Until April 2019, West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland were working on a Local Plan Review. The evidence generated is below and is now feeding into the Dorset Council Local Plan.

Review of the Local Plan

In his report on the examination of the local plan, the Inspector indicated that he considered it to be "imperative that an early review is undertaken". The objective of the review is to identify additional housing land capable of meeting housing need to 2036. Through the Local Plan Review the councils will also consider revisions to other policies in response to changes in national policy and legislation.

The councils have set out the full scope of this review in their updated Local Development Scheme (March 2016) and through subsequent committee reports taken to the West Dorset District Council Executive Committee and Weymouth & Portland Borough Council Management Committee.

Many planning issues cross administrative boundaries and are the responsibility of a range of organisations. Cooperation on these issues is required under the 'Duty to Cooperate' and the councils are engaged in strategic planning across a range of issues as part of this duty.

The plan will start to gain some weight as a material planning consideration as it progresses towards adoption. The degree of weight given to each draft policy will vary, depending on whether or not the issue is contentious and to what extent it is consistent with the national planning policy framework.

Preferred Options Consultation

We consulted on Preferred Options for the review of the Local Plan between 13 August and 15 October 2018. This consultation formed part of the regulation 18 consultation. Responses received during this period have now been processed and a summary of the responses made by organisations and individuals to the consultation has been produced. 

Comments submitted to the consultation can be viewed in full using our consultation response search. Comments are searchable by chapter and by individual/organisation. You can view responses made on the Preferred Options Document and Sustainability Appraisal that supported the Preferred Options consultation.

The Preferred Options document (and separate policies map amendments) set out the overarching vision, strategic priorities, strategic approach and draft policies for the plan area. The document set out a preferred approach to meet development needs. It is also proposed to revise some other policies in response to changes in national policy and legislation.

Here you can view the display boards from the public consultation:

Consultation response summaries

Green Infrastructure Network

The Green Infrastructure Network (GI network) is a network that links areas used for; biodiversity, landscape, amenity and recreation.

These can apply to areas in rural or urban environment and can include; parks, open spaces, playing fields, woodlands, street trees, allotments, private gardens, streams, canals and other water bodies and features such as green roofs and walls. The Preferred Options consultation consulted on the proposed interactive GI network which can be viewed using the link to the consultation database.

Background papers

We produced a series of background papers to support the Issues and Options for the local plan review. As work progresses on the production of our "preferred options" these background papers will be updated to explain how consultation comments and new evidence have been taken into account.

Document Title Publication Date
Background Paper - A Vision for the Area February 2017
Background Paper - Level of Growth: Housing August 2018
Background Paper - Distribution of Development February 2017
Background Paper - Development at Dorchester August 2018
Background Paper - Development at Sherborne August 2018
Background Paper - Development at Weymouth August 2018
Background Paper - Development at Chickerell August 2018
Background Paper - Development at Beaminster August 2018
Background Paper - Development at Bridport August 2018
Background Paper - Development at Crossways August 2018
Background Paper - Development at Lyme Regis August 2018
Background Paper - Development on Portland August 2018
Background Paper - Development on the edge of Yeovil August 2018
Background Paper - Affordable Housing August 2018
Background Paper - Self Build Housing August 2018
Background Paper - Level of Growth: Employment land February 2017
Background Paper - Protection of Employment Sites February 2017
Background Paper - Retail and Town Centres August 2018
Background Paper - Green Infrastructure February 2017
Background Paper - Design February 2017
Background Paper - Coastal Change August 2018
Background Paper - Wind Energy August 2018
Background Paper - Neighbourhood Plans August 2018
Background Paper - Tourism August 2018

Equalities statement

We have prepared an Equalities Impact Assessment for the public consultation on the Preferred Options document to ensure we are doing as much as we can to make the consultation accessible to everyone across West Dorset and Weymouth and Portland.

Sustainability appraisal

To support the Preferred Options consultation document, a sustainability appraisal has been produced which assesses the potential environmental, social and economic impacts associated with the draft policies, evaluates their overall performance in terms of sustainability, and suggests ways to reduce the adverse effects and maximise the beneficial effects of these policies. The reasons for selecting the Preferred Options, given the alternatives considered at the Issues and Options stage, are also provided in this report.

Supporting evidence

Document Title Publication Date

West Dorset and Weymouth and Portland Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) - 2018

August 2018

Review of Managed Realignment Area for Charmouth, Dorset

July 2018

West Dorset and Weymouth and Portland Strategic Landscape and Heritage Study

July 2018

West Dorset District Council and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council: Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment

April 2018

West Dorset: Sport and Leisure Facilities Needs Assessment - Final Report

Weymouth and Portland: Sport and Leisure Facilities Needs Assessment - Final Report

April 2018

Joint Retail and Commercial Leisure Study

March 2018
West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland Objectively Assessed Housing Need: Latest Evidence Technical Note August 2017
Appeal decision - Ryme Road Yetminster January 2017
Moreton Crossways transport study - am peak final December 2016
West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) Update 2016 - Part 1 December 2016
West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) Update 2016 - Part 2 December 2016
Moreton Crossways transport study - inter peak final November 2016
Dorset Strategic Planning Forum - letter to Gavin Barwell MP October 2016
Bournemouth Dorset & Poole Workspace Strategy - October 2016 October 2016
Uplyme Neighbourhood Plan 2016 – 2031 October 2016
West Dorset DC Executive report - interim position on affordable housing - 09 08 2016 August 2016
Summary of Cross Boundary Planning Issues in Dorset March 2016

West Dorset DC - formal response to proposed changes to the NPPF 19 02 2016

February 2016

Written Ministerial Statement HCWS50 Brandon Lewis MP 28 11 2014

November 2014

Natural Value - The state of Dorset’s Environment

2014

Landscape Institute position statement on Green Infrastructure

March 2013
Green Infrastructure Guidance – Natural England January 2009
ONS Projection of the UK labour force to 2020 - Labour force trends Jan 2006 January 2006

Issues and Options Consultation

We consulted on Issues and Options for the review of the Local Plan between 6 February and 3 April 2017. This consultation formed part of the regulation 18 consultation. Responses received during this period have now been processed and a summary of the responses made by organisations and individuals to the consultation has been produced. Comments submitted to the consultation can be viewed in full using our consultation response search. Comments are searchable by chapter and by individual/organisation. You can view responses made on the Issues and Options document and the Sustainability Appraisal.

The next stage is to work towards the production of a "preferred options" document. This will take into account the consultation responses made to the Issues and Options consultation. If you wish to be kept up to date on the progress of the review, please register on our planning policy consultation page.

Strategic Policy (West Dorset)

Email: planningpolicyteamb@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Full contact details