First NPPF2 plan to be examined?

Purbeck District Council submitted its Local Plan for examination on Monday (28 January).  I'm wondering if it gets the record for the first plan to be examined under the revised (July 2018) NPPF, given the deadline for having plans examined under the 'old' NPPF ran out on the 24 January. 

It introduces some potentially controversial new policies such as the 'small sites policy', a 'second homes' policy as well as reviewing the Green Belt to release land around Lytchett Matravers, Upton and Wareham, and strategic allocations at Wool and Moreton (Crossways)

For more information see their Local Plan Review webpage

Pimperne votes YES

The results are in for yesterday's referendum on the Pimperne Neighbourhood Plan: 
   321 votes cast in favour,
   46 against. 
So I make that 87% in favour of the plan, with a very respectable (40%) turnout.

The plan allocates three sites for housing as well as a host of other policies to protect the historic and rural nature of the village and surrounding countryside.

Congratulations to all those involved in the plan's preparation.

Swings and Roundabouts

Back from representing a Parish Council this morning objecting to a planning application that was making the most of North Dorset’s lack of a 5 year housing land supply.  A revised scheme, the first having been refused back in the summer on the grounds of poor design.  Although some of the members said they didn’t like it or want to support it, they did think it was better than the one earlier scheme (which is now at appeal) and didn’t think they had strong enough grounds to refuse.  So not exactly a ringing endorsement for good planning! 

However not all is doom and gloom, as the 8 week decision target has had its desired affect for one of my clients today, with approval (on last day of the 8th week) to remove a restrictive holiday use condition on a rural building.  I’m sure they’ll see the bright side. 

Talking of swings and roundabouts I’m looking forward to hearing the outcome of the NPPF ‘sustainability’ challenge that is being heard in the High Court and is expected at the end of this month…

More Neighbourhood Plan news

There is quite a run of Neighbourhood Plan news on my blog - and I make no apologies as there is a lot going on in Dorset. Updates this week include:

An appeal decision in regard to one of the key sites in the Shillingstone Neighbourhood Plan has been issued, with the proposed development (that was contrary to the Neighbourhood Plan requirements yet had been recommended for approval by officers) firmly dismissed. This shows that Neighbourhood Plans can make a difference.

Hazelbury Bryan has received their Examiner's report recommending some minor changes and to proceed to referendum.  The Examiner commended the Plan for being attractively set out, with generous use of plans and photographs, making it very user-friendly and easy to navigate.   

Holwell Neighbourhood Plans' Examiner's report is now available online.  The Examiner recommended some minor changes and to proceed to referendum. He congratulated the Working Group and the Parish Council on producing a comprehensive and well-illustrated document, that captured the character and appearance of the parish and showed a commendable extent of contact with the public during the preparation of the Plan. 

Sturminster Newton's Examiner's report has also been received - again recommending that the plan can proceed to referendum, but with more significant changes including making the reserve sites into site allocations and increasing the supply above that of the adopted Local Plan, based on the need for additional housing identified through the (yet to be examined) Local Plan Review. The controversial site adjoining the Bull Tavern has also been deleted - although the Examiner did consider that it may be possible to alter the policy in order to comply, but that this may not be helpful in the context of the existing planning application for that site.

Fontmell Magna Neighbourhood Plan was formally 'made' on 28 November, with the District Council offering its congratulations to the Parish Council and members of the Neighbourhood Plan Group in producing a successful plan.

Last, but by no means least, Arne Neighbourhood Plan starts its pre-submission consultation today, and will run to 28 January 2019.

Askerswell's polling day results announced

And another successful referendum result, this time for Askerswell in West Dorset. Certainly the smallest Neighbourhood Plan population in Dorset with a total electorate of 138, managed a 46% turnout and a sold 'yes' vote of 83%. Congratulations to the team there, whose plan now defines a settlement boundary for development purposes for the first time.

So much happening!

There has been a lot going on over the summer - so there are really no excuses for such a long blog drought.  I think the drought has been because I'm generally an up-beat optimist, and I was really disappointed in the NPPF's treatment of Neighbourhood Plans (the revisions could have been much more supportive of the localism concept and got rid of the prematurity loophole) - so I just couldn't bring myself to blog about that news! 

However last night's Neighbourhood Plan referendum result in Fontmell Magna is sufficient to turn things around and get me bouncing right back -

Turnout:    47.8%

Percentage in favour:   91.5%

This is a quite impressive result - in my experience only plans that avoid the whole question of allocating sites for development get over 90% approval rating.  The turnout is a really excellent too (higher than the other North Dorset Neighbourhood Plans).  And it certainly sets the benchmark for Pimperne in North Dorset, who will be next to the vote following their successful examination, although quite likely to be followed shortly by two more as the Examiners' reports are due any minute for Sturminster Newton and Hazelbury Bryan.

Well done to all the volunteers who put effort into the Fontmell Magna Neighbourhood Plan - a great result and here's hoping that it will be as influential as it should be in future planning decisions.

Lots of Local Plan activity around Dorset too - so that may well be my next blog post...

Over 90% support for Gillingham's Neighbourhood Plan

Big congratulations to the Gillingham, for the latest Neighbourhood Plan in Dorset to pass its referendum milestone.  It has taken a lot of commitment by the Neighbourhood Plan Group, who started as one of the front runners some 6 years ago.  I know the Neighbourhood Plan Group has put in considerable effort to prepare and consult on the plan, and also to ensure people were informed at this referendum stage - and I hope they are very proud of their achievement.

The votes were: 
Yes 1,919 (90.5%)
No 201 (9.5%)

This is a clear majority and means that the plan will go before North Dorset District Council on 27th July 2018 to agree the results of the referendum and agree to 'make' the plan part of the statutory development plan.    



Gillingham Neighbourhood Plan Group in action (2016)