As a community, we’re reviewing Bradford on Avon’s Neighbourhood Plan.
In due course, this will result in an updated plan: the second edition of our Neighbourhood Plan.
The review is being led by a steering group and supported by the town council. The town council is the Qualifying Body responsible for the Neighbourhood Plan review.
On this page, you can find out more about our Neighbourhood Plan, including why we’re reviewing it and how you can get involved.
Bradford on Avon’s current Neighbourhood Plan
A Neighbourhood Plan is a strategic document that sets out planning policies for an area. It can do things like:
- protect local green spaces
- encourage well-designed places
- bring forward housing (development) that meets local needs and aspirations.
Bradford on Avon’s current Neighbourhood Plan was adopted (or made) in 2017. Importantly, Wiltshire Council takes the current Neighbourhood Plan into account when making decisions on planning applications in Bradford on Avon.
A Neighbourhood Plan is shaped by the local community to ensure development happens in the right places and meets local needs.
Neighbourhood Plan review
The town’s current plan period ends in 2026. This doesn’t mean the plan stops or becomes redundant in 2026 – and we don’t have to review the current plan. Our current plan could carry on.
However, while out of date plans might not become redundant, they are likely to be become less relevant, less useful and less effective. Which means we’ll have less of say as a community when it comes to future development in the town.
Reviewing and updating the Neighbourhood Plan gives everyone the opportunity to contribute to a shared strategy for the future development of the town – this time looking ahead to 2038.
The second edition of the Neighbourhood Plan will also be a key tool to help us realise Bradford on Avon’s Town Vision.
Drop-in events to find out more
We’ve organised a series of drop in events to launch the review. Come along to one of the following events to find out more about the review – and to start contributing to the plan.
The dates, times and locations are:
- Thursday 22 May from 8am to 12 noon at the town market (library car park)
- Sunday 25 May from 10.30am to 12.30pm at the youth centre
- Thursday 29 May from 8am to 12 noon at the town market (library car park)
- Saturday 31 May from 10am to 12 noon in Westbury Garden (before the live music festival that afternoon).
Don’t worry if you can’t make these dates – there will be lots of ways to have your say and get involved, including more events in the future.
Get involved
Complete our short Neighbourhood Plan survey
You can complete the Neighbourhood Plan review survey online.
The survey asks questions what you like and dislike about the town – and what’s important to you. Some of the questions are about our Town Vision, since the vision will inform and frame the new Neighbourhood Plan.
There’s a pdf version of the survey further down this page that you can read before completing the survey.
The survey should take about 10 to 20 minutes to complete.
Big town map – and your mind map of Bradford on Avon
Add to our online map, telling us about the places and spaces that matter to you.
You can also draw a mind map of the town, showing the places and thing that you value and like in the town.
Design a logo
Design a logo for the Neighbourhood Plan review and your artwork could appear in the plan in due course. It could even become the front cover.
Topic groups
Topic groups are going to consider essential subjects in more detail to support and inform the review.
Let us know if you’re interested in joining one of the following topic groups:
- Sustainable Development and Climate Change
- Built Environment: Conservation and Design
- Living and Working: Housing, Jobs and Community Wellbeing
- Natural Environment: Biodiversity, Green and Blue Infrastructure
- Transport.
There’s more information about topic groups in the document below.
Important information & documents
Below, you’ll find some useful documents, including our Town Vision (which the survey references), its supporting document and the information boards that will be available at the drop-in sessions. We’ve uploaded a copy of the survey so you can preview the questions before filling it in.
Explainer video
Find out more & get involved
You can contact the steering group through the town council if you have any questions about current Neighbourhood Plan and the review: neighbourhoodplan@bradfordonavontowncouncil.gov.uk