Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

Wiltshire Council has agreed to withdraw the draft Wiltshire Local Plan from the independent examination process.

At its meeting on Tuesday 19 May, Full Council considered a report setting out the position reached by the independent Planning Inspectors, who have been examining the draft Wiltshire Local Plan, which was submitted for examination in November 2024.

In March, the Inspectors wrote to the council outlining two options: to withdraw the Local Plan from examination or to ask the Inspectors to issue a final report on the plan as submitted, which would recommend that the Plan is not adopted.

Withdrawing the draft Wiltshire Local Plan (2020-2038) will allow the council to focus its efforts on preparing a new Local Plan under the government's updated plan-making system, which is intended to support a faster and more streamlined process. Cabinet will consider the start of work and timetable for a new Local Plan at its meeting in June.