Royal Wootton Bassett Neighbourhood Plan
3rd November 2025 

A Neighbourhood Plan gives communities direct power to develop a shared vision for the neighbourhood and shape the development and growth of the local area.

The towns current plan runs for the period 2017 – 2026 and for the last five years the town council, staff and councillors with volunteers from the local community have been working towards the completion of a plan for the period 2026-2038.

The new plan is approaching completion. There was an initial consultation with residents to ascertain their views and wishes and this enabled the working group to put together the policies for the draft plan.

There are many aspects to the plan including identifying geographic, environmental, historic, housing, community, leisure and open space. Background documents will include a design guide and details of particular historic buildings and areas of identifiable value to the town. The plan will enable any future development to be based on the wishes of the residents.

Once the draft plan is finalised there will be a public consultation over the period Monday 29th September until Midnight on Sunday 23rd November 2025. This will include consultation questionnaires on line and paper versions, a public display of the plan where questions can be asked, drop-in sessions, webinar, leaflets, posters, local media, social media and letters and emails to interested groups. Please keep an eye on our social media and notice boards for the latest details.

This will be followed by independent examination and a referendum. The plan will not take effect unless the referendum results in a majority of support from those that voted.

Once the plan has passed independent examination and community referendum it will be used by Wiltshire Council Planning Officers and Planning Committees to determine planning decisions affecting Royal Wootton Bassett, allowing for the people’s voices to be heard in the planning system.

I am very grateful to all those that took part in the process, Town Council staff and Councillors but especially members of the public, who gave up their spare time to assist in producing the plan and thus helping us guide the future of the town.

Cllr Steve Walls
Chair, Neighbourhood Plan Working Group.

Benchmarking Review 2022
21st November 2022

CONSULTATION IS NOW CLOSED – REPORT WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THIS WEBSITE IN DUE COURSE.

Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council have commissioned People & Places Limited to undertake a Benchmarking Review of our town centre. An RWB Neighbourhood Plan 2017 – 2026 objective is to nurture an attractive street scene in the town centre, maintaining and enhancing the conservation area and providing an appealing environment to local people and visitor alike. We are encouraging visitors and non-visitors as well as Business Owners / Managers to complete a 2 minute survey to help with the design of our town centre.This survey will also aid regeneration efforts with various stakeholders, by providing vital information and understanding on the strengths of our High Street as well as identifying specific issues to address.

Paper copies of the survey is available from the Town Council Office or Wootton Bassett Library. Please complete and return to Town Council office by the deadline.

This consultation will close on Monday 5th December 2022.

Latest Update
21st November 2022

It has been a busy year for the Neighbourhood Plan Working Group since the public consultation on the draft vision statement and strategic objectives that took place Autumn 2021, in which 75% of those responded agreed the approach taken.

The working group which consists of town councillors and officers, residents, representatives of local organisations such as RWB Environment Trust, Royal Wootton Bassett Chamber of Commerce, local GP surgery to name a few, have split into sub-works to gather further evidence to support the plan including; Local Green Spaces, non-designated heritage assets and design guidance for developments in the town.

In the summer this year, an application was made to Locality [a national membership network supporting local community organisations to be strong and successful] for free technical support  on Design, including design codes and members were delighted to be awarded a Locality Supporter from AECOM [a partner of Locality providing packages of support of either independent advice on technical or process issues]. After their visit, AECOM is now busy producing a design guide for future developments, which will be available next year in 2023 for everyone to comment on.

The decision was also taken to contract our consultants, DLP Planning, to help identify potential sites within the Neighbourhood Plan area that may be suitable for housing, employment, or other forms of development. A ‘Call for Sites’ exercise was undertaken in which individuals, landowners and developers were given the opportunity to put forth non-strategic sites for consideration as suitable to allocate in the modified plan. This work is ongoing and there will be an opportunity to comment on any sites that are proposed for allocation during future consultation on the Draft Neighbourhood Plan.

Whilst the public consultation that took place in Autumn 2020 identified residents expressed preference on the type of housing needed in the town, AECOM were commissioned to undertake an evidence-based Housing Needs Assessment. This analysed current housing stock for tenure, affordability and need for affordable housing, types and size of homes, specialist housing for older people and current appetite for self build against the town’s future demographics and subsequent housing needs, to underpin planning policies for the modified plan.

To help with the cost of delivery the modified plan, an application to Locality for grant funding was also made. The group were pleased to receive funds of just under £10,000 towards costs.

Cllr Steve Walls
Chair of Neighbourhood Plan Working Group

Call for Sites
15th August 2022

As part of the process of reviewing the Royal Wootton Bassett Neighbourhood Plan the Town Council is looking to identify potential sites within the Royal Wootton Bassett Neighbourhood Area [See map below] that may be suitable for housing, employment or other forms of development.

This ‘Call for Sites’ exercise is an opportunity for individuals, landowners, and developers to suggest non-strategic sites that may be suitable for allocation in the new Neighbourhood Plan. Strategic sites will be allocated separately through the Wiltshire Local Plan.

If you know of any such non-strategic site that may be suitable for development, please complete the online form here: https://forms.gle/EYjAKm51frTkkv37A

A word version of the form is also available to download here.

Please return completed forms by Monday 5th September 2022. The information you provide will help to inform the draft Neighbourhood Plan and potential site allocation process. There will be further opportunity to comment on sites that are proposed for allocation in Neighbourhood Plan when the draft plan is published for public consultation.

We are also inviting comments on the Site Selection Process that will be used to assess the sites that are submitted via this Call for Sites. A copy of the draft Selection Process is available here.

Please email any comments on the draft Site Selection Process to kirsten.ward@dlpconsultants.co.uk by Monday 5th September 2022.

First Stage of the Neighbourhood Plan Review completed, what’s next?
9th September 2021

The working group with its consultants, DLP Planning, have been working hard to complete the first stage of the Neighbourhood Plan Review. The 700 + public consultation responses from October/November 2020, along with the assessment of current Neighbourhood Plan policies were analysed by our consultants, who presented to the group on 20^th January 2021 their Policy Assessment and Consultation Report.

A Summary of both the public consultation responses and the Policy Assessment and Consultation Report can be found by clicking on the highlighted link.

From this work a proposed Vision and Strategic Objectives, with a scope of policy themes including recommendations on individual policies that could be included in the revised Neighbourhood Plan (in the context of these achieving the overarching Vision and Strategic Objectives) was presented to the group on 23^rd March 2021 in their Neighbourhood Plan Review Scoping Report.

Summary of this report can be downloaded here.

The draft Vision and Strategic Objectives were finalised and approved by the working group on 3^rdJune 2021. The vision and objectives will be subject to the ongoing review and iteration as the Neighbourhood Plan is prepared, particularly through the application of findings as the plan goes through further public engagement. A short consultation exercise will be undertaken shortly on the Draft Vision and Objectives to ensure these reflect the views of local residents and the wider community. So please keep a watchful eye out as we publicise this consultation exercise and let your friends and family know.

Following this, the next step will be to decide on what further evidence gathering is required and start to prepare the revised policies that will form the Draft Neighbourhood Plan. There will be a further consultation on the Draft Neighbourhood Plan once this has been completed.

The Working Group always welcome questions from our community and we encourage residents to contact the group, or if no internet access, then call the Town Council Office on 01793 850222 during office hours.

EXCELLENT RESPONSE RECEIVED TO PUBLIC CONSULTATION
1st December 2020

The public consultation process for Royal Wootton Bassett Neighbourhood Plan finished on 23^rd November 2020.  A total of 760 responses were received, which is an excellent response from residents and others who work in the town or visit it. This confirms how much the community care about the future of the town and have a view of how it should develop over the next few years.

The survey covered all aspects of the town including future housing needs, infrastructure and employment requirements, green spaces, desired leisure, retail and health facilities and the way the town should evolve. This will help ensure the needs of the town are met during the plan period up until 2036. Many of those that responded expressed their views in helpful detail.

The next step is to analyse the responses which will establish the main views and concerns of the local community, so the process of putting the new plan together can start. At that stage, those who expressed an interest in helping prepare the Neighbourhood Plan will be invited to further assist in its compilation. The local community will continue to be engaged and consulted on throughout the process, to ensure the developing plan reflects the type of town the community want. This will culminate in residents being able to vote on adoption of the plan at referendum.

For further information please contact the Town Council either clicking on contact link to the left, or calling 01793 850222, or email: enquiries@royalwoottonbassett.gov.uk

LATEST NEWS
6th November 2020

There are only just over two weeks left before the closing date of our public consultation of our Neighbourhood Plan, we are strongly urging residents who haven’t completed the online survey, to do so. If you have we thank you, please encourage those around you to have their say, it takes only 10 minutes! Please see online survey button below.

Because of the new restrictions from 5^th November paper copies of the questionnaire can now be located at Central Store at Gainsborough Avenue, Post Office on High Street, Jubilee Lake Tea Rooms and Iceland.

CALLS FOR UNDER 45’S, HAVE YOUR SAY!
28th October 2020

The Neighbourhood Plan Working Group are pleased with the response we have received so far and would like to thank all who have completed our questionnaire. We currently have fewer respondents in the under-45’s age category so we would like to encourage anyone in this group to have your say on the future development of our town. If you’ve already completed the survey and have younger relatives or people in your household, please pass the survey on to them. We want to ensure we have the representative views of as many age groups as possible so that the plan reflects the wishes of the whole community.

Please keep an eye out for a pull-out copy of our questionnaire in the Royal Wootton Bassett & Lyneham Advertiser popping through residents’ letter boxes in the coming few days. This can be completed and posted or pushed through the Town Council Office letter box on 117 High Street, SN4 7AU. Or if you have online access why not complete our online survey, please see link button below.

Remember the closing date is Monday 23^rd November!

SURVEY LAUNCH!
12th October 2020

Today sees the launch of our neighbourhood review survey, with over 7000 leaflets being delivered to every home in Royal Wootton Bassett this coming week. The survey aims to gather the views of residents, workers, business owners about what type of town we want Royal Wootton Bassett to become over the next 10 years or so.

Once the survey closes on Monday 23^rd November 2020, the data will be analysed and combined with a policy assessment of the current neighbourhood plan policies will inform the next stage, which is to draft a new Neighbourhood Plan for the community to comment on later.

If you live, work or own a business in Royal Wootton Bassett, it is vitally important that you air your views about the future of our town by completing the survey. All family members are encouraged to take part, even children (with a little help from mum and dad), so that planning policies for Royal Wootton Bassett can be sure to represent the views of the whole community, young and old, and help shape the future of the town for years to come.

The ONLINE SURVEY can be accessed below, or there are paper copies available at the Post Office on the High Street, Jubilee Lake Tea Rooms, RWB Rugby Club and Iceland. Please remember to return your completed form either by posting it, or you can pop it through the letter box of the Town Council Office on 117 High Street. You can download a copy of the questionnaire too.

If you have any questions then please see our FAQ link to the left. If this does not help then you can use our contact form, click on contact link to the left, or email us at enquiries@royalwoottonbassett.gov.uk or call 01793 850222.

Have your say about the future development of Royal Wootton Bassett by 23^rd November.

You can view our current plan HERE.

PRESS RELEASE
6th October 2020

Royal Wootton Bassett Neighbourhood Plan – Have your say

Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council has started the process of preparing a Neighbourhood Plan. The plan sets out the vision and policies to guide future development at the local level. It also allows local residents to shape the places in which they live by influencing where future development will go and what it will look like.

The current plan covering 2017 to 2026 was adopted as recently as April 2018, but changes being considered in housing requirements in Wiltshire to plan for the period to 2036 and forthcoming policy changes in the emerging Wiltshire Local Plan, means that now is an appropriate time to review the Neighbourhood Plan. This will make sure it continues to meet the needs of our town and is a useful tool for the local planning authority when making decisions on planning applications in the local area.

A working group chaired by Councillor Steve Walls has been set up which includes Councillors and Officers, local groups representatives and members of the public. Planning Consultants, DLP Planning have been appointed to manage the process.

So far, initial discussions have been held with Wiltshire Council Strategic Planning Officers. An initial questionnaire to obtain views of members of the public has been compiled and will be available from Monday 12^th October 2020 until Monday 23^rd November 2020.

From Monday 12th October, this online questionnaire will be posted on this page. Paper copies will be available to pick up, from Monday 12th October please call 01793 850222 / 07595 220655 or email enquiries@royalwoottonbassett.gov.uk to be advised where to collect.

We urge the community to take part, as responses received will be used to inform a draft version of the new Neighbourhood Plan. This will go to public consultation, before submission to the local planning authority for examination by an independent planning inspector. Local residents will have their final say when asked to vote to adopt the plan via a local referendum.

Anyone wishing to take part in the development of the Neighbourhood Plan, please contact Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council via enquiries@royalwoottonbassett.gov.uk or call 01793 850222 / 07595 220655 during office hours.

A CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
6th August 2020

A poster calling for volunteers to join the Working Party has resulted in 5 new members and recently 2 new enquiries from local people wishing to be part of the group in steering the new Neighbourhood Plan.