Uppingham Neighbourhood Plan

Welcome from the Mayor

Uppingham, like many other towns, has a Neighbourhood Plan. Our initial plan was completed and agreed by residents in 2016. We have now successfully completed all the legal processes to revise and update this plan for the period 2022-2041.  You can read the updated plan here.

The Plan has helped to guide the Town Council when considering how the town should be developed over the next few years. It is now formally “made” (adopted) by the Local Planning Authority (currently Rutland County Council) who are legally required to take its provisions into account when determining formal Planning applications.

Uppingham Town Council created the Neighbourhood Planning Advisory Group (NPAG) to work on this revision of our Plan. NPAG was made up of councillors, local interest groups and individuals from the town and they all contributed towards completion of this work.  Going forward we have decided to address public participation in a slightly different way with the intention of creating greater transparency for the wider public.  In January 2025 we created a new formal sub-committee of the Town Council Planning Committee to advise us on any future Neighbourhood Plan revisions.  We sought nominations from local organisations to serve on this sub-committee alongside some of the Town Councillors.  It is intended that any relevant contact with developers will also be facilitated through this formal sub-committee if it relates to future Neighbourhood Plan revisions and up-dates.

Whilst change and new developments can be challenging, standing still is not an option available to us.  Central Government dictates the number of additional homes that must be constructed throughout the country and our share of that total is allocated to Uppingham via the policies and rules contained in Rutland County Council’s Local Plan.  This carefully thought out Neighbourhood Plan, produced in consultation with the public and with their participation provides a degree of control as to where such development will be and the type and layout of such developments.

This plan is, however, about much more than just housing numbers.  It also addresses important topics such as protecting the character and heritage of the town, business and employment, transport and active travel, community facilities and services plus open spaces and the environment.

As part of this process I am delighted to welcome you today to our Neighbourhood Plan website where you will be able to see details of the work undertaken on the Uppingham Neighbourhood Plan on your behalf.  I was particularly pleased to see some very positive feedback from the Independent Examiner on the huge amount of work that was undertaken on getting the reviewed plan to the stage of allowing it to go to referendum.  Please remember, this work was mainly carried out by unpaid volunteers ably supported by our professional planning colleagues and consultants.  In particular, the Examiner said:-

“The local approach taken on the delivery of the town’s strategic housing requirement through the review of the neighbourhood plan is exemplary”.

“The Plan is an excellent example of a review of a neighbourhood plan”

“The Plan is simple to use. The Rationale for each policy is both comprehensive and helpful. In the round, the approach taken is best practice”.

I’m sure that, like me, you care about how the town is being developed over the next few years. I invite you therefore to take an active interest in the Neighbourhood Plan and I hope that you will find the website informative and helpful.

Dave Ainslie BEM

Mayor, Uppingham Town Council

August 2025