Council Local Plan includes new housing developments for Salisbury

At its meeting on Tuesday July 11, the council's cabinet will consider the review of the Wiltshire Local Plan. 

The Plan will set out the "vision and framework" for housing, infrastructure and land for employment growth for the next 15 years, and identifies sites for both housing and employment development until 2038. 

Once adopted, all planning applications will be determined against the plan.

The council says it is "the most important place-shaping document for Wiltshire".

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According to the plan, the number of homes has been significantly reduced from 45,630 homes to 36,740 homes and of this number, 21,900 homes have either already been built or are committed to being built.

Seven sites around Salisbury have been provisionally allocated for development including: 

• 350 new homes close to the Portway site near Old Sarum
• 100 houses on land north of the Beehive Park and Ride site 
• 220 houses on land north of Downton Road 
• 265 dwellings on land south of Harnham
• 45 dwellings on land west of Coombe Road
• 60 dwellings on land at Netherhampton Road Garden Centre
• 50 dwellings on land at Church Road, Laverstock

Salisbury policies map (Image: Wiltshire Council)

Plans for developing land adjacent to Old Sarum Airfield has also been removed from consideration 

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Councillor Nick Botterill, cabinet member for strategic planning, said: “This is an ambitious and sustainable plan that, if approved, will set out both where and how new developments may be built in the county over the next 15 years.

“It will provide for high quality, sustainable homes, and a choice of new employment opportunities in the right locations. This is about meeting Wiltshire’s needs for homes and not building any more new houses than are required.

“This Local Plan is about providing for a choice of high-quality designed housing, including affordable homes, in the most sustainable locations; maximising development on brownfield sites; supporting town centres; and providing high quality new public open spaces. 

“This is also the most sustainable Local Plan we’ve ever produced, as all new homes will need to meet zero carbon standards, and there must be a 20 per cent biodiversity net gain for all new developments."

If the Local Plan is passed, all planning actions thereafter will be considered against it. The plan will also identify sites for housing and employment development until 2038.

Cllr Botterill added: “We recognise that a number of the sites identified for new development may prove contentious in some areas, but these sites have been selected because they are the most sustainable, taking account of the results of previous consultations and the gathering of evidence – and as a local council we are required to provide appropriate sites for housing, employment and other infrastructure."

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Within the plan is the proviso for 40 per cent of all new housing - for 10 homes or more to be affordable, but in villages where there is an identified plan for development, it will need to be proportionate to the size of the village.

Within the plan are ambitious sustainability policies with new developments needing to meet zero carbon standards and this includes solar panels for energy generation. The plan policies a 20 per cent net gain in biodiversity across the county too for all new developments compared to the legal requirement of 10 per cent.

If the plan is passed, a consultation with residents will take place in the Autumn.