 |
|
|
| |
|
| Chapter 1 - Introduction
to the Planning Process |
| |
| 1.1 |
Introduction |
| 1.1.1 |
The 1st Alteration to the West Wiltshire
District Local Plan has been prepared by West Wiltshire District Council
in accordance with the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and other
government advice. The Plan guides development in the District up
to the year 2011. It outlines the Council's policies for the use of
land and related matters and the reasoned justification for them.
The Plan is consistent with national planning guidance, as expressed
in Planning Policy Guidance Notes (PPGs) with Regional Planning Guidance
(RPG10), with the planning policies of neighbouring authorities and
is in general conformity with the Wiltshire Structure Plan 2011. |
| 1.1.2 |
The Plan encourages appropriate development
on specific sites, indicates where the Council intends to prepare
more detailed supplementary planning guidance in the form of development
briefs and helps to co-ordinate public and private investment decisions.
The plan also sets the scene for the Council's environmental enhancement
initiatives. |
| |
|
| |
Context |
| 1.1.3 |
Located in the southwest of England, in
the County of Wiltshire, east of Bath and northwest of Salisbury,
West Wiltshire has an administrative area of about 518 square kilometres
(200 square miles) and is centred on the five towns of Bradford on
Avon, Melksham, Trowbridge, Warminster and Westbury. The District
borders Somerset and the district of Bath and North East Somerset
in the west and the Wiltshire districts of Salisbury, Kennet and North
Wiltshire to the south, east and north respectively. |
| 1.1.4 |
It is a district of great character, distinction
and variety with a diverse landscape of natural beauty, and many picturesque
historic towns and villages. In the northwest of the district lie
the southern fringes of the Cotswolds and the impressive Limpley Stoke
valley. The River Avon and its tributaries flow through the low lying
central part of the District typified by mixed agricultural use. To
the southeast stands Westbury escarpment with the famous White Horse
and Salisbury Plain beyond. To the south lie the chalk river system
of the River Wylye, the Deverills and Great Ridge. The District contains
two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB); the Cotswolds AONB
and the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs AONB. In addition
there are several areas identified as being of special landscape importance.
The diverse landscape contains a wealth of natural habitats and many
features of ecological, scientific and archaeological interest, some
of which are of national and international importance. |
| 1.1.5 |
Trowbridge with a population of approximately
28,000 is the principal town in the District, an important administrative
and service centre and the county town of Wiltshire. Warminster, in
the south of the District, is an important military and local employment
and service centre with a population of approximately 17,000. Melksham
in the north of the District serves as an important employment and
local service centre with a population of about 17,000. Westbury,
south of Trowbridge is an employment centre with good rail communications
and a population of about 11,000. Bradford on Avon has a population
of about 9,000 and is an historic mill town of special architectural
character with an attractive landscape setting located in the Western
Wiltshire Green Belt. |
| 1.1.6 |
The main communications links through
the District are the A36 trunk road from Southampton to Bath and the
A350, an important north/south route from Poole to the M4. The A361
provides the main east/west link through the District. The District
has good rail links connecting to the London (Paddington) to Penzance,
Cardiff to Southampton and Bristol to Weymouth lines. |
| |
|
| 1.2 |
Existing Development
Plans |
| |
The Structure Plan |
| 1.2.1 |
The Development Plan system comprises
two levels of planning; Structure Plans and Local Plans. The Structure
Plan, which is prepared by the County Council, establishes the strategic
planning policy framework for the whole county. Local Plans elaborate
on this framework. They provide the detailed development policies
and proposals for districts. |
| 1.2.2 |
In July 1994, the Government published
the first Regional Planning Guidance for the South West (RPG10) for
the period to 2011. In order to update the Structure Plan in accordance
with RPG10 Wiltshire County Council published a revised Draft Wiltshire
County Structure Plan in January 1996 and a Deposit Draft in August
1996. An Examination In Public (EIP) was held in early 1997 and the
Report of the EIP Panel was received in August 1997. Modifications
to the Structure Plan were published in February 1999. A Second EIP
was held in November 1999 and the Report of the EIP Panel was received
in March 2000. Further Modifications to the Structure Plan were published
in June 2000. The Wiltshire Structure Plan 2011 is the approved Structure
Plan applicable to this District for the period to 2011 and was adopted
in January 2001. |
| |
|
| |
Local Plans |
| 1.2.3 |
The District Council adopted its first
District Wide Local Plan in March 1996. This Plan was prepared in
accordance with the Western Wiltshire Structure Plan, incorporating
Alterations Nos 1 and 2 for the period to 2001. |
| 1.2.4 |
The County Council is responsible for
preparing and reviewing Mineral and Waste Local Plans in Wiltshire. |
| 1.2.5 |
In preparing this 1st Alteration to the
District Wide Local Plan the District Council took the opportunity
to review and rationalise the existing adopted plan policies to reflect
changes in National Guidance (to accord with new and revised PPGs)
and the Wiltshire Structure Plan 2011. |
| |
|
| 1.3 |
Scope and Purpose of
the 1st Alteration to the District Plan |
| 1.3.1 |
Whilst the main purpose of the Plan is
to put forward proposals for the development and use of land, it also
fulfils several other important functions which can be summarised
as follows:- |
| |
(i) |
to interpret the strategic planning policies
of the Wiltshire Structure Plan 2011 through local plan policies and
proposals for West Wiltshire; |
| |
(ii) |
to examine local issues or problems which
warrant consideration but may not have been considered in the Structure
Plan; |
| |
(iii) |
to identify sufficient land to meet the
development needs of the Plan area for the period up to 2011; |
| |
(iv) |
to provide a satisfactory basis for development
control decisions; and |
| |
(v) |
to provide, together with the Structure
Plan, a means of co-ordinating the investment and development programmes
of private and public organisations. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
Community Planning |
| |
During the life of the District Plan 1st
Alteration, the Council with partners and the wider community in West
Wiltshire will be working together to develop a more joined up and
sustainable approach to community development. This will reflect the
needs and aspirations of our local communities. The outcomes of this
work and the Council's proposals for taking them forward will be contained
within a Community Strategy. |
| |
Government guidance is clear that development
plans and community strategies need to be complementary. In preparing
community strategies, local authorities need to take into account
the policies contained in the adopted development plan. Once a community
strategy has been established, the development plan provides the means
of implementing those elements of its vision and priorities that concern
the physical development and use of land in an authority's area. |
| |
Within West Wiltshire the District Plan
1st Alteration will play a key role in delivering the Council's Community
Strategy. Its implementation will be consistent with the Council's
approach to community planning. The Council will also have regard
to its other corporate strategies and policy documents where appropriate,
as material considerations in its development control decisions. |
| |
The Council recognises that the development
plan remains the primary basis for the consideration of applications
for planning permission to develop or change the use of land. The
Council will consider the need to adopt any land use related elements
of its Community Strategy as Supplementary Planing Guidance, prepared
in accordance with the advice of PPG12. |
| |
|
| 1.4 |
Main Stages |
| 1.4.1 |
The main stages undertaken in the preparation
of the 1st Alteration to the District Plan are summarised below:- |
| |
1 |
Consultation with the public and others
on Issues and Options - including 'Planning for Real' Workshops (Autumn
1996). |
| |
2 |
Consideration by the Planning Policy Working
Group and the Planning and Development Committee of the wide range
of comments and representations received during the Issues and Options
stage (winter/spring 1996/7). |
| |
3 |
Consultation with town and parish councils
on ' The Way Forward' (summer 1997). |
| |
4 |
Consideration by the Planning Policy Working
Group and the Planning and Development Committee of comments received
on The Way Forward report and the preparation of a consensus housing
strategy to 2011 to meet the concerns of town and parish councils
(winter/spring 1997/8). |
| |
5 |
Pre-deposit consultations with town and
parish councils, the public and others (late summer/autumn 1998). |
| |
6 |
Draft 1st Alteration placed on deposit
(October 1998). |
| |
7 |
Revised Draft 1st Alteration placed on
deposit (November 2000). |
| |
8 |
Pre-Inquiry Changes published (October
2001) |
| |
9 |
Public Local Inquiry into objections (March
- September 2002). |
| |
10 |
Modifications proposed (November 2003) |
| |
11 |
Formal adoption of the 1st Alteration
(June 2004). |
| |
|
|
|
| |
Issues Report |
| 1.4.2 |
The Council commenced consultation on
Issues and Options facing the District to 2011 in October 1996. 12
'Planning for Real' Workshops were held throughout the District and
were attended by a wide cross section of those who live and work in
West Wiltshire. This was followed by a 'Feedback' conference in Melksham
in January 1997. |
| |
|
| |
The Way Forward Report |
| 1.4.3 |
The Way Forward Report was prepared by
the Council's Planning Policy Working Group and set out a draft strategy
for the distribution of housing growth to 2011 for consultation with
town and parish councils. Specific sites for both 'brown' and 'greenfield'
development were also floated along with proposals for changes to
village housing policy generally and certain village policy limits
in particular. |
| 1.4.4 |
The Way Forward Report was launched at
a conference for town and parish councils on 2 August 1997. At the
request of the town and parish councils the consultation period on
The Way Forward Report was extended to 31 October 1997. |
| |
|
| |
Deposit 1st Alteration |
| 1.4.4a |
The District Plan Deposit 1st Alteration
was approved for development control and deposit purposes on 28 July
1998. A leaflet entitled "Planning Today for Tomorrow" was produced
and 50,000 distributed through the local free newspapers to most households
within the five towns of West Wiltshire and the principal villages.
An audio tape of the leaflet was also produced. Five pre-deposit roadshows
were held at the five towns of West Wiltshire during September and
October 1998 and were well attended with over 770 visitors. All the
statutory consultations were undertaken and the Plan was placed on
deposit on 16 October 1998 to 27 November 1998. |
| 1.4.4b |
Over 2800 representations were received
from approximately 1240 individuals and organisations. The District
Council's Planning Working Group considered these representations
during 1999. The response of the District Council to these representations,
together with a District Plan 1st Alteration Revised Deposit were
approved at a meeting of the Council's Policy Committee on 4 October
2000. |
| |
|
| |
Revised Deposit 1st Alteration |
| 1.4.4c |
The District Plan 1st Alteration Revised
Deposit was approved for development control and deposit purposes
on 4 October 2000. Details of the major changes were published in
the October edition of West Wilts Matters, the Council produced newsletter
which is distributed to every household in the District. All the statutory
consultations were undertaken and the Plan was placed on deposit on
9 November 2000 to 21 December 2000 |
| 1.4.4d |
640 representations were received from
204 individuals and organisations. The District Council's response
to these representations, together with pre-inquiry changes, were
approved at a meeting of the Council on 19 September 2001. |
| |
|
| |
Proposed Modifications |
| 1.4.4e |
A Public Local Inquiry was held between
March and September 2002; 139 objectors appeared on 56 sitting days.
The Inspector considered a total of 2749 outstanding objections and
a Report containing his findings and recommendations was published
in June 2003. The District Council considered the Inspector's recommendations
and proposed modifications were approved as a meeting of the Council
on 5 November 2003. |
| |
|
| 1.5 |
District Plan 1st Alteration
Strategy and Main Aims |
| |
1.5.1 The District Council considers that
the District Plan 1st Alteration needs to be guided by a clear strategy
and a set of aims. |
| |
|
| |
West Wiltshire District
Plan 1st Alteration Strategy |
| 1.5.2 |
The following strategy guides the aims,
policies and proposals expressed in the West Wiltshire District Plan
1st Alteration and is broadly based upon the County Strategy stated
in the Wiltshire Structure Plan 2011. |
| |
The District Council will encourage
the continued and sustainable regeneration of the economic and physical
fabric of the West Wiltshire towns in the A350 corridor, in particular
Trowbridge, Melksham and Westbury, through a concentration of resources,
development and positive planning measures. |
| |
In Bradford on Avon, Warminster, the
villages and rural areas, the District Council will seek to achieve
a sustainable balance between the competing demands for development
and environmental protection. |
| |
The District Council will place particular
emphasis on environmental conservation and the protection and enhancement
of features of acknowledged international, national and local importance
whilst continuing to meet the essential development needs of the local
economy and community. |
| |
|
| 1.5.3 |
The District Council is working towards
ensuring that the future development and growth in West Wiltshire
is sustainable. It notes Brundtland's definition of sustainable development
as being that "which meets the needs of the present without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". The District
Council recognises that the planning system can play a positive role
in guiding appropriate development to the right place and preventing
unacceptable development. |
| 1.5.4 |
In encouraging the sustainable regeneration
of the West Wiltshire towns, the District Council will seek to reconcile
the need for development with the need to conserve and enhance the
quality of the environment. It will seek to make full and effective
use of land, particularly through conversion and redevelopment of
neglected, unused or derelict sites and premises. An emphasis will
be placed upon urban renewal and land recycling, rather than on greenfield
development, thus relieving pressure on the countryside. The District
Plan makes adequate provision for development and at the same time
takes account of the need to protect the natural and built environment.
The District Council will seek to balance the need for development
with conservation interests and will not sacrifice the green spaces
in the towns needed for recreation and amenity. New development will
be directed to those existing settlements that have access to a range
of services and facilities to reduce the length of motorised journeys
and the reliance on the private car in favour of public transport,
walking and cycling. |
| |
|
| |
Aims |
| 1.5.5 |
The aims of the West Wiltshire District
Plan 1st Alteration take account of the main issues affecting West
Wiltshire and have helped to guide the formulation of the policies
and proposals. |
| 1.5.6 |
The aims include a general policy for
West Wiltshire to the year 2011 and for specific areas such as the
environment, housing, employment, conservation, recreation, tourism,
transport, shopping and community services and facilities. These aims
preface each appropriate section in the Plan. |
| |
|
| |
A Policy for West Wiltshire
to the Year 2011 |
| |
Aims |
| |
To establish a planning policy to the
year 2011 designed to reflect and take into account the needs and
wishes of the residents of the Plan area, their economic well-being
and the built and natural environment of the area in which they live
and work. |
| |
To continue to give firm support to
the improvement of the physical fabric of the towns and villages of
the District, through a range of positive planning policies and the
encouragement of both public and private sector investment in new
infrastructure, imaginative development schemes and environmental
improvements. |
| |
|
| 1.6 |
Policies and Proposals |
| 1.6.1 |
The policies and proposals of the Plan
are set out in the following sections. Those which are specifically
concerned with the maintenance and improvement of the attractive environment
of West Wiltshire are listed under Policies for the Environment in
Section 2. These policies set the overall scene and in some cases
become the principal restraint policies affecting the future development
in the District. The following section sets out policies concerned
with new development including housing, employment, transport, shopping
and community facilities. Section 4 examines the implementation of
the Plan and the resources likely to be available. |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
 |
 |
|
|
|
| top |