RESIDENTS in Wroughton will soon be asked to vote on a plan which will outline future development in the village.

For several years work has been carried out on developing a neighbourhood plan and it has now been given a broad thumbs up from an independent planning inspector.

The document sets out areas which can be built on and will make it harder for developers to put houses on land where they are not wanted.

The parish council have put together the draft plan, with input from locals, before it was given to the inspector.

After examination is has been declared a legally sound document, although a number of minor technical details are needed.

In his response, the inspector said: “There is an evident focus on safeguarding the very distinctive character of the village in its rural setting. The Plan has been underpinned by extensive community support and engagement.

“The social, environmental and economic issues identified have been brought together into a coherent plan which has been the subject of a Strategic Environmental Assessment.

“Wroughton Parish Council are to be congratulated on their tireless efforts to produce a Neighbourhood Plan for their area that will guide development activity over the coming decade.

“It is evident that a sustained effort has been put into an extensive dialogue with the community to arrive at actions and policies that best meet the community’s wish “to develop in a sustainable way, whilst meeting the needs and aspirations of local residents’.”

The next stage will be for a response to be considered by the parish council before it is passed to Swindon Borough Council.

It is likely the recommended changes will be made before the final document is put to a referendum with residents living in the Wroughton Parish having the final say.

During his assessment, the inspector heard representations from developers keen to build on land outside the plan but this was dismissed.

Steve Harcourt, the chairman of Wroughton Parish Council, said: “We are delighted the independent examiner has endorsed the neighbourhood plan. He has made a number of changes which I think will make the plan more robust to legal challenges so it is actually an improvement.

“He has also dismissed the representations made by developers wanting to build inappropriate developments around Wroughton.

“When the referendum starts we will be trying to get as many people as possible to have their say on the plan, whether they support it or not.”