We will enable sustainable economic growth across the county, enabling high quality jobs through improvements to productivity, sustainability, and accessibility, creating great places to live, work and visit. We will drive forward a plan whereby Dorset Council is a catalyst for prosperity and growth, working with and supporting local businesses and partners.
What we will do to achieve the outcome:
- By 2024, the council in partnership with BCP council and the Dorset LEP will have established a dialogue with government for a county deal for the whole of Dorset to enhance and drive economic development and the skills agenda, attracting additional government funding into Dorset
- By 2026, the Dorset County Deal will have been agreed with central government and a proposal implemented
Lead role / service:
- Executive Director for Place
- Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment
- Portfolio Holder for Planning
- By 2023, dedicated support for growth in high value sectors, including advanced engineering/manufacturing, defence, security, agritech, marine, aquaculture, and tourism is available
- By 2023, the Dorset Shared Prosperity Fund Investment Plan will deliver a new approach to investment in local business support, that features a range of commissioned and directly delivered services including business grants, specialist advice and mentoring, and workforce skills support
- By summer 2022, the Levelling Up Fund round 2 bid will have been submitted
- By 2023, the Future Farm Resilience Fund programme will be available (subject to funding approval)
Lead role / service:
- Head of Service for Growth and Economic Regeneration
- Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Assets and Property
- By 2026, employment land for development in appropriate locations across Dorset will be safeguarded in the Local Plan
- By 2024, development will have started on regenerating key sites in Weymouth, including North Quay and the Bowling Alley site
Lead role / service:
- Corporate Director for Assets and Property
- Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Assets and Property
- By 2026, a campaign to create vibrant towns through improvements to town planning will have been launched
- We will deliver a total Dorset plan on public transport and transport delivery models will be reviewed
- The local plan will support economic regeneration plans, aligned to the local transport plan for Dorset
Lead role / service:
- Corporate Director for Economic Growth and Infrastructure
- Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment