Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

The Regional Spatial Strategy was recently scrapped by the government.

One of the first things the new government did was to scrap the self-serving Regional Spatial Strategy.

This imposed levels of house-building on counties without much, if any, consideration of local circumstances. In fact the RSS seemed to some people to be little more than a planning tool manipulated by house builders and others with vested interests in their company profits rather than the people of the area.

Now Wiltshire Council can review housing demand on its own terms. The WC Cabinet meets on Tuesday (Oct 19th) and will confirm a comprehensive review as part of the development plan process. Up to date evidence will be used and public consultation will be undertaken.

In the short-term, the Wiltshire and Swindon Structure Plan 2016, as part of the already adopted development plan for the area, sets out the housing needs of Wiltshire, and any applications for large-scale housing will be judged against that.

The Wiltshire Core Strategy is still in its initial stages but will be a more detailed planning document for the county, replacing the district plans on which development in the old district areas was based. The Wiltshire and Swindon Structure Plan 2026 is part of this process.