Moves by parish leaders in Crudwell to help them stave off undesirable and unrequired housing and other development in and around the village have taken a major step forward.
The parish council’s application for Crudwell to be designated a Neighbourhood Area was unanimously approved by the Malmesbury Area Board.
The decision is expected to be rubberstamped by Wiltshire Council, paving the way for Crudwell to draw up its own “concise area plan” setting out the community’s preferences.
The plan will show where local people feel future development in the parish is acceptable and unacceptable, giving them a greater say.
If it is approved by a planning inspector, a referendum will be held on whether the community should adopt the plan.
The process is expected to take between 18 months to two years. Crudwell Parish Council chairman Jonathan Furlonger said it had been working on its plan since early 2013 and that 30 per cent of Crudwell residents had already responded to a survey.
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