Our priority for the early part of the New Year is to bring to completion much of the evidence that underpins the North Wiltshire Core Strategy. We  also consider that assessing the Panel's Report into the South West Regional Spatial Strategy for its implications on North Wiltshire to be an important priority and we look forward to its publication in the early part of the year.

A recruitment process is presently underway and we will be assessing the results of that within the next month.

No decision has yet been taken in respect of this Council's advocacy of an early merger of the LDF service across Wiltshire County. However, spatial planning officers across the County and Districts  are presently considering the opportunities that exist for closer co-operation within their current LDF  programmes.

You will probably be aware that Wiltshire County Council has been given the go ahead to bringing together the five local authorities into one new organisation to be called ‘The Wiltshire Council’.

This ‘One Council for Wiltshire’ represents a major change to the way in which local government is organised and delivers services in Wiltshire.

As a consequence there will be a slow down in our programmed Local Development Framework (LDF) delivery.

We will be continuing to work on the Core Strategy, however the Preferred Options stage of this document will not emerge in November 2007 as planned.

This Council is advocating an early merger of all the LDF’s in Wiltshire.

To respond to this change in circumstances our first priority is to now produce a replacement timetable (Local Development Scheme). A change in programme is necessary to provide a realistic timeframe for completion of the Core Strategy.

We will use the Council website to provide further advice and updates on a monthly basis.