Christchurch and East Dorset Councils have undertaken a green belt study to inform the Local Plan Review, to consider how each area of the green belt meets its statutory purposes.
In April 2017 Christchurch and East Dorset Councils commissioned consultants LUC (Land Use Consultants) to undertake a Green Belt study to inform the Local Plan Review. The purpose of the study is to consider how well each area of Green Belt meets its statutory purposes. This will be an important basis should any review of Green Belt boundaries be considered. The study does not consider whether land should be released from the Green Belt for development: that is a matter for the Councils.
Stages 1 and 2
The study (stages 1 and 2, September 2017) are available below:
- Green Belt Review Sept 2017 MAIN REPORT (part 1, pages 1-61)
- Green Belt Review Sept 2017 MAIN REPORT (part 2, pages 62-104)
- Green Belt Review Sept 2017 APPENDIX (part 1 - Sturminster Marshall, west of Wimborne, & Corfe Mullen)
- Green Belt Review Sept 2017 APPENDIX (part 2 - Wimborne & Colehill)
- Green Belt Review Sept 2017 APPENDIX (part 3 - Ferndown, West Parley, West Moors & Bournemouth Airport)
- Green Belt Review Sept 2017 APPENDIX (part 4 - Christchurch, Burton, Three Legged Cross, Verwood, North West Area)
The objectives of the study (stages 1 and 2) are to:
- provide an independent, robust and transparent assessment of how land in the Christchurch and East Dorset Green Belt performs against the purposes of Green Belt (as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework, paragraph 80)
- to examine whether any land on the edge and adjoining the Green Belt boundaries should be added to the Green Belt
- to consider whether any 'washed over' villages within the Green Belt should instead be taken out of the Green Belt; and
- to review whether any inset settlements should be designated as Green Belt.
Next Steps - Possible Stage 3
If the Councils subsequently propose to release Green Belt land for development as part of the Local Plan Review; LUC will undertake a third stage of the study which will:
- consider how any proposed sites perform against the Green Belt purposes
- review potential implications of removing that area/site from the Green Belt on neighbouring land and the integrity of the wider Green Belt
- identify any boundary issues associated with the removal of the land from the Green Belt
- consider what mitigation can be applied to minimise effects on Green Belt
- identify opportunities to encourage positive use of remaining Green Belt land