25 July 26

It has been a long time since our last update. This is because we have been working away to develop over 120 pages of documents that have to be created to support the Neighbourhood Plan (85 pages).   These supporting documents are either new requirements or would have been done by consultants, paid for by government.  However, all government funding has been cut so we are having to do this ourselves as best we can - we are not giving up!!   Thank you to those have been so supportive.

 

Sadly it doesn't stop there.  Wilts Council has had to withdraw its Local Plan at the behest of the government inspectors, and they have been given 18 months to come up with a new one.  Our NP has to reflect the Local Plan, so not having one could be a problem for us as its absence is risking bureaucratic paralysis as far as NPs are concerned.  The Local Plan contains Shrewton's housing allocation of 72 houses; the new one may be higher but is unlikely to be lower.  So we are currently assuming 72 houses on Site 154 (London Road), which is the least worst option and, in our view, only implementable in accordance with environmental legislation after existing environmental damage and problems have been remedied.  The NP makes this message clear and we continue to gather more data and regulatory information to strengthen our environmental & water quality case; we have many allies across the county and beyond, who are in similar worrying situations.  The ongoing damage is hiding in plain sight.

On a brighter note... Today, we had a stand at the Village Flower Show, with a steady stream of villagers asking lots of questions and discussing several hot topics.  It was great - not a break.  There is a strong consensus across our community, and support too.  We laid out the draft NP Version 3 and three supporting documents, and provided a 4 page summary in plain English for people to take away.  I hope this is helpful.  

Here are the links to all of these documents.  We welcome comments on all of these documents, but we particularly want your feedback and comments on the Neighbourhood Plan V3 by 15 September, please.  ​

• Draft Neighbourhood Plan V3

• Site Options Assessment Report (SOAR) V3.1

• Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) V3

• Key Views Paper

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These documents may take a while to load into your browser.  

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All these documents are being sent to Wilts Council for "screening", which be the first time that Wilts Council provides comments on the drafts and advice on necessary actions to improve them.  This will result in new versions of each document, in which we will also address your comments from across the village.  Please can we have them by 15 September!

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Thank you.
 

6 May 26

The survey on the Site Options Assessment Report (SOAR) showed that over 80% of the responses supported the Assessment.  The SOAR V2 takes account of the survey responses and villager inputs from the drop in sessions.

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Site 154 - London Road, is the proposed allocated site for meeting government-mandated targets for future housing development, subject to compliance with regulations, legislation and Wiltshire Council plans.

The NPSG is now updating the draft NP V2 to reflect this decision. When ready, it will be reviewed by villagers, amended and then sent to Wilts Council for their screening opinion.

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18 March 26

The Site Options Assessment Report (SOAR) described previously is available here

A shorter and simpler summary is provided here

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10 March 26

You last heard from the NPSG in Oct 25.  There were some major upsets in November, which meant that the NPSG had to consider a number of new challenges, do a lot more research and work out a way ahead.  Hence our relative silence.

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The four main challenges have been:

• ​The complete removal of government funding for groups developing Neighbourhood Plans, which we needed to fund technical consultants.  The NPSG is having to be inventive in finding solutions to enable progress.

• The significant increase in importance attached to water quality and pollution following legal actions and ministerial decisions.  Water quality has become the dominant issue affecting planning.

• The halting of the Wiltshire Local Plan Review by the planning inspectors, and their advice to Wilts Council to start their planning again.

• Wilts Council stating that they could not screen the Shrewton NP V1.1 for environmental impact until we have allocated housing numbers to sites.  However, this requires a Site Options Assessment Report, which needs environmental assessments.  We are trying to break the circle.

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This has increased the number of documents that the NPSG has had to develop, two of which will inform the next version of the NP. They are:

• The Site Options Assessment Report (SOAR), which examines potential sites for their suitability for housing development.

• The Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, which supports the SOAR. 

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The SOAR is nearing completion and should be published by 15 March, for review and comment by villagers and responses back by 15 April.  There will be a drop in session in the Village Hall from 1900 on Thursday 26 March.  At the same time, the NPSG will publish, by email & website, a simple survey on the SOAR so that more villagers can respond. 

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​It has been a turbulent and challenging time, caught between the increasing chorus of environmental concerns vs the government's determination to develop housing irrespective of the consequences vs a starvation of funding for planners generally.  

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The survey is important because it helps us to provide structured evidence to the authorities - please complete it.  That said, your comments and contributions by email to info@shrewton.info, are always welcome.

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Thank you for your patience and your continued support for your volunteer NPSG team!​​​​​​

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Patrick Curry, Chair NPSG - patrick.curry@shrewton.info