New Local Plan

We are preparing a new Swindon Local Plan to guide growth and development to 2043, with a wider vision to 2055.

On adoption, the 2043 Local Plan will replace the current Swindon Local Plan 2026. It will set a strategic vision for housing, employment, infrastructure, transport and the environment to support sustainable growth that meets the needs of residents, businesses and the community.

The Local Plan is a key planning document. It sets out housing and employment needs and allocations, policies and strategies, and how we will meet national and local objectives to achieve economic growth across the borough.

The proposed plan period is 2023 to 2043.

Navigate to:

Local Plan timetable

The most recent timetable for the production of the Local Plan is set out in the updated Local Development Scheme (LDS) (PDF). This was recommended for approval by Cabinet on 19 March 2025 (item 97), and approved by Full Council on 3 April 2025.

(Back to top)

Regulation 18 consultation

The emerging Local Plan 2043 is now open for Regulation 18 consultation. This gives residents, landowners and other stakeholders the chance to comment on our proposals for development up to 2043. We are also running an additional call for sites alongside this consultation. The Regulation 18 consultation details on how to take part are below.

The consultation runs for six weeks, from Monday, 1 September 2025 to Monday, 13 October 2025, closing at 11.59pm.

The Regulation 18 consultation stage is the first of two statutory consultation stages for the Local Plan. This stage gives you the opportunity to comment on all proposed policies and the emerging evidence base.

To receive updates on planning policy documents and consultations, email: SwindonLocalPlan2043@swindon.gov.uk and ask to be added to the planning policy mailing list.

(Back to top)

Submit a representation

You can view the Regulation 18 version of the 2023 to 2043 Local Plan and the associated evidence under 'Consultation documents' below. Hard copies of the Local Plan document and policy map are available to view at:

  • Swindon Borough Council operated libraries:
  • Swindon Borough Council Civic Office reception:
    • Civic Offices, Euclid Street, Swindon SN1 2JH
    • Opening times: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.00pm

You can submit comments on the Local Plan and the evidence by completing a representation form. If you submit comments in a different format, we may ask you to resubmit them using the form.

How to send your comments:

  • Online: Complete the representation form on our engagement portal. This is the Council’s preferred way to receive comments.
  • Email: Download and complete the representation form (Word document) and email it to SwindonLocalPlan2043@swindon.gov.uk
  • Post: The Council prefers to receive comments electronically by the methods above. However, if you are unable to do this, you can post your comments or form to:
    • Planning Policy Team, 5th Floor, Swindon Borough Council, Civic Offices, Euclid Street, Swindon SN1 2JH

Complete the online representation form

Subject to the above, comments received:

  • will be made available for public inspection and cannot be treated as confidential
  • may be made available to view on the Council’s website
  • will be used by the Council to inform the preparation and production of the Local Plan
  • may be forwarded to the Planning Inspectorate or an independent Examiner, as appropriate to the document and the stage it has reached, for consideration as part of any examination
  • may be summarised by officers and presented in summary form, particularly if the comment is long

When making a comment, please do not include:

  • signatures
  • any information you do not want published online
  • any responses containing libellous, discriminatory or otherwise offensive comments as these will not be published

Please note: In addition to our privacy notice, be aware that in plan making, responses to public consultations will be made publicly available to view on the Council’s website, including the name and, where relevant, the organisation of the consultee.

Other personal information such as emails, addresses, phone numbers and signatures will be redacted by the Council before publication. Personal information included within the body of the text is harder to redact and therefore more costly to the Council.

(Back to top)

Engagement sessions

Join us to discuss the new Local Plan at one of our sessions. These are drop-in sessions where you can speak to officers from the Local Plan team. There is no need to pre-register. However, we may take the details of those attending on the day.

  • Engagement session one
    • Date: Monday, 29 September 2025
    • Time: 5.00pm to 7.00pm
    • Location: Central Community Centre, Emlyn Square, Swindon SN1 5BP
  • Engagement session two
    • Date: Thursday, 2 October 2025
    • Time: 3.45pm to 5.45pm
    • Location: Moredon Sporting Hub, Cheney Manor Industrial Estate, Swindon SN2 2QJ
  • Engagement session three
    • Date: Monday, 6 October 2025
    • Time: 5.00pm to 7.00pm
    • Location: Ellendune Community Centre, Barrett Way, Wroughton, Swindon SN4 9LW

(Back to top)

Submit a site for consideration

We held a call for sites in 2023 which has greatly informed this Regulation 18 draft plan.

While the proposed allocations are anticipated to bring forward a large number of homes, we are still interested in updated information for previously submitted sites. We also welcome new site proposals from landowners or developers where they clearly align with the proposed spatial strategy and help meet specific needs.

A new call for sites is open alongside this Regulation 18 Local Plan consultation. We are particularly keen to hear from landowners and agents with interests in:

  • sites within emerging sustainable growth locations, existing urban areas and along public transport corridors
  • small sites of one hectare or less
  • sites that could accommodate specialist types of housing, particularly for residential care homes, Gypsy and Traveller pitches, Travelling Showpeople plots or suitable burial sites

To submit a site or update details of a previously submitted site:

The call for sites will run from Monday, 1 September 2025 to Monday, 13 October 2025, closing at 11.59pm.

(Back to top)

How we handle your data

Read our privacy notice to find out how we use your information.

(Back to top)

What happens next

We will consider all submissions received during the Regulation 18 consultation. We will then publish a consultation summary that sets out our response and the main issues raised.

There will be a further opportunity to comment at the Regulation 19 consultation, which will present the next iteration of the plan. This is intended to take place in spring 2026. This will be the final consultation before we submit the Local Plan to the Secretary of State.

Between Regulation 18 and Regulation 19, we will make any changes needed in light of the comments received during Regulation 18, the latest evidence and any changes to national policy.

(Back to top)

Consultation documents

01. The Local Plan (Regulation 18)

(Back to top)

Evidence documents

The emerging Local Plan is supported by the following evidence. The evidence base reflects the information available at this stage and will continue to be developed and refined. We welcome feedback on the evidence base approaches and findings.

02. Whole plan assessments

03. Housing

04. Employment

05. Transport

06. Environment

07. Climate sustainability

08. Local character

09. Sports provision

10. Infrastructure

(Back to top)

Give feedback about this page

Help us to improve this website

Use this form to provide feedback on this webpage. Don't use it to contact us about a service or make a complaint. We will not reply, even if you include personal details such as your name and address. If you want us to reply, you should contact us in a different way.

What is your feedback for this webpage?