WILTSHIRE’S long-awaited blueprint for future development could be scrapped with councillors now set to decide whether to start again from scratch.

Wiltshire Council’s cabinet has agreed to recommend withdrawing the county’s draft Local Plan from the independent examination process, following concerns it would not be approved in its current form.

The plan, which sets out where housing and development should take place between 2020 and 2038, has been under scrutiny since it was submitted for examination in 2024.

But in March, government-appointed Planning Inspectors presented the council with a stark choice: withdraw the plan or proceed to a final report that would recommend it is not adopted.

Now, cabinet members have opted to pull the plan altogether – a move that could have significant implications for future housing, infrastructure and growth across Wiltshire.

Cabinet member for strategic planning Cllr Adrian Foster said: “This is not the outcome we had hoped for, but it is important that we are realistic about the position we are in and make a clear decision about how to move forward.

“I’d like to thank all the officers who have worked incredibly hard to prepare this Local Plan for examination in challenging circumstances.

“Their professionalism, dedication and resilience throughout this process should not be underestimated, and the work they have done will provide a strong foundation for what comes next.

“Withdrawing the draft Plan will allow us to focus our resources on preparing a new Local Plan under the updated national system, so we can start afresh and continue planning positively for Wiltshire’s future.”

If approved by Full Council on May 19, the decision will see Wiltshire begin work on an entirely new Local Plan under revised national planning rules, with early discussions expected to begin as soon as June.

The move is likely to spark debate among residents, developers and campaigners, as the Local Plan plays a key role in shaping how communities grow in the years ahead.