The purpose of Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) is to amplify policies and proposals of the Local Plan by providing additional information upon which planning applications can be formulated and determined. Under the new planning system introduced under the 2004 Planning Act, the Borough Council has also published Supplementary Planning Documents

The Borough Council has also published a number of Development Control Guidance Notes.

A full list of all published supplementary guidance can be viewed by clicking on the following link: Obtaining Printed Copies.

Adopted Supplementary Planning Guidance

The following SPG can be downloaded as a series of PDF files (please see below):

Access for All

The SPG provides guidance for developers and service providers on the means of securing access for everyone to Swindon's buildings, streets and places. The SPG has been updated to reflect new legislation and regulations that have emerged since a first draft of the SPG was published in September 2002.

Access for All  (593KB)

Access for All Addendum Dec 04  (23KB)

Archaeology

The SPG provides guidance to developers, architects, agents and landowners where their development proposals impact on archaeological remains.

Archaeology (37KB)

Buildings of Significant Local Interest

The SPG sets out the criteria for assessing proposals affecting buildings of significant local interest.

Buildings of Significant Local Interest (37KB)

Community Forest

The SPG seeks to ensure that, where applicable, the aims and objectives of the Community Forest are incorporated into development proposals. Any financial contributions required as part of the development would be negotiated in accordance with Policy DS8 of the Revised Deposit Draft Local Plan on a case-by-case basis.

Community Forest (68KB)

Conservation Areas

The SPG provides the background to the designation of the Borough's conservation areas and to list the architectural, historic and environmental elements that have formed the framework for the Council's 'conservation area appraisals'.

Conservation Areas (229KB)

Conservation Area Appraisals

The appraisals describe the Conservation Area in detail and the history behind some of the buildings. The appraisals can be viewed via the following link:

Conservation Areas

Developer Contributions to Education Facilities

The Borough Council, as Local Education Authority (LEA) must ensure that sufficient school places are provided to meet the needs generated from significant planned additions to the housing stock. The SPG sets out the thresholds for contributions from qualifying developments.

Developer Contributions to Education Facilities (512KB)

Good Design - House Extensions

The SPG aims to promote high standards in the design of house extensions and deals with all types of extensions, including conservatories  and porches, and freestanding ancillary buildings such as garages. It replaces a previous SPG published in 1992, it was considered important that the guidance be updated as around 60% of the applications for planning permission received each year by Swindon Borough Council are for house extensions.

Good Design - House Extensions (516KB)

Landscape Character Areas

The SPG highlights the main characteristics of each of the Borough's Landscape Character Areas that should be addressed when considering development proposals within them, in accordance with Policy ENV10 of the Revised Deposit Draft Local Plan. The adopted SPG has been amended to provide greater emphasis to the landscape importance of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Additional text has also been added to require, where appropriate, the restoration of former landscape features where these would benefit the landscape and its wildlife and ensuring that existing wildlife habitats, and sites that adjoin, abut or link these with other wildlife habitats, are conserved and where possible enhanced.

Landscape Character Areas (319KB)

Landscape Character Areas Borough Map (322KB)

Listed Buildings

The SPG provides advice on the repair and alteration of listed buildings, including the use of appropriate materials, and the detailed design of individual features.

Listed Buildings (515KB)

Noise and Residential Development

Certain issues, such as the growing tendency to seek previously developed land for residential development, has become more prominent since the Local Plan was adopted in 1999. This has warranted additional advice for developers that will assist in protecting future residents from noise sources. The SPG has been produced to assist decisions and provide further certainty to developers over what the Council would expect from them.

Noise and Residential Development (144KB)

Open Space and New Housing Development

The SPG has been produced to provide guidance on open space and new housing development pending the adoption of the Swindon Borough Local Plan 2011. It includes guidance on how requirements are assessed and calculated and the process for the delivery and subsequent maintenance of new open spaces.

Open Space and New Housing Development (401KB)

Calculating open space contributions outside the Strategic Development Areas can be determined by using Table 7 and 8 below, as detailed in the open space and new housing development SPG.

Table 7: Open Space Requirements (37KB)

Table 8: Calculating open space contributions outside the Strategic Development Areas (48KB)

The Provision of Public Art

The Provision of public art has become more widespread and commonplace.  Public art is a principle of improving the changing environment through the arts, and is a term given to the practice of involving artists in the conceptions, development and transformation of public space.  The SPG sets out the Borough Council's role to achieving the provision of public art.

The Provision of Public Art (82KB)

Tree Protection on Development Sites

Trees have a particularly important role to play within the landscape. Their retention within a development can enhance its appearance and give character. This SPG provides guidance in respect of the preservation of appropriate trees within development schemes.

Tree Protection on Development Sites (592KB)

Statement of Publicity and Consultation (21KB)

Statement of Publicity and Consultation (30KB)

Waste Audits and Provision For Recycling in New and Refurbished Developments

This SPG was adopted by Wiltshire County Council and Swindon Borough Council in March 2005, at the same time as the adoption of the Waste Local Plan. The SPG provides advice to applicants for planning permission about how to comply with Policy 10 (Waste Audits) and Policy 14 (Provision for Recycling in New & Refurbished Developments), of the Waste Local Plan.

The document may viewed by the following link:

Waste Audits and Provision for Recycling in New and Refurbished Developments

Please refer to the Obtaining Printed Copies section, which details how to obtain copies of any of the documents listed above.

This web page was last updated on Thursday 14 February 2007