The Dorset Local Plan Options Consultation Closed 15th March 2021
About the Plan (Taken from the council website)
Planning affects us all. The council’s planning policies are set out in Local Plans which are the legal starting point in determining planning applications.
Public and stakeholder engagement is an important part of the plan making process. Involving residents, businesses, organisations, experts, infrastructure providers and town and parish councils allows local knowledge and expertise to be gathered from a wide range of perspectives.
This consultation sets out recommended strategies and policies meeting the requirements of Regulation 18 of the Town and Country Planning Act (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.
Dorset Council have produced a draft Local Plan containing proposals for guiding future development in the Dorset Council area up to 2038. The plan outlines the strategy for meeting the needs of the area such as housing, employment, and community services including schools, retail, leisure and community facilities. The plan directs development to the most suitable locations near to existing facilities, and detailed policies promote high quality development that respects and enhances the character of each area. The plan also protects Dorset's natural environment and contributes towards the mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
Planning affects us all. The council’s planning policies are set out in Local Plans which are the legal starting point in determining planning applications.
Public and stakeholder engagement is an important part of the plan making process. Involving residents, businesses, organisations, experts, infrastructure providers and town and parish councils allows local knowledge and expertise to be gathered from a wide range of perspectives.
This consultation sets out recommended strategies and policies meeting the requirements of Regulation 18 of the Town and Country Planning Act (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.
Dorset Council have produced a draft Local Plan containing proposals for guiding future development in the Dorset Council area up to 2038. The plan outlines the strategy for meeting the needs of the area such as housing, employment, and community services including schools, retail, leisure and community facilities. The plan directs development to the most suitable locations near to existing facilities, and detailed policies promote high quality development that respects and enhances the character of each area. The plan also protects Dorset's natural environment and contributes towards the mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
How does this affect us?
We have been asked what the impact of the plan is on the woods.
Starting with the good news.... Cannon Hill South which had previously been included as a potential site for a gypsy and traveller transit site and more recently as option for an incinerator and waste site, is not longer included on the plan.
This is undoubtedly due to the work of the local community over the last decade to protect it, including our successful application to have it listed as a community asset.
The main impact we can see is the development of Blunts Farms and Uddens Plantation (South).
This is the land South of the A31 / East of Uddens Drive and adjacent to Cannon Hill South.
Since the last review, this site which is a mix of grazing land, plantation and scrub heathland has been identified as potential "employment land" to accommodate extending the industrial estates of Ferndown and Uddens.
Whilst protecting and improving our green spaces is at the heart of what we are about, we also appreciate the need for progress and the importance of supporting the local economy and providing employment for our community.
The latest plan however includes a gypsy and traveler site within the industrial development zone.
This seems a very odd and illogical decision to include what is essentially residential space within an industrial setting.
The Ferndown and Uddens Business Improvement District (BID), who represent 450+ businesses feel the same.
You can read their comprehensive response here which you may find of use when completing your own response.
The plan itself is very difficult to follow (certainly for a layman) and in places appears to contradict itself.
Key areas that refer to the area of interest to us are -
Go to Page 55 for the section on Blunts Farm; Ferndown Industrial Estate
Go to Page 25 for details of the Gypsy and Traveller site and Page 39 for the site plan.
Three key points we have identified and would encourage you to put in your response -
1. When increasing the size of the industrial estates, access should either be directly from the A31 or the Nimrod Way entrance.
Uddens Drive should be protected from an increase in traffic due to it's significant use for walkers, riders and cyclists as part of the Castleman Trailway. The junction at the Old Thatch is already challenging with the existing traffic.
2. The inclusion of a Gypsy and Traveller site within an area designated for employment and economic growth would significantly impact the viability of the wider site. Space for residential use of any type should not be included within an industrial setting.
The requirement for a travellers site has not been proven and the plan appears misleading in the size and extent that such a site could take up.
3. A substantial buffer zone along Uddens drive to maintain the attraction of this important community asset, amenity, and heathland mitigation site of Cannon Hill South. This buffer zone could also help mitigate the displaced wildlife and support with managing drainage on a site known for it's high water table. The Friends would be happy to support with the creation and management of such an area.
We have been asked what the impact of the plan is on the woods.
Starting with the good news.... Cannon Hill South which had previously been included as a potential site for a gypsy and traveller transit site and more recently as option for an incinerator and waste site, is not longer included on the plan.
This is undoubtedly due to the work of the local community over the last decade to protect it, including our successful application to have it listed as a community asset.
The main impact we can see is the development of Blunts Farms and Uddens Plantation (South).
This is the land South of the A31 / East of Uddens Drive and adjacent to Cannon Hill South.
Since the last review, this site which is a mix of grazing land, plantation and scrub heathland has been identified as potential "employment land" to accommodate extending the industrial estates of Ferndown and Uddens.
Whilst protecting and improving our green spaces is at the heart of what we are about, we also appreciate the need for progress and the importance of supporting the local economy and providing employment for our community.
The latest plan however includes a gypsy and traveler site within the industrial development zone.
This seems a very odd and illogical decision to include what is essentially residential space within an industrial setting.
The Ferndown and Uddens Business Improvement District (BID), who represent 450+ businesses feel the same.
You can read their comprehensive response here which you may find of use when completing your own response.
The plan itself is very difficult to follow (certainly for a layman) and in places appears to contradict itself.
Key areas that refer to the area of interest to us are -
Go to Page 55 for the section on Blunts Farm; Ferndown Industrial Estate
Go to Page 25 for details of the Gypsy and Traveller site and Page 39 for the site plan.
Three key points we have identified and would encourage you to put in your response -
1. When increasing the size of the industrial estates, access should either be directly from the A31 or the Nimrod Way entrance.
Uddens Drive should be protected from an increase in traffic due to it's significant use for walkers, riders and cyclists as part of the Castleman Trailway. The junction at the Old Thatch is already challenging with the existing traffic.
2. The inclusion of a Gypsy and Traveller site within an area designated for employment and economic growth would significantly impact the viability of the wider site. Space for residential use of any type should not be included within an industrial setting.
The requirement for a travellers site has not been proven and the plan appears misleading in the size and extent that such a site could take up.
3. A substantial buffer zone along Uddens drive to maintain the attraction of this important community asset, amenity, and heathland mitigation site of Cannon Hill South. This buffer zone could also help mitigate the displaced wildlife and support with managing drainage on a site known for it's high water table. The Friends would be happy to support with the creation and management of such an area.
Have your say
Making your representations can be done before 15 March by going to:
https://dorset-self.achieveservice.com/service/DCLP and select “View and Comment”.
Once you’ve selected the location of “Ferndown & West Parley”, scroll down to:
“Policy FERN8: Blunts Farm”
then you can add your objections/comments.
Note - For some reason that section does not allow commenting, so please scroll to the bottom of the page where you can add your thoughts.
(Include FERN08 in the title)
This rough guide may be of use -
Making your representations can be done before 15 March by going to:
https://dorset-self.achieveservice.com/service/DCLP and select “View and Comment”.
Once you’ve selected the location of “Ferndown & West Parley”, scroll down to:
“Policy FERN8: Blunts Farm”
then you can add your objections/comments.
Note - For some reason that section does not allow commenting, so please scroll to the bottom of the page where you can add your thoughts.
(Include FERN08 in the title)
This rough guide may be of use -
| consultation_help.pdf |
