Wiltshire - Publication of Draft Development Plan Document.

PLANNING AND COMPULSORY PURCHASE ACT 2004

THE TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING

(LOCAL PLANNING) (ENGLAND) REGULATIONS 2012

(REGULATION 19)

THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF PLANS AND PROGRAMMES

REGULATIONS 2004

NOTICE OF PUBLICATION OF THE DRAFT WILTSHIRE

GYPSIES AND TRAVELLERS DEVELOPMENT

PLAN DOCUMENT

Notice is hereby given that Wiltshire Council has published the draft Wiltshire Gypsies and Travellers Development Plan Document ("the draft Plan") for a formal consultation period beginning on Tuesday 20th August 2024 during which representations may be made. Following consultation, the Council will register and consider the comments received before submitting the draft Plan to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. The draft Plan addresses the accommodation needs of Wiltshire's travelling communities to 2038 and updates Core Policy 47 'Meeting the needs of Gypsies and Travellers' of the Wiltshire Core Strategy.

The draft Plan contains policies that collectively make provision for the permanent and temporary accommodation needs of the travelling community. These include policies allocating new sites and existing sites for additional pitches and plots. The draft Plan also safeguards existing sites so that they can continue to meet on-site needs in the longer term. The proposed submission documents include: the draft Plan, the draft Sustainability Appraisal report (incorporating requirements of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004), the draft Habitat Regulations Assessment and a number of other supporting documents that form part of the evidence base for the draft Plan.

The period for submitting representations relating to the draft Plan begins 9am Tuesday 20th August 2024 and closes at 5pm on Friday 4th October 2024. Representations received beyond this date may not be considered. A statement of the representations procedure (guidance note) explaining how to comment can be viewed alongside the proposed submission documents. Please note that copies of all comments (including your personal details) will be made available for the public to view and therefore cannot be treated as confidential. Anonymous comments cannot be accepted.

The proposed submission documents can be viewed on the Council's website at: www.wiltshire.gov.uk/planning-gypsy-travellers and during normal office hours at the Council's main offices: Monkton Park (Chippenham), Bourne Hill (Salisbury) and County Hall (Trowbridge). The following documents: the draft Plan; the draft Sustainability Appraisal Report (incorporating requirements of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004); the draft Habitat Regulations Assessment, and various evidence base reports will be made available to view at the following libraries during normal opening hours: Amesbury, Bradford on Avon, Calne, Chippenham, Corsham, Devizes, Malmesbury, Marlborough, Melksham, Pewsey, Royal Wootton Bassett, Salisbury, Tidworth, Tisbury, Trowbridge, Warminster, and Westbury. Electronic access to all submission documents will be available at all Wiltshire Council libraries. Representations can be submitted via the following means:

• online via the Council's consultation portal accessible via this link: www.wiltshire.gov.uk/planning-gypsy-travellers

• by email using the form available at: www.wiltshire.gov.uk/planning-gypsy-travellers and returned to: strategicplanning@wiltshire.gov.uk; or

• by post in writing to: Strategic Planning, Planning Directorate, Wiltshire Council, County Hall, Bythesea Road, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 8JN.

The form has an accompanying statement of the representation's procedure (guidance note) to assist in its completion. Please use a separate form for each representation you wish to make. Address details will not be made publicly available. All personal data will be handled in line with the council's Strategic Planning privacy policy. You can view the Council's privacy notice at https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/planning-privacy-notice. Any representation may be accompanied by a request to be notified at a specified address (email/postal) of any of the following: that the draft Plan has been submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination; that the Inspector's Report (including any recommendations) into the draft Plan has been published; and that the draft Plan has been adopted. There will be a general information live webinar on Tuesday 3rd September 2024 at 6:00pm to 7.30pm and five drop-in events held around the county where you can ask questions and gain further information about the consultation. More information on these events can be found at: www.wiltshire.gov.uk/planning-gypsy-travellers.

If you require more information or would like to request copies of documents, please contact Strategic Planning via email (strategicplanning@wiltshire.gov.uk), phone (01225 713223) or post to Strategic Planning, Planning Directorate, Wiltshire Council, County Hall, Bythesea Road, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 8JN. Please note that there will be a fee for providing any documents requested.

Nic Thomas, Director of Planning

Wiltshire Council