Neighbourhood planning was introduced in the Localism Act 2011 and it allows communities like ours to create a local plan that forms a long term, positive vision for our neighbourhood.
A Neighbourhood Plan can cover all sorts of things such as housing needs, planning, design, sustainability, the environment, transport and amenities. Once the plan is made and voted for in a local referendum, it becomes a material consideration when Wiltshire Council makes decisions and provides clear guidance to them on what matters to this community.
The creation of a plan must involve the whole community including residents, businesses and other organisations, and must be evidence-led.
The Parish Council set up a working group to investigate the feasibility of producing a Neighbourhood Plan back in July 2021. The group reported back to the Parish Council at the 2nd November 2021 meeting and the council voted to proceed with creating a plan.
Producing the plan isn’t going to be easy, as there will be lots of ideas, and certainly differences of opinions. The challenge for us all as a community is to work through these differences and create a long term, positive vision.
The first stage is to form a representative Steering Group made up from across the community and we need people with different skills, interests and experience.
If you are interested in finding out more or in joining the Steering Group, please contact Cllr. Adam Gilmore (adam.gilmore@bhwbparishcouncil.org.uk / 07969 290124). We’re planning to have the Steering Group formed by the end of December.
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