As mentioned in our update earlier this year, HEAT Project Salisbury formed part of Wiltshire Council’s Draft Local Plan.
The Local Plan was agreed by Wiltshire Council and was formally submitted to the Secretary of State in December 2024.
A planning inspector will now be appointed to carry out an Examination in Public (EiP). This marks the start of an independent examination process and is dealt with by the Planning Inspectorate.
The appointed Inspector will conduct a detailed review of the Local Plan, to ensure it meets various planning tests and has been prepared in accordance with legal and procedural requirements set out in law.
The process progresses with an exchange of written responses to matters raised by the inspector. This then will effectively set the agenda for a series of public hearings, which are usually topic based and chaired by the Inspector. Depending on the matters raised, and if additional information requires some modifications to be made to the plan, the process can take some time.
On completion of the examination the Inspector will make recommendations to Council as to the acceptance or otherwise of the plan. Providing agreement is reached between the Council and the inspector then the plan can come forward for adoption.
While this review is underway, progress will continue on the HEAT Project. Design work for the initial phase will be advanced and we anticipate submitting the first phase of a planning application following further public consultation and in tandem with the progression of the EiP during 2025.