Stretching from Chippenham in the north to Salisbury in the south, Wiltshire covers a lot of ground.  

The county faces some unique, as well as many familiar, obstacles as it sets a course to meet ambitious housing targets. Following last year’s NPPF updates, Wiltshire’s housing target has increased 84 per cent from 1,900 to 3,500 homes a year.  

Rising to this challenge will require some fresh thinking within the county famed for its rolling landscapes, military heritage, villages and market towns. 

Against the backdrop of devolution discussions and upcoming local elections, we brought together colleagues from across planning and development to sit down with Cllr Nick Botterill, Cabinet Member for Finance, Development Management and Strategic Planning at Wiltshire County Council, for an open discussion about the challenges and opportunities facing the county.  

The importance of (ambitious) plan-led development 

Without doubt, planned housing is more palatable – whether your canvassing local voters or seeking support on an application.  

Wiltshire has not always been as open to the sector as it could or arguably needs to be. With challenging targets to meet, the search for sites will need fresh and more ambitious thinking. With that comes a greater need for decisive action from government on issues like nutrient neutrality.  

Councils and the industry both need to beat the drum for the benefits of development – from boosting economic growth, jobs and local high streets, to supporting services through additional council tax contributions – as well as delivering the new homes that many people do recognise to be much-needed. 

Supporting local infrastructure 

The call for local infrastructure, be it highways, green spaces, healthcare or education, is a common theme when it comes to new homes. In some cases, Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) contributions have become decoupled from funding local infrastructure. Working collaboratively with councils and communities to ensure these contributions are deployed effectively is essential.  

Strategic and even creative thinking should also be applied to ensure the right improvements are made in the right places for communities – with a view beyond single development projects. Good collaboration between the industry and councils, bringing together different service departments within local government, can help ensure that development supports real social impact for communities.   

Challenging political landscape  

Wiltshire’s Local Plan, like many, was submitted for examination at the end of 2024. While this moves forward over the coming months, thoughts are already turning to the next iteration of the plan and the speed at which this can be sensibly delivered.

Local elections are fast approaching in May 2025 and there’s much to play for. It will be a tightly fought contest in parts. Proposals for The Heart of Wessex combined authority are also moving forward and with that more political uncertainly, as well as new opportunities. The political cycle and electoral pressure on politicians can’t be ignored so it’s vital the industry maintains a good dialogue with local representatives and takes a real interest in what communities have to say.  

It’s often too easy to feel like the industry and local government are in conflict but as our lively discussion in Wiltshire proved, there are many shared ambitions and a recognition that support for new homes and the benefits they bring is out there. It is a steep hill to climb, but with flexibility, a collaborative outlook and by continuing this discussion, we can work together to unlock the new homes the county needs and ensure the social and economic benefits are realised.