The Area Board received an
update on Future Chippenham from Leader of the Council, Councillor
Richard Clewer and Simon Hendey, Director of Housing andCommercial.
The update covered the following points:
- The Future Chippenham
scheme would allow for a master-planned and infrastructure led
approach, with housing and communities built around
infrastructure.
- It was acknowledged
that though many people want no more housing in Chippenham,
currently the waiting list for housing is over 600
families.
- Since the last Area
Board the Cabinet and Administration have produced a revised
proposal to mitigate concerns raised from the Local Plan and Future
Chippenham consultations. The Cabinet has agreed to promote a
scheme in the southern section up to the A4.
- Detailed discussions
with Homes England have taken place and have been positive with
progress made on revising the Grant determination agreement
(GDA).
- The programme of
works remain dependent on the site being allocated as part of the
Local Plan Review process and
successful outcomes from discussions with Homes England and
agreeing revisions to the GDA so that development can be
infrastructure led.
- The Council is in the
process of establishing a Chippenham Place partnership to oversee
and coordinate the regeneration of Chippenham Town Centre,
compromised by key stakeholders within the town and chaired by
Michelle Donellan MP.
- Next steps are for
councillor updates to be provided every two months and for
discussions with Homes England to take place, seeking to reach
agreement by mid-November 2021. Additionally, subject to the
outcomes of Homes England discussion and agreement to revisions
within the GDA, consultation on the framework master plan will
commence towards the end of January 2022, followed by a further
consultation in the summer.
Following the presentation there was time for
the following questions and points to be raised:
- It was acknowledged
that most people recognise that Chippenham needs to grow, however
it needs to be sustainable and well-managed.
- It was raised that
youth engagement is important and the whole of the community should
be involved in discussions as currently the bulk of responses have
been from the older generation. It was also identified that this
would be a good opportunity to involve the Chippenham Youth
Council.
- It was questioned
what percentage of the proposal will be affordable housing? –
Councillor Clewer stated that the aim is for the local plan is to
deliver 40% affordable housing across the county.
- It was acknowledged
that because Wiltshire Council owns the majority of the land set to
be built on, this would allow for a greater force behind making
developers provided a higher percentage of affordable
homes.
- 80% of people when
originally consulted on the initial three plans said noto them all,
how did this fourth plan come about? – Councillor Clewer
stressed that this is a balancing act between the need to meet
government housing targets whilst dealing with people unhappy when
consulted. This was the best compromise.
- It was noted that the
plan will look at open space requirements and will aim to build
communities, potentially through the use of terraced housing or
green spaces to the front of properties.