Some years ago, our three local town and parish councils of Brokenborough, Malmesbury and St Paul Malmesbury Without, many local residents and community organisations got together, to plan what we wanted for our area’s future. That hard work created the Malmesbury Area Neighbourhood Plan (MNP).

After lots of discussions locally and reviews by both Wiltshire Council and an independent Planning Inspector appointed by Government, the final version of the MNP was put to the vote and overwhelmingly approved by residents in 2014 and made the official planning document for our area in 2015.

In doing this, we were one of the first areas in the country to complete the creation of our Neighbourhood Plan to cover planning needs in Malmesbury until 2026.

However, changes in government planning rules and the lack of a 5 year supply of land for new housing in Wiltshire, means the MNP no longer provides the protection we need against unsustainable, speculative developments on unapproved sites for the remainder of the time until 2026.

So, even before the Covid pandemic began, we started work on a ‘review’ of the MNP. Our purpose is to make sure it is up to date for the rest of the plan period, that it is still relevant and effective and to pave the way for the creation of the next phase of the plan, running from 2026 to 2036.

The review of our current plan reflects what actual development has happened, or been agreed in recent times and what we need as a community going forward.

We also asked you for your views on these important matters a few months ago. Taking account of those views, this is the next and first formal step in the process (‘regulation 14’).

The revised MNP is now ready for you to look at. It reflects these changes and also updates the wording of the plan. We hope it will move through the formal consultation process before the end of June this year, so it is in place to cover the rest of the period until 2026.

We believe that local communities like ours should plan their own futures. That is what Neighbourhood Planning is all about.

The MNP recognises that current and future planned development in the Malmesbury area must be sustainable. That means it must work for residents, our schools, health service, businesses and natural environment. The reviewed MNP still says specifically where new housing should happen, what type of housing that should be and the numbers involved on each site. Most of this has already been built or is in the pipeline. The levels of development on those specific sites is sustainable. Our schools, health service, social, business and environmental infrastructure will cope with it. Development elsewhere will not be sustainable. Building on any other sites will put impossible and unsustainable pressures on our infrastructure.

1. Please read the reviewed Neighbourhood Plan document

   You can do that on-line here at malmesbury.gov.uk and
   stpaulmalmesburywithoutparishcouncil.org.uk and
   brokenboroughparishcouncil.org.uk
   
   You can also see printed copies at Malmesbury Town Hall, Cross Hayes, Malmesbury SN16 9BZ or request details by phoning Tel 01666-822143
   
   

2. Come along to the public meetings that we are organising

   These will be held in Malmesbury, Brokenborough and Corston. Details will be announced on notice boards, through the local press, online and social media.
   
   

3. Let us know what you think

   There will be feedback forms available on line, in paper format at Malmesbury Town Hall, the Library and at the public presentations where you can also have your say.
   
   All feedback to the consultation must be received no later than 5pm on Friday 20 May 2022.
   
   Please note that your comments will be publicly available and may also appear on the Town Council website and other forms of media, but your name, address and/ or email address will be not be shown in public, unless we have your express permission.
   
   Ours is a beautiful area of strong, engaged communities that respect the past, care about the present and the future. We have welcomed many new residents and businesses that are making important contributions. We know our area needs to continue to grow and change. But that needs to happen in a planned and sustainable way. We hope you agree with that and with our reviewed plan.