Swindon urged to finalize Local Plan to avoid vulnerability to developers
Council aims to adopt development framework by year's end
Swindon Borough Council has been advised to expedite finalizing its Local Plan to protect the town from unwanted developments. The plan outlines the borough's development strategy through 2043 and must be submitted to the government by the end of the year to ensure timely implementation.
During a Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting, senior planning policy officers Tim Thomas and Rosalynn Beattie emphasized the importance of adhering to the current timeline, given the imminent phasing out of the existing system for creating local plans.
The draft plan allocates land for more than 24,000 homes, along with provisions for employment, education, open space, and leisure facilities over the next 17 years. It will undergo further public consultation in the summer before the final submission.
Councillor Tom Butcher inquired about the possibility of pausing to align the plan with the new system but was met with resistance from Mr Thomas and committee chair Councillor Dale Heenan. They highlighted that the current plan, which expires at the end of the year, needs swift approval to prevent vulnerabilities from appeals on refused developments.
Cllr Heenan remarked:
"The quicker we get this approved, the better."
Councillor Neil Hopkins expressed concerns about contingency around the five-year housing supply allocation under the new plan. Ms Beattie reassured that sufficient provisions for the first five to 10 years are being made, acknowledging the need for viability assessments concerning the town center's allocations.
Despite Cotswold District Council’s request for assistance in fulfilling its housing target, Ms Beattie confirmed no strategic relationship exists to accommodate such allocations from Swindon.
Council members remain focused on advancing Swindon’s Local Plan to safeguard against predatory developments and secure comprehensive, balanced growth across the borough.