A DRAFT of the Cricklade Neighbourhood Plan (CNP), which sets out the vision for the town’s development over the next decade, has been published for public consultation.

The plan has been described as “less controversial” than many similar plans drafted by other towns because of the fact that no new sites have been allocated for development.

Two sites have already been given outline planning permission, with a third site is likely to be passed as well, according to the town council.

Efforts have also been made to prevent an increase of lorry traffic through the town centre.

The Neighbourhood Plan Working Group, made up of members of the Cricklade Town Council, has been working on the neighbourhood plan since the town plan was published in 2012.

Chairman of the group and the town council, Councillor Mark Clarke, said the focus for plan will be on guiding design of new housing, rather than location.

“We’ve got a housing target which we can meet with sites that have outline permissions,” he said.

“One 70-home development on the southern boundary has outline permission. There are 24 more homes with outline permission at Stones Farm as well, which is a brownfield site on the northern edge of town.

“The redevelopment of our social hosing estate Culverhay will see 65 homes knocked down and 109 built in its place, which will likely go through planning.

“With these plans all being passed, Cricklade will meet its requirement from Wiltshire Council.”

In an effort to prevent an increase of HGVs driving through the town, Cllr Clarke says the town council will encourage new technology businesses at the Chelworth industrial area, rather than companies that use HGVs.

“The centre of the town is a designated freight route, so we can’t stop lorries coming through town,” continued Cllr Clarke. “We don’t want to encourage more.

“The industrial area provides jobs, but we would like to see a change in emphasis there, so future development will be high tech businesses, not HGV intensive.”

Copies of the CNP can be viewed online at crickladenp.org.uk or at the council offices at Ockwells on the high street.

The consultation will run until January 6, when it may be reviewed and altered.

It will then be passed to Wiltshire Council to review, and then independent examiners after that, before it’s put to a public referendum.

Residents can contact the town council by emailing admin@cricklade-tc.gov.uk if they require more information.