Neighbourhood Planning is all about providing local people with the opportunity to have a say in how planning decisions in their own are made.

The process of Neighbourhood Planning can be quite complicated and is linked to government legislation but there is plenty of guidance to help achieve such a plan.

A steering group with the support of Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council was set up with a range of interests (for example business, youth and education) to drive the process forward. Local people also helped to develop particular areas of interest, themes and topics through the process. In addition, the steering group engaged the help of a project manager, Lemon Gazelle CIC, to assist the technical elements of the process (of which there were a number)

The Plan went through may revisions as it went out to Public Consultation; for the community to comment and shape the plan. In March 2017 it was finally submitted to Wiltshire Council for examination. The next month, April 2017, Wiltshire Council followed Regulation 16 Consultation ahead of the Plan being sent to an Examiner, who undertook his examination in December 2017 to January 2018. Amendments were undertaken at the behest of the Examiner. Finally on 19th April 2018, Royal Wootton Bassett Neighbourhood Plan went to Referendum with the Community voting to approve the plan. A total of 2308 votes were cast, and the result was emphatic.

• Yes – 2137 – 92.6%
• No – 164 – 7.1%
• Spoilt – 7 – 0.3%

To view a copy of the adopted plan, click on BUTTON below.