Summary of plan comments published

A summary of comments from the consultation of the draft Dorset Council Local Plan is now published.

All of the comments received from the 6,000 respondents have already been searchable on the council’s website, but they have now been categorised against the draft policies and relevant areas of Dorset.

The consultation, which took place in early 2021, resulted in over 50,000 comments on the separate policies, more than all of the most recent former district and borough local plan consultations combined.

Cllr David Walsh, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Planning, said:

“Officers have given time to every comment that was received during the consultation. We have been given specific details that will help us formulate the plan.

“We are grateful for everyone who has commented, there are many genuine issues which will be considered going forward.”

The summary can be viewed at www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/planning-buildings-land/dorset-council-local-plan-consultation-2021-summary.

Although the timescale for the development of the Dorset Council Local Plan has been extended, evidence gathering has continued. This supporting evidence is published on the council website at www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/dorset-council-local-plan-consultation-2021-summary

The Dorset Council Local Plan will outline the strategy for

• Providing the growth Dorset needs
• Locating development in suitable places
• Providing community services including schools, retail, leisure, and community facilities
• Ensuring the appropriate character and quality of development
• Protecting the environment, and
• Acting on and adapting to the impacts of climate change.

Once adopted, the plan will guide decisions on planning applications in Dorset for the next sixteen years.