Public invited to share feedback on Swindon’s draft Local Plan

Local people, community groups, developers and businesses have the chance to shape Swindon’s future development by taking part in a consultation on the draft Local Plan, which opens today (1 Sep).

The Local Plan is used to guide and assess development across the Borough and is the Council’s most important planning document as it helps the local authority to guard against speculative planning applications on land where it is not suitable.

Through the 20 years of the plan, the Council will encourage high-quality, sustainable homes, better transport connections and a greener, more environmentally-friendly Swindon.

The Local Plan also demonstrates how the Council plans to meet the Government’s housebuilding targets, which are set at 1,205 homes per year, adding up to 24,100 homes by 2043.

The majority of these houses are already allocated at existing major housebuilding sites such as the New Eastern Villages and Wichelstowe, but sites for a further 7,000 homes will need to be allocated within the Local Plan to ensure Swindon meets its growth targets.

The Council is encouraging as many local people as possible to take part in this first round of consultation, which will run until 13 October 2025 with feedback provided either online or by attending a consultation event. The Council’s Cabinet agreed in July to run the consultation after the school summer holidays to allow as many people as possible to have their say during the first round of consultation.

Councillor Kevin Small, Swindon Borough Councils Cabinet Member for Finance who is also responsible for strategic planning, said: “The Local Plan sets out a clear and ambitious vision for how Swindon will grow and evolve over the next 20 years. It addresses the challenges we face today and outlines how we will meet the needs of a growing population, shaping the homes we live in, the jobs we create, the transport we rely on, and the environment we all share, which will help to deliver the Council's mission to build a Better, Greener and Fairer Swindon.

“It’s important that residents, businesses, community groups and other interested stakeholders are able to review the draft and share their views to help shape the Swindon we live in.”

Full details, including how to attend one of the engagement sessions, can be found on the Councils website swindon.gov.uk/newlocalplan or by searching ‘Local Plan’.