How is a Neighbourhood Plan Developed?
Preparing a Neighbourhood Development Plan follows a well-established process set out in national planning legislation.
The main stages are:
- Gathering evidence – understanding the village’s housing needs, environment, infrastructure and community priorities.
- Community engagement – asking residents what they value about Hullavington and how they would like it to develop.
- Preparing the draft NDP – developing planning policies based on the evidence and community feedback.
- Public consultation – giving everyone the opportunity to comment on the draft Plan before it is finalised.
- Submission to Wiltshire Council – the Parish Council submits the revised Plan.
- Independent examination – an independent planning examiner checks that the Plan meets all legal requirements.
- Local referendum – everyone registered to vote in Hullavington has the opportunity to vote on whether the Plan should be adopted.
- Adoption – if more than 50% of those voting support the Plan, Wiltshire Council formally adopts it and it becomes part of the statutory development plan.
Residents have opportunities to comment throughout the preparation of the NDP, not just during the formal consultation periods. This includes attending the Steering Group’s open meetings at the Village Hall (dates and times are available on the Parish Council website), as well as taking part in surveys and consultation events. Community feedback has helped shape the Plan throughout its development.
| Every Neighbourhood Development Plan must go through consultation, independent examination and a public referendum before it can be adopted. |
Why does updating the NDP take so long?
Updating an NDP is almost the same as preparing a new one. While some existing evidence can be used, the updated Plan must reflect today’s planning policies, housing requirements and community priorities.
The updated process includes:
- reviewing changes since the current NDP was adopted
- gathering up-to-date evidence
- consulting residents and stakeholders
- assessing potential development sites
- drafting, testing and revising planning policies.
Each stage takes time, but each is designed to ensure that the updated Plan is robust, legally compliant and genuinely reflects the views and priorities of today’s community.
Investing the time now helps ensure the updated NDP is robust, evidence-based and able to influence planning decisions for years to come.
| Although we’re updating an existing Plan rather than starting from scratch, the same rigorous process must be followed to ensure the new NDP is fit for the years ahead. |
What is the timetable?
Work on the updated Neighbourhood Development Plan has been underway since Summer 2025.
Going forward, the anticipated timetable is:
| Stage | Current status | Expected timing |
| Evidence gathering | ✓ Complete | |
| Informal Community consultation | ✓ Complete | |
| Draft NDP prepared | ✓ Complete | |
| Site options open day | ⏳ Planned | Late September 2026 |
| Regulation 14 consultation | ⏳ Planned | September / October 2026 |
| Review of consultation feedback and revisions | ⏳ Planned | Oct / Nov 2026 |
| Submission to Wiltshire Council (Regulation 15) | ⏳ Planned | Dec 2026 |
| Regulation 16 consultation (run by Wiltshire Council) | ⏳ Planned | Jan 2027 |
| Independent examination | ⏳ Planned | March / April 2027 |
| Local referendum | ⏳ Planned | May 2027 (TBC) |
| NDP formally adopted | ⏳ Planned | 4 weeks or so later |
This timetable will be updated as the project progresses.
Timescales may change slightly as the project progresses, particularly where later stages depend on decisions made by Wiltshire Council or the independent examiner.
Who has the final say?
Ultimately, the people of Hullavington do.
While several organisations are involved in preparing and reviewing the Plan, residents have the final say through a local referendum.
Each organisation has a different role:
- The Steering Group prepares the draft Plan
- Hullavington Parish Council oversees the process and submits the Plan
- Wiltshire Council checks the legal process and organises the later stages
- The independent examiner reviews whether the Plan meets legal requirements
- Residents of Hullavington vote on whether the Plan should be adopted
If more than 50% of those voting support the Plan, Wiltshire Council formally adopts it.
| Ultimately, it is the residents of Hullavington who decide whether the NDP is adopted. |
What role does Wiltshire Council play?
Wiltshire Council is the local planning authority and plays an important role throughout the neighbourhood planning process.
Its responsibilities include:
- preparing the Wiltshire Local Plan
- checking that the NDP has followed the correct legal process
- organising the independent examination
- arranging the local referendum
- formally adopting the Plan if residents vote in favour
- determining future planning applications, taking account of the adopted NDP.
Wiltshire Council also negotiates Section 106 agreements with developers and is responsible for monitoring and enforcing planning permissions.
Wiltshire Council doesn’t write the NDP, but once adopted it must take its planning policies into account when determining planning applications.
Can the proposed development sites change?
Yes. The sites shown in the draft NDP are the Steering Group’s current recommendations, based on the available evidence gathered so far.
The forthcoming consultation is an opportunity for residents, landowners, statutory consultees and other interested parties to comment on those recommendations. The Steering Group will consider all feedback and evidence before making its recommendations to the Parish Council, which will decide which site or sites to include in the Submission Draft Plan.
Even after submission, the independent examiner may recommend further changes before the Plan proceeds to referendum.
So, in summary:
- The Steering Group recommends
- The Community expresses views
- The Parish Council decides
- Independent Examiner may recommend further changes
What happens after the NDP is adopted?
If the Plan is approved in the local referendum and formally adopted by Wiltshire Council, it becomes part of the statutory development plan for the area. This means it must be taken into account when planning applications are considered.
However, adopting the Plan is not the end of the process. The Parish Council will continue to monitor how the Plan is working, engage with residents and review it when necessary to reflect changes in national planning policy, the Wiltshire Local Plan or the needs of the community.
Planning policies and local needs change over time, so today’s NDP will eventually need reviewing and updating to ensure it continues to serve the village well.
| An adopted NDP isn’t a document that sits on a shelf; it’s a practical tool that helps guide planning decisions for the village every day. |
