There has been much incorrect reporting of plans to build on the beauty spot Bird’s Marsh on the outskirts of Chippenham. Jane Scott OBE, Leader of Wiltshire Council, has reiterated “Bird’s Marsh is a protected area and will not be built upon.”
There are far wider questions that need resolving about future development in and around Chippenham. The number of houses planned is being dictated by Westminster not Wiltshire.
The Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) has been imposed on Wiltshire Council from our Labour government. A Conservative government plan to abolish the RSS and return planning powers to local authorities.
The change in the economic climate has left many assumptions the Core Strategy, the document dictating number and location of houses, was built upon as outdated. Questions must be asked to whether Chippenham has the jobs and infrastructure to support such population growth.
Until such time as the RSS is abolished, Chippenham has to build 3650 new homes by 2026 as this is a Labour government target. It is vital residents understand that Wiltshire Council are only abiding by current legislation in identifying potential sites for these homes. For these planning decisions to be taken fully by local councillors requires the Core Strategy to be replaced with local decision taking.
A reversal of the RSS is the only way to ensure that communities, like our own in Chippenham, have the power to ensure future housing developments meet our needs, not a specified formula from Westminster. This debate about building around Chippenham cannot be resolved locally, it requires a change of government nationally – and that can be influenced here in Chippenham.
Tags: Birds, council, Jane, Marsh, Planning, Scott, wiltshire
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