Dorset Council has launched a comprehensive public consultation on the new Dorset Local Plan, which will shape the county’s development for the next 15 years. The plan addresses future housing, employment, renewable energy sites, traveller accommodations, and transport infrastructure. The consultation is open until October 13, with a range of drop-in events scheduled throughout September and early October.
Residents are encouraged to engage mainly through online submissions, but paper response forms are available on request. Consultation documents can be reviewed at Dorset libraries and County Hall in Dorchester during normal business hours. The housing section alone spans 570 pages, reflecting the complexity of planning within Dorset’s protected natural landscapes.
A central focus of the plan is the proposal to build 3,750 new homes north of Dorchester. Developers involved have begun their own consultation process to discuss these plans with the community.
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The Dorset Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has voiced strong concerns about the government’s housing target of around 3,300 new homes per year for Dorset, labeling it unrealistic. CPRE highlights the county’s protected environments, limited industrial base, and poor transport links as factors that challenge such growth. They urge the council to adopt a more measured approach to support local communities and protect Dorset’s unique heritage.
In addition to housing, updates to the Weymouth Town Centre masterplan and Dorchester North development proposals will also be open for public discussion.
The previous Local Plan consultation drew over 9,000 responses, causing significant delays. To ensure broad participation, the council is holding multiple consultation events from early September through to early October at locations across Dorset, including Ferndown, Blandford, Bridport, Dorchester, Weymouth, Shaftesbury, and others.
These sessions will run primarily from 2pm to 7pm unless otherwise indicated, offering residents a valuable opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback about the county’s future growth.