Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) for the Dorset Council Local Plan Options consultation process

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), paragraph 16, states that plans should be shaped by early, proportionate and effective engagement between plan makers and communities, local organisations, businesses, infrastructure providers and operators and statutory consultees.

Objectives of the consultation

• To hold a public consultation as part of the preparation stage of the Plan in order to gain feedback and comments on potential options, in accordance with Regulation 18 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 
• To raise awareness of the production of the new Dorset Council Local Plan and the opportunity to engage in the process.
• To ensure effective engagement with the public and interested parties and organisations in accordance with the NPPF 
• To encourage and enable those parties to respond to the options consultation.

The Council’s Statement of Community Involvement sets out how and when Dorset Council will involve the community as part of its planning duties. 

Because planning affects the future of Dorset, the Council wants to be sure that everybody is able to be involved in the preparation of Local Plan.

We aim to

• Seek the views of residents, statutory bodies, landowners, developers, infrastructure and service providers, community organisations, businesses and visitors as early as possible in the process.
• Engage with and involve people regardless of their race or ethnicity, faith or belief, age, gender, sexual orientation or disability. Provide a range of opportunities and consultation methods that are inclusive, appropriate, cost effective and timely.
• Produce consultation documents and materials that are clear and avoid unnecessary jargon. 
• Make documents available upon request, in alternative formats, such as large print and audio and other languages, where possible. 
• Keep people and groups informed of progress and let them know of future consultation events.

The Council maintains a database of people and organisations that have requested to be kept informed of the development of the Local Plan and opportunities for engagement.

The consultation will run between 18 August and 13 October 2025.

Sources of data, evidence or research used for this assessment

Population data from 2021 Census is the main source of data for this assessment and is summarised below. 

Population:

Overall the population has Increased by 4% (less than regional and national figures) to 379,584, with 51.4% females and 48.6% males.

This gives us a density of about 1.5 people per hectare, or 1.1 per football pitch which is a slight increase on 2011.

Military households:

7% of the population has previously served in the regular military, reserves or both (22,884).

Age:

The average median age of people in Dorset has increased from 47 to 51, with the over 65s increased by 5% points, including 12,000 65 to 74 year olds.

Age

Age	Male	Female
4 and under	7729	7295
5-9	9293	8869
10-14	10349	9992
15-24	18315	16121
25-44	35485	36715
45-64	51401	55758
65-79	38299	42028
80 +	13541	18412

Gender identity and reassignment:

Gender identity and reassignment

Gender same as sex as registered at birth	303,693
Gender different from sex registered at birth	277
Trans woman	241
Trans man	166
Non Binary	119
All other	82

These are official statistics in development.

Sexual orientation:

Sexual orientation

Heterosexual	291,721
Gay/lesbian	3,575
Bisexual	2,889
Pansexual	418
Asexual	135
Queer	47
All other	15
Not answered	23,103

Disability:

Non-disabled residents dropped by 5%, with 18% overall being disabled as defined by the Equalities Act.

The degree of disability has reduced slightly, from 7.1 to 6.5% being limited a lot, and those limited a little rising by 9.9 to 11%.

Unpaid carers:

Unpaid carers

No unpaid care	329,043
19 hours	18,838
20-49 hours	6,102
>50 hours	10,572

Single parents:

The number of single parents has increased since 2011 by 5%.

Ethnicity:

Ethnicity

White British	356,275
Other white	12,150
Mixed	4,425
Asian	4,301
Black	1,081
Other	1,344

Language:

English is the main language of 96% of residents. Where English is not their main language just over 87% speak it well or very well and just under 13% don’t speak it well or at all.

Religion:

Religion

Christian	195,676
Buddhist	1,608
Hindu	711
Jewish	453
Muslim	1,550
Sikh	119
Other	2,360
No religion	152,286
Not answered	24,841

The Council’s Rural Urban Classification Research Report (March 2025) identifies that 47% of Dorset’s population live in rural areas.

There have been some, mainly small, changes since the last census. Probably most noteworthy is the age profile of our population compared to the national and regional levels, which shows a significantly older population. This will be picked up in our updated local housing needs study and be reflected in the final draft policies. 

Whilst the majority of residents in Dorset are from a British White background, 6% come from another background with half of that from a white other ethnicity including 3% Gypsy and Irish Travellers.

Nearly 50% of our residents live in rural areas.

Colleagues involved in developing the consultation plan for the Dorset Local Plan Option consultation 2025; and the communications campaign for the Dorset Local Plan Option consultation 2025 and Local Transport Plan 4.

Not for this assessment. Following the consultation we will consider the responses along with any new studies before we draw up the draft final plan which will also be consulted upon.

Key to impacts 

Key to impacts

Type of impact	Description of impact
Positive Impact	The proposal eliminates discrimination, advances equality of opportunity and/or fosters good relations with protected groups.
Negative Impact	Protected characteristic group(s) could be disadvantaged or discriminated against
Neutral Impact	No change/ no assessed significant impact of protected characteristic groups
Unclear	Not enough data/evidence has been collected to make an informed decision.

Impacts of the strategy

Impacts of the strategy

Impacts on who or what?	Impact	Details
Age	Positive	The Local Plan Options consultation will be promoted using a range of methods which will reach all ages, e.g. digital and social media, local/parish newsletters, press releases, radio adverts, bin lorry ads. Traditionally it has been difficult to engage with younger people but using digital media for promotion and engagement should help overcome this. The Council is also working with Dorset Youth Council and providing packs for schools which encourage them to do a tik tok video and promoting the consultation through an education bulletin.  The consultation will be mainly web-based using Citizen Space, making it available across the whole of Dorset. All documents will be made available online and the response can be made online. For those who prefer the traditional approach to consultation we will be holding a number of drop-in events focussed in localities where larger developments are proposed. Paper copies of the Local Plan Options 2025 document will be available through libraries and paper copies of response forms will be available on request.
Disability	Positive	Venues for the in-person drop-in events are accessible for those with mobility issues. The main consultation tool is Citizen Space on the Dorset Council website, which is checked for compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard and updated where necessary. The web content can be accessed using a screen reader.
Gender reassignment and Gender Identity	Neutral	The consultation process does not impact on this particular protected characteristic.
Marriage or civil partnership	Neutral	The consultation process does not impact on this particular protected characteristic.
Pregnancy and maternity	Neutral	The consultation process does not impact on this particular protected characteristic.
Race and Ethnicity	Positive	The documents can be made available in different languages on request.  Officers will be attending a Gypsy and Travellers Liaison Group meeting towards the end of September – exact date to be arranged.
Religion and belief	Neutral	The consultation process does not impact on this particular protected characteristic.
Sex (consider men and women)	Neutral	The consultation process does not impact on this particular protected characteristic.
Sexual orientation	Neutral	The consultation process does not impact on this particular protected characteristic.
People with caring responsibilities	Positive	People with caring responsibilities can struggle to leave their charge unattended. By running an on-line consultation process this will give carers an opportunity to engage with the consultation.
Rural isolation	Positive	The Local Plan Options consultation will be promoted using a range of methods which will reach rural communities, e.g. digital and social media, local/parish newsletters, press releases, radio adverts, bin lorry ads. The consultation will be mainly web-based using Citizen Space, making it available across the whole of Dorset. The documents will be made available online and the response can be made online. Paper copies of the options document will be available through libraries and paper response forms made available on request.
Socio-economic deprivation	Positive	The Local Plan Options consultation will be promoted using a range of methods which will reach rural communities, e.g. digital and social media, local/parish newsletters, press releases, radio adverts, bin lorry ads etc. The consultation will be mainly web-based using Citizen Space, making it available across the whole of Dorset. All documents will be made available online and the response can be made online. Paper copies of the options document will be available through libraries and paper response forms made available on request.
Single parents	Neutral	The consultation process does not impact on this particular protected characteristic.
Armed forces communities	Neutral	The consultation process does not impact on this particular protected characteristic.

Summary of the impacts

Given the scope of the Local Plan, the impacts will either be neutral or positive. Where there may be an impact in the longer term then this is generally positive, e.g. additional housing and jobs. 

Actions required as a result of this EqIA

Actions required as a result of this EqIA

Issue	Action to be taken	Person(s) responsible	Date to be completed by
Age - positive	Traditionally it has been difficult to engage with younger people but using digital media for promotion and engagement should help overcome this. The Council is also working with the youth council and schools to encourage engagement with the options plan. Promotion and engagement with the Local Plan will be through a range of media, including e.g. digital and social media, local/parish newsletters, press releases, radio adverts, bin lorry ads. For those who prefer the traditional approach to consultation we will be holding a number of drop-in events focussed in localities where larger developments are proposed. Paper copies of the Local Plan Options 2025 document will be available through libraries and paper copies of response forms will be available on request. Officers will be available at the end of a phone to provide help in making a response.	Comms Spatial Planning	Ongoing Ongoing
Disability - positive	Promotion and engagement with the Local Plan will be through a range of media, including e.g. digital and social media, local/parish newsletters, press releases, radio adverts, bin lorry ads. We will be using Citizen Space, the Council’s on-line consultation tool. Where appropriate the Council will consider making specific arrangements for individuals to ensure that they are not disadvantaged, e.g. providing alternative formats where requested including providing an easy reader version of the document. Officers will be available at the end of a phone to provide help in making a response.	Comms Spatial Planning	Ongoing   Ongoing
Rural isolation - positive Socio-economic - positive	Provide a range of opportunities and consultation methods that are inclusive, appropriate, cost effective and timely. We will be using Citizen Space, the Council’s on-line consultation tool. Officers will be available at the end of a phone to provide help in making a response.	Comms Spatial Planning Spatial Planning	Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing
People with caring responsibilities - positive	People with caring responsibilities can struggle to leave their charge unattended. By running an on-line consultation process this will give carers an opportunity to engage with the consultation. Officers will be available at the end of a phone to provide help in making a response.	Comms Spatial Planning	Ongoing

 

Equality Impact Assessment sign-off

Officer completing this EqIA	Sue Bellamy
Officers involved in completing the EqIA	Sue Bellamy
Date of completion	19/08/25
Version number	4
EqIA review date	Prior to the next round of Local Plan consultation (Regulation 19 Pre-submission)
Equality Lead sign off	James Palfreyman-Kaye
Date of sign off	19/08/25