Wiltshire Local Plan –  Inspectors recommend Withdrawal, creating strategic opportunities for site promotion through the development management process and new local plan regime

Following the submission of the Wiltshire Local Plan in November 2024 and a protracted Examination process, the Local Plan Inspectors have written to Wiltshire Council recommending that the Plan be withdrawn. The Inspectors advise that the significant shortcomings identified should instead be addressed through preparation of a new Local Plan, under the new system.​If the Council  request the Inspectors to issue a final report, they advise this would, “inevitably lead to a recommendation that the Plan is not adopted”.  The Council has 10 days to confirm how it intends to proceed.  

tor&co have been involved in the plan process, advising clients from the outset, with both Martin Miller and Lindsay Goodyear attending  the Examination hearings promoting housing and employment sites across Wiltshire.  

What this means for planning in Wiltshire

Wiltshire has been unable to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply for some time, and this position is now likely to persist for the foreseeable future, given the age of the adopted plan and current housing requirement, noting the annual increase from 1,917 to 3,488 (2025 SM LHN). This leaves open a window of opportunity to promote sustainable sites for residential development, through the development management-led process.  In parallel, there will be opportunities to submit sites to the inevitable early Call for Sites and renewed opportunities to promote deliverable sites through the plan-led process in the immediate future. 

If you would like to discuss how this can unlock opportunities for your sites, please contact the tor&co team.