Dorset Council has issued an update on the development of the local plan, following a Cabinet Meeting on Tuesday 26th July 2022. You can see the update here: Dorset Council Local Plan – Cabinet update
This update is particularly relevant to the Dorset Deserves Better Campaign and is the first information received from the council for many months. You can find the latest information on the DDB campaign here: Dorset Deserves Better
Good news….
It is gratifying that, on first reflection, the council are agreeing with many things that the campaign has been asking for. In particular a re-think on the timescale of the plan, providing more time for local people’s views to be incorporated, an acknowledgement that the number of houses needs to reflect Dorset needs rather than government targets and the importance of the Climate and Ecological crisis. However, there are inevitably some uncertainties and omissions; and there is still a long way to go before the promises and aspirations are delivered. Nevertheless, this is an excellent result for the campaign and shows that the campaign is having a positive impact on Dorset Council.
It also appears the government is changing tack on allowing regions to determine their own housing numbers, with Dorset potentially piloting this new approach.
Planet Wimborne supports DDB
Planet Wimborne has supported the DDB campaign from the start, writing to local town and parish councils asking them to sign up to the campaign and so put pressure on Dorset Council to change tack on the local plan. The good news is that both Wimborne Minster and Corfe Mullen Town Councils have done so and we continue to press others, in particular Colehill, to sign up.
What can I do?
We asked earlier in the year for supporters of Planet Wimborne to write to their Dorset Councillor, Parish or Town Councillor, and/or MP to ask them to sign up to the Dorset Deserves Better campaign for a positive change to the local plan. You can still show your support for the campaign by writing to these representatives, urging them to join the campaign if they haven't already because it's so important that we get the local plan right for the people of Dorset and the environment.