Why have a Vision?

We want Chippenham to be a great place to live, work and visit – and to achieve that, we need a Vision that can help us develop the town and its facilities in the best way to take advantage of our existing assets, and provide new opportunities.

Chippenham has lots of great things going for it including its history, location, architecture, natural environment – and of course its people!

The Chippenham Vision is working to make to most of these qualities, developing projects to benefit and improve the town and carefully planning for its future - all in partnership with local people, businesses, councils and community groups.

The Regional Spatial Strategy, which governs the way development will be managed in the South West until 2026, identifies Chippenham as a Strategically Significant Town (SSTC) that is expected to receive a housing allocation of over 5,000 new homes, over 6,000 new jobs in the Travel to Work area, and provision for 42ha of employment land.

With such growth planned for Chippenham it is important that any development is carefully planned and brings sustainable social, economic and environmental benefits to the town and its people.

Tell us what you think or get involved!

What needs doing?

There are lots of ways we will be improving Chippenham in the short-term, including tidying up street scenes, making the river more accessible and enjoyable, and creating walking and cycle routes – and we’d like you to suggest other possible projects!

In the medium-term we are looking at ways to make the most of our High Street by encouraging choice in a range of quality shops and services. We are also protecting our built and natural environment through conservation and management programmes; considering how the town can be made more accessible through traffic and parking initiatives; and supporting the development of the new Wiltshire College Chippenham to offer learning and skills opportunities.

In the long-term we want to attract more employers to the town, encouraging business start-up and growth. We also want to make sure that any proposed development really benefits the town and its people, and happens within a carefully planned and sustainable framework.

And throughout this we will be asking for your opinions and listening to your views.

Where is included?

The Chippenham Vision considers the needs of town and its impact on the surrounding villages, with a focus on the town centre itself. It also covers the main business areas such as Bumpers Farm and Methuen Park.

One of our first tasks is to develop a Masterplan for the town centre and key satellite areas to ring-fence future development and make sure it happens within an agreed and sustainable framework.

There are several sites in the town centre that are in need or have been identified for development including Bath Road/The Bridge Centre, Wood Lane, Station Hill and the Riverside. Over time we will be contributing to Development Briefs for these areas and helping make sure they meet the needs of the town and its people.

The transport infrastructure is also being considered as we look at ways to improve accessibility in and around the town, starting with the Ivy Lane gyratory system, Western Arches and New Road.

Our river is a fantastic but underused asset so we are looking at ways of improving access and encouraging more opportunities for river-based leisure activities, waterside developments and environmental, conservation and nature projects.

We also want Chippenham to be a fine tourist destination and gateway to the South West, so want to support surrounding villages and other towns as we move forward with our Vision.

When is it happening?

It’s happening now! Lots of studies and surveys have already been done, some projects have started and more are being planned.

The Chippenham Vision is a major, long-term initiative that is working to create a Chippenham that we can all enjoy, that has excellent public and leisure facilities, and a strong local economy and employment market.

To achieve such aspirations takes a lot of time, careful planning, open discussion and partnership. For the last few years, a Steering Group of local business and community groups, councilors and officers, education and skills representatives and the South West Regional Development Agency have been working together to present and consult on the Chippenham Vision, undertake studies and prepare strategies and plans.

In April 2009 the Steering Group will be formalised as a ‘special purpose vehicle’ to take the Chippenham Vision forward under the guidance of a Vision Director.