THE long-awaited Corsham Neighbourhood Plan is going to the polls to give locals the chance to decide if they approve the blueprint for the town’s future.

The vote will be taking place on November 14. It will give people in Corsham a say on future housing developments, as if the plan gets voted in a developer has to follow the plan. If adopted it will become a required legal document to follow. 

If it gets a Yes vote, organisers hope the Neighbourhood Plan will be complete within two years. The plans can cover 25 years and be reviewed around every five years. 

Town and Wiltshire Cllr Ruth Hopkinson said: “We are on the final straight of a very big project. It has been a formation of people coming together to work towards one unified plan. 

“We’re now ready to go to a referendum. It had to be put on hold for over a year so it has been a long time coming. It will look at what the town does and doesn’t need by allocating land. 

“If it doesn’t go ahead it will be a wasted effort as less money will be available to improve it. I will be extremely disappointed if it doesn’t go ahead as I feel it will be doing Corsham a disservice so I’m encouraging people to go out and vote for it.”

The plan has been in development for around three years with consultation with residents taking place.

The town council is paying to create the plan, which will set rules for the Wiltshire Council housing requirement for Corsham from 2006-2026 of 1,220 new homes.

A Neighbourhood Plan cannot stop development or be allowed by residents to use it to oppose proposals for new developments. It is intended as a guide for development to be appropriate for an area and help decide where it could go.

Cllr Hopkinson said: “We need to make sure we reflect the needs of Corsham for the future. The neighbourhood plan will override any national policy because it will have significant weight. People can view the plans online.

“Another point if it goes ahead is our towns’ allocated money will increase and be spent in Corsham.”

Houses will be built as and when land becomes available. This could be for starter homes, affordable homes, employment land or enterprise. 

All registered electors in Corsham parish are eligible to vote. People will get polling cards through their doors with details of their polling station soon.