Chippenham is identified in the Wiltshire Core Strategy as a Principal Settlement and is therefore a sustainable location for development. Chippenham is an important service centre for a number of villages within the Chippenham Community Area and the surrounding towns and villages within north Wiltshire. It has a strong retail offer and excellent transport links as it is in close proximity to the M4 and situated on the Bristol to London main line railway. Regular public transport services provide access to other Wiltshire market towns including Calne, Marlborough, Devizes, Melksham and Trowbridge.