Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

A framework to shape the development and growth of Wiltshire for the next 12 years has been formally adopted by the council.

The Wiltshire Core Strategy - a blueprint for sustainable development in the county - was today (Tuesday 20 January) voted on by Wiltshire Councillors. The adoption by the council follows the document's approval by the government planning inspectorate.

Developed over five years, the core strategy heard from hundreds of organisations, business and residents during consultation, and was also subject to public hearing sessions and shaped by modifications as Wiltshire Council and the Inspector sought to strike a balance between driving economic growth and protecting the environment.

Toby Sturgis, cabinet member for strategic planning, said: "I am delighted that all the effort that has gone into making the Wiltshire Core Strategy a reality has paid off.

"We have worked hard to ensure that it protects Wiltshire as well as providing us with a framework to grow our economy and meet the needs of current and future generations."

Alistair Cunningham, director for economic development and planning, said: "The Wiltshire Core Strategy gives us a blueprint for the next 12 years which will be our guide for sustainable development bringing about new homes and jobs together with the infrastructure to support it."

The final government approval of the Wiltshire Core Strategy came on 1 December 2014, and Wiltshire Council’s cabinet members approved it on 16 December 2014.

Over the summer of 2013 the core strategy was, as part of its examination by an independent government inspector, scrutinised at public hearing sessions.  As a result of the examination process, a number of modifications were proposed by the council and the inspector. Further periods of consultation about these modifications were carried out in the autumn of 2013 and in spring 2014.

The inspector also proposed increasing the housing numbers in the draft core strategy from 37,000 to 42,000. In planning the delivery of these additional homes, the council has sought to maintain the distribution of growth within the core strategy, which has previously been widely consulted on and officers have assessed and identified which areas could accommodate and deliver extra housing.

The inspector’s report into the examination of the Wiltshire Core Strategy received on 1 December can be viewed in full at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/wiltshirecorestrategy.

Public consultation on modifications were took place August-October 2013, following the examination in public hearing sessions, held in the Summer of 2013; and a further public consultation on modifications to the strategy were held in April-May 2014 after the council received in December 2013 the 10th procedural letter from the inspector, which sought the views of the council on a number of matters.