Melksham Neighbourhood Plan Referendum Result Declared
Melksham and Melksham Without residents have voted in favour of adopting the Neighbourhood Plan for the town and surrounding villages, following a public referendum held on Thursday 31st July.
A total of 1,903 people voted YES, with 239 voting NO. The turnout was 10.79%.
The result means the Joint Melksham Neighbourhood Plan (JMNP2) will now be formally adopted and carry full legal weight when future planning applications are considered, alongside Wiltshire Council’s Local Plan.
You can access the official declaration of results [here]
Developed by the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group with Melksham Town Council and Melksham Without Parish Council, the plan sets out a vision for the Melksham area up to 2038 and includes 21 bespoke local policies. It covers everything from housing and green space to infrastructure and support for local businesses. Key priorities include the redevelopment of the Cooper Tires site and the old library building, protection for 49 local green spaces, support for town centre businesses, and safeguards to prevent the merging of Melksham with surrounding villages. The plan also aims to deliver more affordable housing, including bungalows, promote brownfield-first development, and introduce a new ‘local list’ to protect historic buildings. The plan was shaped by two years of consultation with residents, businesses and community groups, and builds on the original Neighbourhood Plan adopted in 2021.
For more information about the Joint Melksham Neighbourhood Plan, visit the official website:
👉 www.melkshamneighbourhoodplan.org