FAQs
What is a Neighbourhood Plan?
Neighbourhood Plans (NP) were introduced in 2011, they empower communities to shape the development and growth of a local area. Once a Neighbourhood Plan is 'made' (or adopted) it has the same weight and strength as the Wiltshire Local Plan. A Neighbourhood Plan cannot block development that is already part of the Local Plan, but it can shape where that development will go and what it will look like. You can read the Joint Melksham Neighbourhood Plan (JMNP for short) on this website - download it by clicking here.
Why are we reviewing the Plan?
There is no set time period within which a Neighbourhood Plan must be reviewed (it is at least every 5 years for a Local Plan). Ongoing and new issues like providing affordable homes in the right places, tackling climate change and helping local business recover from the impact of COVID make it imperative that our Neighbourhood Plan evolves to provide strong local powers, alongside Wiltshire’s
upcoming new Local Plan that will set out where new homes and jobs will be provided looking ahead to 2038. The updated Neighbourhood Plan will be called Joint Melksham Nieghbourhood Plan 2 or the JMNP2 for short.
How can I get involved in the Plan?
We will be giving people who live and work in the area of Melksham Without and Melksham town a range of ways to get involved in the Plan review. Find out more by clicking here.
Who will lead on the Plan review?
The Parish Council of Melksham Without and Melksham Town Council are the responsible bodies, but the process of reviewing the Plan will be lead by a Steering Group of people representing both the Councils and the wider community.
When will the update JMNP2 be in place?
The JMNP2 first formal stage of consultation (known as Regulation 14) takes places for 7 weeks between the 16th October and the 3rd December. Once the consultation period is closed, Melksham Town Council. Melksham Without Parish Council and the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group will gather together all the comments received and agree how the plan is to be amended as a result.
The revised Neighbourhood Plan will then be formally submitted for the next formal consultation (Reg 16), examination and then another referendum. We expect that could be late 2024/early 2025.
Who pays for the Plan?
Government grant funding will be used and supplemented by Melksham Town and Melksham Without Parish. Wiltshire Council provides technical advice and practical support, as well as paying for examination and referendum if needed.
Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) allows local planning authorities to raise funds for infrastructure from new development, to address the cumulative impact of development across an area. Having a 'made' Neighbourhood Plan also means that Wiltshire Council must pass on 25% of CIL, a charge that Wiltshire Council places on new development in their area (and 15% to those places without a NP). Click here to find out more about CIL.