LIMPLEY Stoke’s joint neighbourhood plan with Freshford has passed its independent examination – making it one of the first county border-spanning plans in the country.

The plans were first drawn up in 2011 and both parish councils have worked with Bath & North East Somerset Council (B&NES) and Wiltshire Council to secure its future.

Only four per cent of the 1,300 neighbourhood plans nationally have reached this stage and in order for work to move forward, a local referendum will be held although the date is yet to be confirmed.

Planning inspector Janet Cheesley, who examined the proposal, presented her findings to the parishes and despite making slight modifications to the use of green space, she said: “I consider that the Freshford and Limpley Stoke Neighbourhood Plan will provide a strong practical framework against which decisions on development can be made.”

Through their neighbourhood plan, the parishes are aiming to protect local facilities and services, designate local green spaces and to re-define their settlement boundary to allow limited small scale infill developments.

They will also be hoping to identify a new hub for the villages which will be home to a redeveloped village hall.

Simon Coombe, chairman of the parish council, said he hopes that other towns and villages will now be able to learn from their successful attempt at getting a neighbourhood plan.

He said: “It has taken a long time to get to this stage which has been a huge amount of work.

“It is really nice to think that a small, little part of Wiltshire is helping other places move forward with their plans." They are now looking to us to learn from what we have done and we are just passing on the lessons we have learnt so the process doesn’t take them as long as it has for us.”

Wiltshire Council initially launched six pilot neighbourhood plans in 2011, known as the Wiltshire Front Runners, to lead way for other towns to get involved in a community driven approach to neighbourhood planning outlined in the Localism Act.

Toby Sturgis, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for planning, said: “It’s good to see another Neighbourhood Plan passing its independent inspection – this really is an opportunity for the local community to formulate its own future both in terms of shaping development in the area and preserving those spaces the residents feel should be retained.”