Biggleswade Town Plan Background

In 2000 the Government published the Rural White Paper to set out their vision for the countryside and rural areas. This vision included setting up a process to enable people to become fully involved in developing their own community and to give them the opportunity to shape the decisions that affect them.

In response to this, in July 2001, the Countryside Agency commenced the Parish and Town Plan initiative.

Community planning has been around for many years.  Parish and Town Plans have evolved from previous work such as Village Appraisals, Design Statements and Market Town Health Checks.

Town Plans provide valuable information that can be used to inform the development of the Sustainable Community Strategy, the Local Development Framework, local planning decisions and negotiation of Section 106 Agreements.