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West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland adopted local plan

West Dorset and Weymouth & Portland prepared a joint local plan that forms the main basis for making decisions on planning applications and development in the area until 2031. It was adopted by Weymouth & Portland Borough Council on 15 October 2015 and by West Dorset District Council on 22 October 2015. 

The Local Plan written statement with details of the policies and site specific proposals, and an interactive plan map is available below:  

Neighbourhood plans in the West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland area that are made before the Dorset Council Local Plan is adopted, become part of this development plan. This means they will sit alongside the Local Plan and be considered in deciding whether or not planning permission should be given.

Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulations Assessment

The Local Plan was subject to a Sustainability Appraisal which aimed to promote sustainable development by ensuring that the key environmental, social and economic issues for West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland were considered during the development of the Local Plan. 

A Habitat Regulations Assessment was undertaken to assess the impacts of the Local Plan on 'European sites', which are areas designated on the basis of their exceptional importance for wildlife.

Examination documents

Correspondence with the inspector and documents submitted during the course of the examination can be found in the examination documents. 

Inspectors report

As part of the examination in public process, an independent planning inspector assessed whether the plan had been prepared in line with the relevant legal requirements and whether it was "sound".

Examination hearings took place between 25 November 2015 and 9 December 2015 to consider the soundness of the Plan.

West Dorset District Council and Weymouth & Portland Borough Council received the final report from Paul Crysell BSc MSc MRTPI, the Planning Inspector appointed to examine the West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland Local Plan in August 2015.

The Inspector's report contained a number of recommended Main Modifications necessary to enable the plan to be adopted. Links to the Inspectors Report and his main modifications can be found below:

​Additional modifications

The Councils prepared a schedule of Additional Modifications. The schedule listed minor changes to correct typographical errors, paragraph numbering, minor textual changes etc that were either so minor or otherwise have no bearing on soundness matters.

Where to find the plan

Please note that Neighbourhood Plans on the interactive mapping are only updated periodically.  For the latest information please refer to the Neighbourhood Plan page.

Please note, the printed version of Inset Map 3 - Bradford Abbas incorrectly shows the conservation area. Please refer to the interactive map for the correct boundary.

Paper copies of the Local Plan are available to purchase from the the council offices at Dorchester. The cost is:

  • Local Plan Written Statement £15 (+£2 p&p)
  • Local Plan Maps Folder £40 (+£14 p&p)

Maps can also be bought individually:

  • Policies map (east, west, north, south) £10 each
  • Inset maps for Bridport, Chickerell, Dorchester, Lyme Regis, Portland North, Portland South, Sherborne, Sutton Poyntz, Weymouth North, Weymouth South  £10 each
  • All other inset maps, Diagram 1  £5 each

Copies of the documents set out above are available for inspection at the Councils' offices. They can also be viewed at libraries in the Borough and District.