Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: June 24, 2025

Purpose: Options for the Dorset Council Local Plan.

Content: (a)        That officers be authorised to prepare for the Dorset Council Local Plan options consultation; and approve the commencement of the consultation in mid-August 2025, to run for a period of eight weeks.   (b)        That officers be authorised to prepare for the Minerals and Waste Local Plan consultation and approve the commencement of the consultation in mid-August for a period of eight weeks.   (c)        That authority be delegated to the Service Manager for Spatial Planning, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Emergency Planning, to agree the consultation material prior to the start of the consultation.   Reason for the decision   It was important that the Local Plan was prepared in a positive manner that actively explored realistic opportunities for meeting growth needs within Dorset. Following the correct process would enable a robust Local Plan to be prepared.   The consultation material would include a strategy for meeting housing, employment and other needs. It would need to explore the reasonable deliverable development opportunities for meeting these needs.   Once the consultation was complete, the site opportunities would be reviewed and where no insurmountable deliverability issues including significant negative impacts had been identified, the sites were likely to be taken forward for allocation.  The final set of site opportunities for the next stage of plan making would need to be deliverable.