Vale of White Horse District Council
Abbey House, Abbey Close,
Abingdon, OX14 3JE
Email: comments@whitehorsedc.gov.uk
Telephone: 01235 520202

Vale of White Horse District Council

South West Plan

The South West Plan (or Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West) is prepared by the South West Regional Assembly. It applies to the area immediately to the west of the Vale, for example Swindon Borough and Wiltshire county are both within the south west plan area. However, the draft South West Plan proposes major development of some 12,000 dwellings to the east of Swindon – the Eastern Development Area (EDA). Such an eastwards expansion of Swindon is something which is being closely watched by the Council which is concerned that it does not adversely affect the communities within the Vale.

The draft South West Plan was published in June 2006 for public comment. It and the comments made were considered at an Examination in Public by a Panel appointed for that purpose. The Panel’s Report, to the Secretary of State, was published in December 2007. The Secretary of State will consider the report and may make further modifications later in 2008. For more information about the South West Plan see the South West Assembly website.

From 2010 Regional Assemblies will be phased out and Regional Development Agencies will take on a new strategic role in the region.