Frequently asked questions

Why have you set up these web pages?
Salisbury District Council have received a planning application from English Heritage (the applicants) for a new visitor centre for Stonehenge. The council will have to make a decision on whether planning permission should be granted. Before we take that decision we want to know the views of the local community - what you think of the proposals. That is why we are letting you know and giving you the chance to view the plans and submit your comments if you wish.
What are the main parts of the proposals?

Planning permission is being sought for:

  • a new visitor centre at Countess East,
  • a new transit system to get visitors to and from Stonehenge,
  • closure and reinstatement of the A344,
  • undergrounding of 33KV power lines, and
  • adaptation and grassing over of the existing facilities adjacent to the Stones.

The application is also accompanied by an environmental statement.

Is this application a resubmission of that refused by the council in 2005?

Yes it is exactly the same.

Why is it being resubmitted?

Last summer, the council’s Planning and Regulatory Panel turned down the planning application and English Heritage lodged an appeal against that decision.

As part of the preparation work for a future appeal hearing it became apparent to the Panel that there were grounds for re-consideration, so it asked English Heritage to re-submit its plans. English Heritage accepted this invitation and the planning application is now being registered.

What are the grounds for reconsideration?

These relate to the two reasons for refusing the previous application, which were based on the impact of the land train on neighbours, archaeology and the World Heritage Site landscape, and the uncertainty over the A303 improvements.

As you have asked English Heritage to resubmit their plans, have you already made up your minds to grant planning permission?

No, this is not the case. Although Salisbury District Council has invited a further application, this has no effect on the final decision. As with every application, this one will be independently considered according to our planning guidelines. In 2006 the Secretary of State chose to call in the application and this took the decision out of the council’s hands.

What is the reason for the application?

The applicants state that they are attempting to implement the objectives of the Management Plan for the World Heritage Site, which seek to rescue Stonehenge from what is considered to be an inappropriate modern setting and reunify it with the surrounding monuments. The overall Stonehenge project proposes that the roads will be removed and the current visitor facilities next to the monument will be replaced by a new visitor centre out of view of the Stones. It also proposes that the chalk downland landscape will be recreated and there will be public access without charge throughout much of the World Heritage Site. The applicants see this application as a key part of delivering that vision.

I would like to see more of the detailed plans before I comment. How can I see them?

You will be able to view a full copy of the application on this website. Full paper copies of the plans will be available at both the Planning Office in Wyndham Road, Salisbury and the main council offices at Bourne Hill. A further inspection copy is available at the public library in Amesbury. The planning application reference number is S/2006/0700. Alternatively you can request a CD of the documents.

Where will the new visitor centre be situated?

The visitor centre will be located outside the World Heritage Site at Countess East, to the north east of the Countess Roundabout, on the junction of the A303 and A345.

Why is the visitor centre proposed at Countess East? It's quite a distance from the monument.

Other options, including Larkhill and Fargo North, have been considered by the applicants in the past as possible locations for the visitor centre. Locating the visitor centre at Countess East is considered by the applicants to have a number of advantages:

  • removing new development from the World Heritage Site;
  • minimising impact on archaeological features; and
  • introducing the visitor to the wider World Heritage Site landscape.
What about the existing residents living adjacent to the site?

Local Planning policies and the Planning Brief make it clear that any scheme must place great importance on safeguarding the comfort and convenience of existing residents, both during the construction phase and afterwards, when the new centre is open. One of the key parts of assessing these proposals will be to look extremely carefully at any potential impact on neighbours, to see whether they can be successfully avoided.

So how will you reach a decision on this application?

As with any planning application, this case will be considered independently. We have planning policies in place (our Local Plan), which will be used to analyse the application. Other considerations will also be taken into account, such as the views of neighbours and other interested parties. A special planning brief has also been adopted by the council for the Stonehenge Visitor Centre. This brief sets out the detailed criteria on which the planning application will be evaluated. The application will be considered by the Northern Area Committee before going to the Planning and Regulatory Panel in 2006. The Secretary of State then called application in for a public inquiry, which took place in December 2006. A decision is expected in April 2007.

So if enough neighbours object, then the application will have to be refused?

Not necessarily. Although the views of neighbours are an important consideration, they will only be taken as valid where they are based on sound planning reasons. If objections are based on reasons irrelevant to the application then they will not be taken into account. The Planning Authority will analyse all letters received to identify the valid and non-valid planning issues raised.

How will visitors get from the visitor centre to the Stones?

The application proposes that all car parking will be at the new visitor centre, and for those who wish to use it there will be a land train service to a drop-off points, from where they will walk to the Stones. Alternatively people may choose to walk to the Stones from the visitor centre.

How will vehicles go in and out of the visitor centre and how will the traffic implications be addressed?

How vehicles enter and leave the site is addressed in the planning brief. Entry will be from the eastbound carriageway of the A303. Exit will be onto the A345 (Countess Road) near to Countess Roundabout. A Transportation Assessment has been submitted as part of the planning application, which details the likely traffic impacts. You may view this document with the rest of the application.

What will happen to the existing visitor facilities?

The application proposes that the existing facilities will close when the A344 is closed, which is expected on completion of the A303 tunnel. Many of the buildings will be removed. A small number will be kept, along with the underpass under the A344. They will all be grassed over and used as management, storage and emergency first aid facilities.

Is the new A303 Tunnel and Flyover at Countess Roundabout included in this application?

No. While the highways works form part of the Management Plan objective to remove inappropriate modern development from the setting of the Stones, these major highways works are being considered under separate legislation and are being progressed by the Highways Agency. For further information for all matters related to this scheme your are advised to contact the Highways Agency on 08457 50 40 30 or see their website at www.highways.gov.uk

I would like to have my views taken into account, how should I do this?

You can now make your comments directly from this site.

Alternatively you may write in with your comments to Salisbury District Council, The Planning Office, 61 Wyndham Road, Salisbury, SP1 3AH.

I made a representation on the previous application, need I do so again?

No. This application is an identical resubmission of the previous application submitted by English Heritage in 2004 (reference S/2004/0001). In view of this, all representations made during the original application process will be fully taken into account when considering the current case. Therefore although all views are still welcome, if you have written previously you do not need to write to raise the same issues again.

Things you can do:

Contact details:

Telephone:
01722 434354

email:
forwardplanning@salisbury.gov.uk...

Postal address:
Forward Planning & Transportation
Planning Office
61 Wyndham Road
Salisbury
SP1 3AH