Highworth Neighbourhood Plan 2 (NHP2)
Highworth Neighbourhood Plan 2 (NHP2) independent examination
Highworth Neighbourhood Plan 2 (NHP2) regulation 16
Swindon Borough Council (SBC) has confirmed that the Highworth Neighbourhood Plan (NHP2) has been prepared in accordance with the required legal process and can now proceed to Regulation 16 consultation.
The consultation will run from Thursday 9th October 2025 through to Thursday 20th November 2025.
During this period, residents, businesses, and stakeholders are invited to review the draft Plan and submit comments to SBC.
All documents are available below. Responses should be submitted via the Swindon Borough Council website www.swindon.gov.uk or by email to:
forwardplanning@swindon.gov.uk
Please note that any comments submitted during the previous Regulation 16 consultation have been carried forward and will be considered as part of this re-consultation. To view Highworth Town Councils comments on the repeat Regulation 16 consultation click here.
Paper copies are also available in the following outlets: Highworth Town Council Offices, Highworth library, Swindon Central library and Visit Highworth Ltd
Highworth Neighbourhood Plan 2 (NHP2) regulation 15
Highworth Town Council Regulation 15 Re-Consultation Explanatory Note August 2025
Following the closure of the repeat Regulation 14 consultation, councillors have reviewed all responses received and confirmed the draft NHP2 and supporting documents can proceed to Regulation 15 .
Following the closure of the repeat Regulation 14 consultation, councillors have reviewed all responses received and confirmed the draft NHP2 and supporting documents can proceed to Regulation 15 .
All documents have now been submitted to Swindon Borough Council (SBC). Highworth Town Council is awaiting confirmation from SBC that the Plan has been prepared in line with the required legal process. Once confirmed, SBC will publish the plan and commence Regulation 16.
Highworth Neighbourhood Plan 2 (NHP2) Regulation 14 re-consultation explanatory note 24th june 2025 (CLOSED)
Highworth Town Council Regulation 14 Re-Consultation Explanatory Note – 24th June 2025
The Highworth Neighbourhood Plan 2 (which is the review of the original Made Neighbourhood Plan) has been subject to formal public consultation on two occasions.
The first consultation (Regulation 14 stage) was undertaken by Highworth Town Council on the draft Highworth Neighbourhood Plan 2 between 11th May and 24th June 2024.
The second consultation (Regulation 16 stage) was undertaken by Swindon Borough Council on the submission version of the plan between 13th December 2024 and 7th February 2025.
Following submission to the independent examiner, it was advised at the examination stage that, despite written confirmation from Swindon Borough Council that Highworth Town Council had met all the legal requirements, a Modification Statement should have been submitted as part of the Regulation 14 consultations. It has therefore become necessary to undertake a further Regulation 14 consultation to meet this procedural requirement.
A newly prepared Modification Statement sets out the policies from the original Highworth Neighbourhood Plan and the updated policies from the Regulation 14 version of the draft Highworth Neighbourhood Plan 2.
The Modification Statement explains the reasons for any changes to policies and their significance. More significant changes are likely to require a referendum to approve the plan.
Highworth Town Council has indicated for some time its view that the updated policies in the Highworth Neighbourhood Plan 2 represent a significant change which alter the nature of the plan, requiring a referendum.
There is now an opportunity to also comment on the Modification Statement for the Regulation 14 version of the Highworth Neighbourhood Plan 2 (the same version published on 11th May 2024 for the previous consultation).
The consultation runs for a period of six weeks from Thursday 26th June 2025 to Sunday 10th August 2025.
Whilst further comments on the Regulation 14 Highworth Neighbourhood Plan 2 itself will be accepted through this consultation, please note that Responses received to the previous Regulation 14 Consultation on the Draft Highworth Neighbourhood Plan 2 (May-June 2024) will be preserved, carried forward and considered fully in moving forward to the next stage and so it is not necessary to re-provide these.
Highworth Neighbourhood Plan 2 (NHP2) Regulation 14 re-consultation 26th june 2025 - 10th august 2025 (CLOSED)
Highworth Neighbourhood Plan 2 (NHP2) independent examination (PAUSED)
Highworth Neighbourhood Plan 2 (NHP2) regulation 16 (CLOSED)
Highworth Neighbourhood Plan 2 (NHP2) regulation 14 (CLOSED)
The Regulation 14 draft Neighbourhood Plan (NHP) for the Parish of Highworth in Swindon Borough was prepared under the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations (2012) by Highworth Town Council following extensive community engagement. This document incorporates updated and new policies for Highworth, Sevenhampton and Hampton.
The Regulation 14 consultation for neighbourhood planning regulations, requires the draft neighbourhood plan proposal to be the subject of a pre-submission consultation before it is submitted to the local authority for independent examination.
Neighbourhood planning gives communities the power to prepare a shared development vision for their area. This neighbourhood plan seeks to shape, direct and help to deliver sustainable development by influencing the planning policies and decisions made by Swindon Borough Council.
The consultation period has now closed.
Thank you for your feedback, we will collate all the information and publish the outcome in due course
Alternatively, all the documents listed above are available for inspection in person, by visiting the following sites below:
Address
Swindon Central Library Regent Circus, Swindon, SN11QG
Address
Highworth Library Brewery Street, Swindon SN6 7AJ
Address
Council Offices, 3 Gilberts Lane, Highworth, Swindon, SN6 7FB