Dorset Council has a legal requirement to produce and adopt a new local plan within the next four to five years. This will eventually replace the local plans adopted by the separate district and borough councils that existed before Dorset Council was formed.
What is a local plan?
A local plan states how much development is needed in an area to meet the aspirations of the community, and it sets out where it should go. It also identifies areas that are environmentally or historically important and how they should be protected. It typically looks forward over a 15 to 20 year period.
When adopted, the local plan forms part of the statutory development plan for the area. This means that it is the first point of reference when deciding whether to approve or refuse planning applications.
Aren’t there existing Local Plans?
The Local Plans adopted by the previous borough and district councils in the area have been carried forward as policies of the new Dorset Council, and will remain as the statutory development plans for their areas until replaced by the new plan.
Reviews of these plans were underway before the creation of Dorset Council. However, with the exception of the Purbeck Local Plan, these reviews will be stopped in order for planning officers to focus on the Dorset Council Local Plan.
The Purbeck Local Plan is at a more advanced stage than other plan areas and is currently going through examination. Hearings on the examination are taking place in July and August. Find out more about the examination.
Getting you involved
One of the first tasks of Dorset Council as the local planning authority, is to adopt a Statement of Community Involvement. This sets out how the local community will be informed and consulted on planning matters.
The council has produced a draft Statement of Community Involvement. Residents and businesses now have a chance to comment on it before it is adopted. The consultation period is open for six weeks, and concludes on Friday 2 August 2019.
In addition, if you would like to be kept informed of progress relating to the local plan, you can ask for your contact details to be added to our mailing list.
To read and comment on the Statement of Community Involvement, sign up to our mailing list , or to find out more visit dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/planning-policy-news
Plan needed for communities to flourish
Cllr David Walsh, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for planning said:
“Producing a single Dorset Council Local Plan presents a fantastic opportunity. A new plan is needed to allow the development necessary for our communities not only to survive but to flourish. It also means we can put in safeguards to protect sensitive areas as we know that people are drawn to Dorset for its unique landscape and heritage.
“Planning involves balancing competing needs and interests, and therefore it is important that we do our best to keep the community informed. We welcome the valuable input that residents and businesses can provide.
“I strongly recommend that if you are interested in the future of Dorset, you should add your name to our mailing list and read through the draft Statement of Community Involvement.”
Local Development Scheme for Dorset agreed
Dorset Council Cabinet today (25 June) agreed to the Local Development Scheme for Dorset.
Councils are required to publish local development schemes to make sure that local communities are aware of the local plans in place, those in preparation, and the opportunities they will have to be involved.
The Dorset Council Local Development Scheme sets out a programme for preparing the Dorset Council Local Plan. It also includes the programmes for the final stages of the Waste Local Plan, Minerals Sites Plan, and Purbeck Local Plan, currently in preparation.
Dear Sirs
I am writing with huge concerns about the originally suggested, development of 250 houses in Sturminster Marshall. Most of the villagers are incredibly worried about this proposal which was muted by the then Christchurch and East Dorset Council. Since then of course, the council has changed to become the new Dorset Council, who, we are hoping, has much more idea of the enormous detrimental impact a 50% increase in housing would have on this village.
We do realise that we should try to absorb a reasonable increase in our housing stock as the population becomes larger but as there is no opportunity for employment in the village, people of working age, living here would have to commute. An increase of at least 500 cars would put an unmanageable burden on our already very busy roads both through the village and the surrounding area. The bus runs hourly for part of the day only. The A350 and the A31 are already packed to capacity at busy periods and the A31 is often at a standstill or even closed because of accidents.
Over the last 6 years the housing stock in this village has already increased by nearly 7% and although the government has requested that new houses be built, I don’t believe even they would expect more than a 7% increase in a relatively small village with very little transport to speak of and no work. They also prefer that these houses do not impact on our already diminishing country-side, and, if at all possible, are built on brown field sites.
Sturminster Marshall does have two brown field sites where small developments would be possible. One is on the site of the long empty Churchill Arms public house in the High Street and the other is behind the school, opposite the golf course where the Multiple Sclerosis Society had a treatment centre and more recently, but no longer, was used by AY Skips. This area could sustain a larger development. These two areas do not flood unlike the proposed site, which is in flood zones 2 and 3.
It is well documented that that maintaining areas of open countryside, not only improves air quality, decreases noise pollution and reduces the risk of flooding but also impacts on mental wellbeing. The area that had been suggested for development opens onto Newton Road that has had many problems with flooding and overflowing sewers. It is also overlooked by five streets of houses whose occupants’ mental health and well being will be adversely affected by these proposals, not to mention the wildlife whose habitat would be destroyed. Bats fly over these fields at night feeding on the insects living there. I have seen slow worms and a grass snake. A large variety of birds fly over these fields and nest in the surrounding trees and the Winterborne flows through providing a rare chalk environment supporting species not found in any other habitat.
There is a huge amount of building taking place in the surrounding areas and I understand that building has ceased in Wimborne as there are no buyers and the houses are not being sold. There are also new houses in Spetisbury that are standing empty, having not been sold. The Government briefing paper Number 06416, 15 May 2019 states that these new houses should be where people want to live and work. The fact that there are so many houses not sold around this area seems to point to the fact that people don’t want to live and work here. In fact there is no work in this area. The Bailie Gate Industrial estate provides work for a very limited number of people but there are many units there that have been empty for some time.
On behalf of the residents of Sturminster Marshall, I urge you to think again as you formulate the plans for the next few years. Our thriving, friendly village will be destroyed by a 50% increase in housing. The roads will become impassable, accidents will increase and our peaceful village will be no more.
Please listen to us. Sturminster Marshall cannot absorb over 1000 more people. We will no longer be a village and it will not be a place where anybody would want to live.