Dorset Council have just launched a Local Plan and Local Transport Plan consultation.
Update 14/10/25 – the consultation has been extended to 31/10/25, and email responses to planningpolicyconsult@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk are now acceptable.
Added 25/8/25 – the Parish Council are in the same position as everyone who has so far commented – we only saw this information towards the end of last week. We will be reviewing it in the next week or two, and will make our views known in due course. It will be discussed at the next Parish Council meeting (11 Sept.), and anyone who wishes to give their point of view is most welcome to attend.
The government requires every council to prepare a Local Plan and a Local Transport Plan. These plans outline how Dorset will develop and how we will maintain and improve transport in the area for decades to come. The consultation is now open until 31 October 2025.
A post has been made on Facebook calling two sites in the village (Rye Hill and Snow Hill Lane/North Street) “proposed sites”. We think “proposed sites” is a bit strong – Dorset Council is calling them “opportunity sites” and if development were to proceed on any of these sites, and there are dozens across Dorset, that development would need planning permission in the normal way. However, Dorset Council and many other councils are under government pressure to provide more housing. Without a Dorset Local Plan, housing may be forced on us by central government – Dorset Council’s approach is to hold this consultation to review the huge number of potential sites across many of our towns and parishes, in order to come up with this long term plan (over the next 17 years).
The text below is copied from the Dorset Council website and contains links to the relevant local plan and local transport plan sections.
The Local Plan
The Local Plan guides how land in the Dorset Council area will be used. It covers:
- housing
- sites for businesses
- community infrastructure (parks, space for schools and other community services)
- town centres
- how we protect the natural environment
To make Dorset a better place to live the plan aims to:
- build enough good quality homes that fit Dorset’s character and meet housing needs
- set aside land for businesses to create job opportunities
- protect and enhance Dorset’s unique environment, support healthy lives, and promote clean energy
The Local Transport Plan
The Local Transport Plan (LTP) sets out goals and policies for improving transport in Dorset over the next 15 years. This plan is developed jointly with Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch Council (BCP).
The plan aims to:
- help everyone get around
- make travel safe and easy
- support jobs and homes by helping towns and villages grow in a suitable way
- protect our local environment by cutting down on pollution
- encourage more people to walk, wheel or cycle, reducing traffic congestion and promoting a healthier lifestyle
There are some public consultation sessions being held as below – 