Dorset Council Local Plan – deadline for comments is 13 October 2025
As previously publicised, Dorset Council are seeking your views on how Dorset should grow and develop over the next 17 years. Many so-called “opportunity sites” have been identified across the county, with the potential for the building of many thousands of new houses. In Bere Regis, two sites have been identified, which if developed could amount to approximately 200 more houses in the village. One site is to the east of Rye Hill, on land that is currently Rye Hill farm – the development would surround Green Close and potentially 158 houses have been allocated to this area. The other site is the fields between Snow Hill Lane and North Street, and potentially 38 houses have been allocated to this area.
These houses are in addition to the new housing already identified in the current version of our Neighbourhood Plan as above. 200 additional houses would be a roughly 25% increase on the identified total number of dwellings in the Bere Regis parish.
There are no planning applications associated with these opportunity sites – Dorset Council are developing a long-term plan, for the next 17 years as stated above. Planning applications could follow once the plan has been developed. In order that your views are taken into account, it is important that as many people as possible submit their comments. Bere Regis Parish Council cannot tell you what to say but we can give you pointers towards the sort of things that you might wish to comment on. The list below is not exhaustive, and ultimately some of these items may have both negative and positive impact.
Infrastructure, drains (rainwater & sewers)
Infrastructure, electricity
Infrastructure, Internet
Availability of local jobs for 200 more households
Infrastructure, public transport
Potential increase in commuting, impact on local and main roads
Impact on parking and village traffic in already congested areas (eg outside the shop, for which more houses could be beneficial)
Medical facilities, short & longer term
Impact on the school and consequent traffic impact at drop-off / pick-up
Impact on shop, local businesses and pubs
Availability of village facilities, play park, allotments etc
Availability of suitable Village Hall
Loss of, or impact on, “green” environment
Impact on existing residents, loss of privacy
Alternative areas that might be more suitable for development
Visual impact on current environment
Scale of possible development, potential over development
Proximity to protected areas, eg Blackhill SSSI and Wild Woodbury
Click here to open Dorset Council Local Plan consultation site (with maps etc)
Click here to open page for submitting your comments
The link for the Online Survey where you submit your views is at the bottom of this page.