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Joint planning policy work

Dorset Council Local Plan evidence and background papers

Please note that some of the work presented on this page will have been superseded by further evidence gathering being undertaken to inform the Dorset Council Local Plan. Please see the Dorset Council Local Plan evidence and background papers to view the most up to date evidence. 


Many planning issues cross administrative boundaries and it is important that there is a mechanism that ensures this happens effectively. Therefore a 'Duty to Cooperate' was introduced by the Localism Act 2011, to ensure that local planning authorities and other public bodies work together in relation to the planning of sustainable development that extends beyond their own administrative boundaries. Local planning authorities must demonstrate their compliance with the Duty to Cooperate when their Local Plan is examined.

Updating The Dorset Heathlands Planning Framework

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP Council) and Dorset Council are jointly consulting on the ‘The Dorset Heathlands Planning Framework Supplementary Planning Document’ (SPD).

Joint projects

Poole Harbour Recreation supplementary planning document

Heathlands Supplementary Planning Document

Nitrate reduction in Poole Harbour SPD

Gypsies, travellers and travelling showpeople Development Plan Document

South East Dorset Green Infrastructure Strategy

Strategic Housing Market Assesment

Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Workspace Strategy

Affordable Housing and Developer Contributions for Bournemouth/Poole housing market areas and Dorchester/Weymouth housing market areas

Joint retail study

The Growth Potential of Gillingham

Monitoring Heathland

In summary:

  • habitat regulations give very strict protection
  • as the competent authority, we need to have certainty that impacts are resolved
  • there is flexibility in how impacts are resolved - solutions must be carefully tailored to local circumstance
  • monitoring is essential to provide early warning and be integrated with mitigation

Monitoring results are fed back to Natural England and planners and inform the Habitat Regulations Assessment work. Results suggest:

  • housing levels have increased since 2007 but with some tail off in recent years
  • bird numbers have fluctuated but mostly stayed stable (exception Dartford warblers)
  • fire incidence has dropped
  • visitor numbers seem to be increasing significantly on the green space sites that are monitored but not significantly so for heaths

Future monitoring needs to cover new green spaces provided as mitigation, such as Holme Lane, to provide early warning of any problems and ensure its working as intended.

For further information please contact us.