The Warminster Neighbourhood Plan (WNP) is extremely important as it brings community influence to planning decisions in the town. It supports the strategic development needs set out in the Wiltshire Local Plan, helping to guide decisions on future development.
As part of the review of the existing WNP, the issue of housing requirements, including affordable housing, between now and 2038 needs to be considered.
The WNP must be generally aligned with those housing needs; it cannot be used to block development but can add further locally specific requirements that reflect the wishes of the community. The WNP can help identify sites that the community believes would be best for new housing developments, recognising the needs of young people who want to get on the property ladder to those who want to downsize. This process is known as housing allocation.
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The process is a challenging one, balancing the social and economic benefits of any proposed developments against their possible environmental impact. Doing so can:
- help meet the housing needs of local people
- make speculative development, (sites not allocated in the WNP) much less likely to get planning permission for five years after the WNP comes into force
- increase the Community Infrastructure Levy funding that comes to Warminster Town Council for local improvements.
Warminster Town Council is holding a consultation from Saturday 8th March to Sunday 6th April 2025 to seek the community’s views about where future housing should go.
What you think matters.
Starting on Saturday 8th March with a drop-in launch event at the Civic Centre, Sambourne Road, Warminster, BA12 8LB (10am – 3pm) and via surveys until Sunday 6th April, Warminster Town Council will be asking two key questions:
- do you think the sites we know to be available could be suitable for housing? Landowners have submitted available sites. These have been assessed by independent consultants and considered by the WNP Steering Group of local people.
- if there are suitable housing sites, what you do think should be considered? What is required from the allocation? This could include the need to protect certain trees / views or the need for highway improvements or improvements to walking and cycling routes.
Feedback can be provided by completing the online survey (warminsterplan.com) from Saturday 8th March 2025. Paper copies of the survey will be available from Warminster Civic Centre.
In addition, residents will have the opportunity to discuss with members of the Steering Group to find out more at Warminster Civic Centre on Saturday 8th March between 10am and 3pm.
For more information contact Warminster Town Council, Tel: 01985 214847 or email: admin@warminster-tc.gov.uk
Last modified: 13 February 2025
