Blunsdon Neighbourhood Plan

Blunsdon Neighbourhood Plan (the Plan) was made in 2021. The referendum held in May 2021 supported the Plan with 88% of the votes cast in favour and just 12% against. It was ratified at the full Swindon Borough Council (SBC) meeting and is now part of planning law for the Parish of Blunsdon, and every application that is presented to SBC Planning department for our Parish must take its 12 policies into account.

We have now closed the website dedicated to the Plan and transferred all the relevant planning documents to this Parish Council site for easy access and convenience.

Thank you to all those who supported and helped make the Plan and I hope that it will help to protect and enhance our lovely Parish. Below is the Vision, Aims and Objectives of the Plan and the associated 12 Policies.

Our Vision...

'Blunsdon will continue to be a safe and tranquil rural area with a strong community spirit and a diverse population. It will value its unique rural setting on the Mid Vale ridge and its historic heritage while improving communication links with Swindon and the wider area.'

Theme 1 - A place where people want to live

• To maintain the village character of Blunsdon by managing development on the scale envisaged in the Swindon Local Plan through small scale developments over the plan period.
• Policy 1: Allocation of sites for housing
• Policy 2: Housing developments on non-allocated sites

• To maintain areas of separation to protect the unique identity of Blunsdon and prevent coalescence with adjacent existing and proposed urban areas.
• Policy 3: Development in the Countryside

• To ensure the urban development of Kingsdown provides benefits to the parish of Blunsdon such as new sustainable links and rights of way and environmental enhancements.
• Policy 4: Development on the Kingsdown NC5 site
• Policy 6: Road Safety, traffic congestion and pollution

• To ensure the objectives above are achieved through collaborative solutions for infrastructure and road safety.

Theme 2 - Pride in our Heritage

• To protect and enhance the heritage and historic sites within the BENP
• To ensure developments and alterations are sympathetic and appropriate
• Policy 5: Preserving the character of Blunsdon Village

• To recognise and promote the area’s heritage and history
• To register and protect Assets of Community Value within the BENP area.
• Policy 7: Protection of Community Facilities
• To protect valued views in and out of the village
• Policy 10: Preservation of Views of local importance

Theme 3 - Supporting the Community

• Ensure opportunities for employment and home working are supported
• To encourage the provision of a high-quality broadband network to support employment and leisure activities
• Policy 8: Employment
• Maintain and improve existing open spaces
• Policy 5: Preserving the visual character of Blunsdon Village
• Protect and improve sports facilities and play areas
• Encourage the addition of open space and green infrastructure
• Policy 9: The Designation of Local Green Space
• Policy 9a: Open Space and Sports Facilities

Theme 4 - Conserving Nature and the Environment

• To preserve, improve and enhance the green infrastructure within the BENP area
• Policy 9: The Designation of Local Green Space

• Provide habitats that support and improve the biodiversity of the area
• To preserve special views from the hilltop village
• Policy 10: Preservation of views of local importance

• To strengthen and improve the Conservation Areas by developing and fulfilling the Management Action Plans
• To reduce light pollution to minimise risks to health, hazards to road users and to encourage the presence of nocturnal wildlife.
• Policy 11: Protection of Trees and Hedgerows
• Policy 12: Dark Skies

Below are listed all the detailed documents associated with the Plan:

Blunsdon Neighbourhood Plan

Appendix A: Basic Conditions Statement

Appendix B: Equality Impact Assessment

Appendix C1: Village Design Statement

Appendix C2: V.D.S. Character Assessments

Appendix D: Blunsdon Heritage Trail

Appendix E: Scheduled Monuments and Listed Buildings

Appendix F: Plan Evidence Base

Appendix G: Consultation Statement

Appendix H: Decision Notice

Appendix I: Landscape Visual Sensitivity Analysis

Appendix J1: Site Allocation Assessment

Appendix J2: Development Site Assessment Report

Appendix J3: S.E.A. Screening Opinion by S.B.C.

Appendix K: Swindon Local Plan Policy for Kingsdown NC5