The Decision Statement (proceeding to referendum) from Wiltshire Council, dated 4 March 2024, confirms that the draft Neighbourhood Plan complies with the legal requirements, meets the ‘Basic Conditions’, and subject to modifications being made, can proceed to the final stage of the process, a public referendum. This follows the Examination of the Plan by Independent Examiner, Andrew Matheson, who also concluded that subject to his recommended modifications, the Plan could proceed to referendum. The Decision Statement and Examiner’s Report can be viewed under the ‘Plan Documents’ section of this website.
A neighbourhood plan is a community-led framework for guiding the future development and growth of an area. It may contain a vision, aims, planning policies, proposals for improving the area or providing new facilities, or allocation of key sites for specific kinds of development. All neighbourhood plans must meet basic conditions (see Question 7.)
A neighbourhood plan relates to the use and development of land and associated social, economic and environmental issues. It may deal with a wide range of issues (like housing, employment, heritage and transport) or it may focus on one or two issues that are of particular importance in a local area.
A neighbourhood plan will be subject to independent examination and local referendum. Once adopted or ‘made’ the Chippenham Neighbourhood Plan would form part of the development plan for the area, which Wiltshire Council, as the Local Planning Authority, would use to make decisions on planning applications within Chippenham Parish.
The Plan covers the whole of Chippenham Parish.
Chippenham Town Council is the ‘qualifying body’ that is leading on the Plan. It set up a Steering Group in November 2018 comprising of 6 Town Councillors and 6 members of the community, who are responsible for the day to day management of the Neighbourhood Plan, and who are supported by the Town Council’s Head of Planning, administrative officers, and the Council’s retained Planning Consultant.
We began the Plan process with the formation of the Steering Group in November 2018 and hope to complete the Neighbourhood Plan in early 2024. The Plan will cover the period up to 2038, the same period that will be covered by the Wiltshire Local Plan Review. Ideally the Neighbourhood Plan would be reviewed every five years.
Plans will have to be considered by an independent examiner to ensure that they are legally compliant and consistent with these requirements.
Neighbourhood planning is about shaping development of a local area in a positive manner. It is not a tool to be used to prevent development proposals from taking place. Policies in a neighbourhood plan should comply with existing and emerging strategic and national policies. Neighbourhood plans are not able to promote less development than set out in Wiltshire Council’s Local Plan or national guidance, but they can promote more. A neighbourhood plan can be used to ensure that any development is in line with the wishes of the community and is sympathetic to local need.
When adopted or ‘made’, the Neighbourhood Plan will become a statutory planning document. It will form part of the Wiltshire Development Plan, and the policies within the Neighbourhood Plan will be given significant weight by Wiltshire Council Planners when making decisions on planning applications in Chippenham Parish.
Chippenham Town Council is funding the preparation of the Neighbourhood Plan, with the assistance of some government grant funding. Wiltshire Council will pay for the independent examination and the referendum, as well as providing technical advice and practical support.
Neighbourhood Plan documents + national, strategic and local planning policy or background documents that will influence the Plan:
What Groups Are Working on the Neighbourhood Plan?
The Steering Group is the body appointed to manage and lead on the Neighbourhood Plan. They are charged with overseeing and advising on the preparation and consultation of the Plan - through its different stages right up to Referendum. It operates on a non-political basis and comprises six Town Councillors and six members of the public. The Steering Group is sponsored by, and reports to Chippenham Town Council, as the accountable body. The Steering Group meets on a monthly basis and has been operational since November 2018.
Between October 2019-September 2020 seven Topic Groups were in existence, comprising of 40+ volunteers from the local community, reporting to the Steering Group. The Topic Groups were: Housing, Town Centre, Economy, Transport, Green Infrastructure, Community Infrastructure, and Sustainability & Climate Change. The Topic Groups gathered evidence to help create and support draft planning policies, and in some cases began drafting those policies.
Who’s on the Steering Group?
Chairman: Councillor Nick Murry
Vice Chairman : Councillor John Scragg
Steering Group Agendas and Minutes