Dorset Local Plan: 30,000 new homes could be built over next 17-years
There is just under a month to have your say on proposals
Last updated 16th Feb 2021
As 30,000 new houses could be built in Dorset over the next 17-years, the council's urging people to have their say on the local plan.
The consultation for the Dorset Local Plan is halfway through, but there’s still plenty of time to share your opinion before it closes on 15th March.
Dorset Council have found innovative ways to explain the themes and areas covered in the plan, including podcasts that are available online on audio streaming services, and webinars which are available on the council’s YouTube channel.
To maintain a Covid-secure way of viewing plans, we have put displays in the windows of empty shops, libraries with public facing windows and Tourist Information Centres in 12 towns around the county. And paper copies of the plan can be loaned from the libraries as part of their order and collect service.
Online surgeries have been taken up by groups including Weymouth Town Council, Wimborne Town Council and the CPRE.
A dedicated phone line, 01305 252500, is available Monday to Friday 10am – 2pm for people to phone in with issues about viewing the plan or ask questions of the planning team.
Questions asked as part of the Webinar series are being answered on the local plan website so that all can benefit from seeing the responses.
The main way people have added their comments to the survey is on the council website.
Cllr David Walsh, Dorset Council’s Portfolio holder for planning, said:
“We haven’t been able to go to towns and hold information events for people to ask their questions because of the pandemic. Instead, the team have approached consultation with innovative solutions such as increasing the availability of the team to respond to questions, trying to explain planning in new ways through webinars and podcasts and using an interactive consultation to make it as easy as possible for our residents to find out about the plan and submit their comments.
“We have used our social media channels and online advertising to expand our audience as well as using local radio stations and newspapers. In fact, the activity that is happening is much more than we’ve ever done before and we are reaching many more people.
“This is the time for local residents to have their say on the future of Dorset. We want to get everyone’s views on the consultation proposals.”
West Dorset MP urges people to respond
MP Chris Loder is calling on residents to respond to Dorset Council’s Local Plan.
He says the Local Plan for Dorset, which not only sets out the quantity of future houses planned but identifies where those houses can be built, will impact the future of the county’s employment, community services, schools, retail, leisure and much more.
The MP has a strong view, which is shared by the CPRE, about the Local Plan for Dorset. He says it needs to support our village and local economies and that we should not be planning for large-scale developments such as the 4,000 houses proposed to the north of Dorchester; which is in stark contrast to the Dorset Council position.
West Dorset MP Chris Loder says:
“I believe our rural economies are not well served by enormous new housing developments of the scale planned for the north of Dorchester. New housing should go to support our local market town and village economies by protecting the future of our village shops, schools, pubs, garages, and churches – rather than enabling urban sprawl.
“If you feel strongly about it, you must act now to ensure your view is taken into account. You need to ensure that your local Dorset Councillor, who will be able to vote on the Plan in due course, knows your view. It’s also vital that you also respond to the consultation personally.”
Chris Loder encourages residents to visit his website for further information on the Plan and how to respond.
The consultation is open for eight weeks, until 15th March, which is two weeks longer than on previous Local Plans.
Once adopted, the Local Plan will guide decisions on planning applications in Dorset until 2038.