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What is a Neighbourhood Plan?
Neighbourhood Plans (NP) were introduced in 2011, they empower communities to shape the development and growth of a local area. Once a Neighbourhood Plan is 'made' (or adopted) it has the same weight and strength as the Wiltshire Local Plan. A Neighbourhood Plan cannot block development that is already part of the Local Plan, but it can shape where that development will go and what it will look like.
Why are we reviewing the Plan?
There is no set time period within which a Neighbourhood Plan must be reviewed (it is at least every 5 years for a Local Plan). However, as the Calne Community Neighbourhood Plan is now 4 years old, and we are seeing updates of the Wiltshire Core Strategy / Local Plan, and national planning policy, together with understanding more about how our current Plan is working in practice, together with changes in local issues and priorities, it was decided by the Parish and Town Council, together with the Steering Group that a review was appropriate and necessary.
Why do we need an up-to-date Plan?
In order to make sure our Plan can a continue to be relevant and robust to guide and influence the decision making process about future development in Calne and Calne Without.
How long will the review take?
This depends on what the Plan includes in the review, but we currently estimate it to take around 2 years.
Who will lead on the Plan review?
The Parish Council of Calne Without and Calne Town Council are the responsible bodies, but the process of reviewing the Plan will be lead by a Steering Group of people representing both the Councils and the wider community.
Who pays for the Plan?
Government grant funding will be used and supplemented by Calne Town and Calne Without Parish. Wiltshire Council provides technical advice and practical support, as well as paying for examination and referendum if needed.
Update (24/08/2022) How can I find out more about Local Green Space Designation?
We have a blog post about this topic with Q&As. Click here to read.
Update (30/08/2022): What happens to the plan if/when Calne Without Parish no longer exists?
Wiltshire Council is due to make its final decision on the Community Governance Review for
Calne Without Parish in October this year, click here to read what implications this will have for the Neighbourhood Plan.
Recent planning appeals had led to granting of planning permission that many in our community have felt frustrated about. What weight is given to the Neighbourhood Plan in planning decisions?
The Neighbourhood Plan is used together with the Wiltshire Core Strategy and must be taken into account when determining a planning application, in so far as the policies in the plan are material to the application. In Wiltshire however, the Council cannot currently demonstrate a five year supply (or pipeline) of housing at different stages of build out, therefore national planning policy, rather than policies in a Local plan have greater influence in decision making. National policy states there should be a “presumption in favour of sustainable development” for housing. This means that if a site can be considered to deliver ‘sustainable development’ then planning permission could be granted, even if there is no support from the council for housing in that location or the site sits outside the Neighbourhood Plan.
How can I get involved in the Plan?
We will be giving people who live and work in Calne a range of ways to get involved in the Plan review. Find out more by clicking here.
