Warminster could face increased pressure for new housing developments after Wiltshire Council withdrew its draft Local Plan, raising concerns that developers may find it easier to secure planning permission on sites not allocated for development.
The authority agreed to remove the Local Plan (2020-2038) from the independent examination process at a Full Council meeting on 19th May following a narrow vote. The decision came after planning inspectors indicated the plan was unlikely to pass examination in its current form.
The plan, which Wiltshire Council started preparing in 2017, set out where new housing should be built across the county.
Inspectors recommended that the plan be withdrawn, saying it did not allocate enough land to meet housing need, relied on uncertain new settlements and failed to match housing delivery with areas of demand.
During the debate, councillors were divided over the decision, with Liberal Democrat members supporting withdrawal of the plan while some Reform UK and Conservative councillors argued it should instead be submitted and revised in parallel with new work.
The Local Plan provides the strategic framework for development across Wiltshire, including housing requirements for different areas. Neighbourhood plans help guide where development should take place locally. Without an up-to-date Local Plan, there are concerns that neighbourhood plan policies could carry less weight when planning applications are considered, making it easier for developers to pursue speculative proposals on unallocated sites.
Warminster Town Council clerk Tom Dommett said work on the Warminster Neighbourhood Plan would continue despite the setback.
He said, “Work will continue on the Warminster Neighbourhood Plan which although linked to the Local Plan is independent of it. At the moment a response to the neighbourhood plan public consultation is being prepared and will be published in the summer.
“It is disappointing that the new Local Plan for Wiltshire has run into difficulties and will be delayed as there was much positive content. It does unfortunately mean that Warminster will be at greater risk of more housing being built as lack of a Local Plan shifts the balance in favour of developers.”
