Wiltshire Housing Site Allocations Plan

The purpose of the Wiltshire Housing Site Allocations Plan is to support the delivery of new housing set out in the Wiltshire Core Strategy (adopted January 2015).

The plan will address two key matters:

1. Revise, where necessary, settlement boundaries in relation to the Principal Settlements of Salisbury and Trowbridge, Market Towns, Local Service Centres and Large Villages. Further information is available below
2. Allocate new sites for housing to ensure the delivery of homes across the plan period in order to maintain a five year land supply in each of Wiltshire's three Housing Market Areas over the period to 2026.

The plan presents proposals and associated policies designed to be in general conformity with the adopted Wiltshire Core Strategy and national planning policy. It considers sites in relation to the geographic area of Wiltshire, but excluding Chippenham which has been dealt with in a separate DPD.

'Settlement boundaries (opens new window)' are essentially defined as the dividing line between areas of built urban development ('the settlement') and non-urban or rural development ('the open countryside'). At present, settlement boundaries exist at Wiltshire's Principal Settlements, Market Towns, Local Service Centres and Large Villages, as defined by Core Policy 2 of the Wiltshire Core Strategy.

The existing 'settlement boundaries' were originally drawn up several years ago and included within the old District Council Local Plans. The Council did not review the extent of the boundaries to inform the Wiltshire Core Strategy (WCS) and relied upon the former district local plans. They would instead be reviewed as a part of preparing the Wiltshire Housing Site Allocations Plan.

The Council has undertaken a comprehensive review of the boundaries to ensure they are up-to-date and adequately reflect changes which have happened since they were first established. The Plan amends settlement boundaries where necessary. It is also the prerogative of local communities to review them through the preparation of neighbourhood plans.

Bradford-On-Avon Community Area

• Westwood (PDF) [930KB] (opens new window)
• Winsley (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)

Calne Community Area

• Calne (PDF) [2MB] (opens new window)
• Studley and Derry Hill (PDF) [897KB] (opens new window)

Chippenham Community Area

• Hullavington (PDF) [840KB] (opens new window)
• Kington-St-Michael (PDF) [824KB] (opens new window)
• Sutton Benger (PDF) [854KB] (opens new window)
• Yatton Keynell (PDF) [819KB] (opens new window)

Corsham Community Area

• Box (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
• Colerne (PDF) [923KB] (opens new window)
• Corsham (PDF) [2MB] (opens new window)
• Rudloe (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)

Malmesbury Community Area

• Ashton Keynes (PDF) [919KB] (opens new window)
• Crudwell (PDF) [680KB] (opens new window)
• Malmesbury (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
• Sherston (PDF) [870KB] (opens new window)

Melksham Community Area

• Atworth (PDF) [771KB] (opens new window)
• Melksham and Bowerhill (PDF) [2MB] (opens new window)
• Seend (PDF) [905KB] (opens new window)
• Semington (PDF) [830KB] (opens new window)
• Shaw and Whitley (PDF) [993KB] (opens new window)
• Steeple Ashton (PDF) [775KB] (opens new window)

Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Community Area

• Lyneham (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
• Purton (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
• Royal Wootton Bassett (PDF) [2MB] (opens new window)

Trowbridge Community Area

• Hilperton (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
• North Bradley (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
• Southwick (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
• Trowbridge (PDF) [9MB] (opens new window)

Warminster Community Area

• Chapmanslade (PDF) [820KB] (opens new window)
• Codford (PDF) [841KB] (opens new window)
• Corsley (PDF) [841KB] (opens new window)
• Heytesbury (PDF) [895KB] (opens new window)
• Sutton Veny (PDF) [822KB] (opens new window)
• Warminster (PDF) [2MB] (opens new window)

Westbury Community Area

• Bratton (PDF) [898KB] (opens new window)
• Dilton Marsh (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
• Westbury (PDF) [2MB] (opens new window)

Amesbury Community Area

• Amesbury (PDF) [2MB] (opens new window)
• Bulford (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
• Durrington (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
• Great Wishford (PDF) [744KB] (opens new window)
• Shrewton (PDF) [749KB] (opens new window)
• The Winterbournes (PDF) [913KB] (opens new window)
• Tilshead (PDF) [684KB] (opens new window)

Mere Community Area

• Mere (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)

Salisbury Community Area

• Salisbury (PDF) [9MB] (opens new window)

Southern Wiltshire Community Area

• Alderbury (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
• Coombe Bissett (PDF) [740KB] (opens new window)
• Downton (PDF) [887KB] (opens new window)
• Morgans Vale and Woodfalls (PDF) [1020KB] (opens new window)
• Pitton (PDF) [694KB] (opens new window)
• Whiteparish (PDF) [896KB] (opens new window)
• Winterslow (PDF) [859KB] (opens new window)

Tisbury Community Area

• Fovant (PDF) [786KB] (opens new window)
• Hindon (PDF) [668KB] (opens new window)
• Ludwell (PDF) [874KB] (opens new window)
• Tisbury (PDF) [952KB] (opens new window)

Wilton Community Area

• Broad Chalke (PDF) [675KB] (opens new window)
• Dinton (PDF) [852KB] (opens new window)
• Wilton (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)

Devizes Community Area

• Bromham (PDF) [937KB] (opens new window)
• Devizes (PDF) [3MB] (opens new window)
• Market Lavington (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
• Rowde (PDF) [834KB] (opens new window)
• Worton (PDF) [887KB] (opens new window)

Marlborough Community Area

• Aldbourne (PDF) [721KB] (opens new window)
• Baydon (PDF) [766KB] (opens new window)
• Broad Hinton (PDF) [620KB] (opens new window)
• Marlborough (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
• Ramsbury (PDF) [891KB] (opens new window)

Pewsey Community Area

• Burbage (PDF) [832KB] (opens new window)
• Great Bedwyn (PDF) [837KB] (opens new window)
• Shalbourne (PDF) [760KB] (opens new window)
• Upavon (PDF) [731KB] (opens new window)

Tidworth Community Area

• Collingbourne Ducis (PDF) [629KB] (opens new window)
• Ludwell (PDF) [874KB] (opens new window)
• Ludgershall (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
• Netheravon (PDF) [791KB] (opens new window)
• Tidworth (PDF) [2MB] (opens new window)

• Sustainability Appraisal Adoption Statement (PDF) [2MB] (opens new window)
• SA Annex I A1 Amesbury CAR May 2018 (opens new window)
• SA Annex I A2 Amesbury, Bulford and Durrington May 2018 (opens new window)
• SA I A3 Chippenham CAR May 2018 (opens new window)
• SA Annex I A4 Devizes CAR 2018 (opens new window)
• SA Annex I A5 Malmesbury CAR May 2018 (opens new window)
• SA Annex I A6 Salisbury and Wilton May 2018 (opens new window)
• SA Annex I A7 Tidworth and Ludgershall May 2018 (opens new window)
• SA Annex I A8 Tisbury CAR May 2018 (opens new window)
• SA Annex I A9 Trowbridge May 2018 (opens new window)
• SA Annex I A10 Warminster CAR May 2018 (opens new window)
• SA Annex I A11 Warminster May 2018 (opens new window)
• SA Annex I A12 Westbury CAR May 2018 (opens new window)
• SA Annex I Revised A3 Chippenham September 2018 (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
• SA Annex II Revised September 2018 (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
• SA Annex III Assessment of FMM February 2020 (PDF) [3MB] (opens new window)
• SA IV Assessment of MM Schedule February 2020 (PDF) [3MB] (opens new window)
• SA Non Technical Summary February 2020 (PDF) [861KB] (opens new window)
• SA Report February 2020 (PDF) [8MB] (opens new window)

• Document [HRA 01] Habitats Regulations Assessment - Pre-submission draft plan June 2017 (opens new window)
• Document [HRA 02.] Addendum to the Assessment under the Habitat Regulations - Pre-submission draft plan May 2018 (opens new window)
• Document [HRA 02a] Addendum to the HRA May 2018-Factual Update-September 2018 (opens new window)
• HRA September 2019 (opens new window)
• HRA February 2020 (PDF) [5MB] (opens new window)

Sustainability Appraisal (SA) is a process that is carried out as an integral part of developing the Wiltshire Housing Site Allocations Plan (WHSAP), with the aim of promoting sustainable development through the integration of social, environmental and economic considerations. The SA incorporates a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and is a requirement of national and European legislation and is subject to the same level of public consultation and scrutiny as the WHSAP.

This work has been carried out with Atkins Consultants so there is a second, objective view on the choices involved. The process is explained below.

Stage A: Setting the context and objectives, establishing the baseline and deciding on the scope.

Stage A of the Sustainability Appraisal process has been completed in the form of a Scoping Report. This stage sets the context and objectives, establishes the baseline and decides on the scope. It is a requirement at this stage to consult the statutory consultation bodies on the scope of the Sustainability Appraisal report.  A Draft Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report (PDF) [965KB] (opens new window)  was prepared and consultation commenced on 12 May 2014. The consultation period ran for the required 5 weeks, and finished on the 16 June 2014. The responses received during this consultation period were taken into account to create the final  Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)  in August 2014. Appendix D explains the changes made.

The Sustainability Appraisal Framework is the conclusion of the Scoping Report and establishes SA objectives and decision aiding questions to help assess the environmental, social and economic effects of the proposed zones and areas. Applying the framework will inform decisions on which is the most appropriate option to include in the WHSAP.

Stage B: Developing and refining alternatives and assessing effect

The SA Framework was used to carry out an SA of all reasonable site alternatives identified in the site selection process. The SA of the reasonable alternatives is discussed in the main Sustainability Appraisal Report in Chapters 2 and 7 and in Annex I. The Sustainability Appraisal Report sets out the methodology, process and findings of the sustainability appraisal of the WHSAP and is accompanied by a Non-Technical Summary. Also, during the preparation of the WHSAP, a number of modifications were made to the Plan and these were also subject to sustainability appraisal - the results of these assessments are presented in SA Annex II (Assessment of Schedule of Proposed Changes), SA Annex III (Assessment of Further Main Modifications) and SA Annex IV (Assessment of Consolidated Schedule of Main Modifications).

Stage C: Prepare the Sustainability Appraisal Report

A SA Report has been published alongside the WHSAP to explain how reasonable site alternatives and proposed policies were assessed, as well as the conclusions reached.

The Final SA Report comprises a suite of documents which cover the different stages of the plan making process.

Stage D: Seek representations on the Sustainability Appraisal Report from consultation bodies and the public.

Throughout the process the WHSAP Draft Sustainability Appraisal Report has been made available to view. During the periods of consultation on the WHSAP, the Draft SA Report was available alongside for comment. These periods of consultation included the consultation on the draft Sustainability Appraisal which took place alongside the Pre-submission draft of the WHSAP from July - September 2017, Consultation on Further Main Modifications September until October 2019 and the Focussed consultation on the Schedule of Proposed Changes and associated evidence documents December 2018 to 5pm January 2019.

Following the Examination in Public (April 2019) the Inspector wrote to the Council on 10 June 2019 with his post hearing findings and advice. In response to his letter the Council consulted on a Schedule of Further Main Modifications (FMMs).

Consultation on the Schedule of FMMs, along with the Revised Sustainability Appraisal and updated Addendum to the Habitats Regulation Assessment were published for a 6 week period of consultation starting 9am on 12 September until 5pm on 25 October 2019.

The consultation can be found on the Wiltshire Housing Sites DPD Examination page or on the council's Consultation portal: Wiltshire Housing Site Allocations Plan - Consultation on Further Main Modifications (opens new window).

A consultation was undertaken for six weeks from 9am Thursday 27 September 2018 to 5pm Friday 9 November 2018. A report on the consultation can be viewed in the  Wiltshire Housing Site Allocations Plan - Focussed Consultation on the Council’s Schedule of Proposed Changes and Associated Evidence Documents Consultation Report November 2018 (PDF) [3MB] (opens new window)  document. An appendix to the main report setting out details of all representations made can be viewed on Focussed Consultation on Wiltshire Council's Schedule of Proposed Changes and Associated Evidence Documents Consultation Report (Appendix J) November 2018 (opens new window).

While the consultation was widely advertised, following the close of the consultation it was identified due to a technical error some consultees on the council's database were not directly written to about the consultation. To correct this, the council has written to the consultees concerned (who had not already responded) to provide them with the opportunity to comment over a six-week period starting Tuesday 11 December 2018 to 5pm Tuesday 22 January 2019. Following the close of the targeted consultation, the council produced an Addendum to the November 2018 Consultation Report, which summarised the further responses that had been received.

The addendum report can be viewed here. An appendix to the addendum report setting out the details of the representations made can be viewed online (opens new window).

The Wiltshire Housing Site Allocations Plan was submitted to the Secretary of State on 31 July 2018.

For more information on the examination, please see Wiltshire Housing Sites DPD Examination

The documents submitted to the Secretary of State can be viewed here (opens new window).

Copies of the representations were made during the pre-submission consultation are summarised in the document WHSAP/12 Regulation 22 (1) (c) Report Consultation Statement Appendix Q Schedule of Representations.

Wiltshire Council published the draft Wiltshire Housing Site Allocations Plan, along with accompanying evidence reports, for formal consultation during a 10 week consultation period, which ran from Friday 14 July 2017 until 5pm on Friday 22 September 2017.

The draft Plan and supporting evidence documents are available to view and download on Wiltshire Housing Site Allocations DPD/Pre-Submission Consultation July 2017 (opens new window). They can also be viewed via the consultation portal (opens new window).

Copies of all comments are now available to view  WHSAP Consultation Reg 22 (1) (c) Appendices M - P (PDF) [7MB] (opens new window)  .

Following the consultation, the council is now considering the comments received before submitting the draft Plan and supporting evidence to the Secretary of State for examination.  All comments received during this consultation will be passed on to the appointed independent Planning Inspector at that stage.

The draft Wiltshire Housing Site Allocations Plan was approved by Wiltshire Council's Cabinet on 20 June 2017. To view the papers that went to cabinet see Agenda and minutes Cabinet - Tuesday 20 June 2017 9.30 am (opens new window).

Housing Site Allocations Informal consultation (opens new window) with parish and town councils and other stakeholders on a draft methodology and initial findings relating to the identification of housing allocations (February - March 2015). This has been followed up with a targeted consultation of Parish Councils with Large Villages (June - August 2015).

Informal consultation (opens new window) with parish and town councils on draft proposals for revised settlement boundaries.

The council undertook an informal consultation with Parish and Town Councils whose area includes settlements with existing boundary lines. The decision to solely engage at this stage with Parish and Town Councils was taken because they are elected to represent their respective communities and have detailed knowledge of their local area.  However, in the interests of openness, the consultation material was made publicly available. The informal consultation ran for an 8-week period, from Monday 28 July until Monday 22 September 2014.

Formal public consultation (opens new window) on the scope of the Wiltshire Housing Site Allocations DPD.