Dorset Council Local Plan - scoping consultation 2026
Overview
Dorset Council is preparing a new local plan for the Dorset Council area. The local plan will help guide how Dorset changes in the future. It will set out where new homes, jobs, infrastructure, community facilities and environmental improvements should happen. Once adopted, it will be used to help decide planning applications across the Dorset Council area.
This scoping consultation is an initial stage for preparing the Dorset Council Local Plan under the new planning system, as required within Regulation 20 of the Town & Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026.
Please read the following information and guidance, and proceed to the survey by clicking 'Share your views' at the end of this page.
Consultation at a glance
What we are asking
We are asking questions about:
- what the local plan should cover
- its proposed vision and priorities
- how Dorset should grow
- the evidence needed to inform the plan
- how people should be involved
What we are not asking
This consultation is not about individual development sites or detailed draft policies.
Consultation period
21 September to 26 October 2026. Responses must be received by midnight on 26 October 2026.
How to respond
Complete this online survey, email a completed response form or return a paper form by post. Further details are provided in the 'How to comment' section below.
Engagement on the local plan
As part of this initial stage, we have prepared a proposed Engagement Strategy outlining how people can be involved in preparing the local plan. The proposed strategy and questions about the proposed approach are included in this consultation.
How to comment
You can view all of the consultation material through this online survey, and you may respond to any of the questions you wish to. You can also view any of the consultation material and supporting information on the council's consultation webpage.
The easiest way to respond is through this online survey. If you cannot use the online survey, you can download and complete a response form which is available on the council's consultation webpage.
You will need to provide your name, email address, and postcode to submit a response. Your email address will be required to ensure authenticity and so that the council can contact you about the local plan in the future, if you wish. This information will be removed from our systems when it is no longer needed, in accordance with the council’s privacy policy.
The content of the consultation is designed to be fully accessible. For further information, if you need help submitting a response or if you require the consultation material in alternative formats please contact us:
Telephone: 01305 838334
Email: planningpolicyconsult@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Further guidance on how to comment is provided below.
How to comment - guidance
- When you click 'Share your views' at the end of this page, you will be taken to a 'contents' page. Here you can select any section, read more information, and answer any of the questions. You do not need to answer all of the questions in order to submit a response.
- As noted, you will need to need to provide your name, email address, and postcode on the 'Your details' page, to be able to submit your response. If you enter the 'Your details' section you will need to answer all of the 'required' questions on this page before continuing.
- Having answered a question, when you cllick 'Continue' at the end of a page, your answer will save, and you will return to the 'Contents' page.
- The 'Demographic questions' page contains a series of questions that will help us to ensure that our consultation response comes from a representative sample of responders. The questions in this section are optional.
- Once you have finished answering all of the questions you wish to, select 'Finish' at the bottom of the 'Contents' page.
Saving your progress
Every time you select where you want to go next and click 'Continue' your responses will save.
To save and return later:
- click ‘Save and come back later’
- you'll be emailed a link to get back to a saved version of the survey
Stay in touch
If you would like to be notified about future local plan consultation stages please ensure you opt in to sign up to our mailing list, using the question found on the 'Your details' page.
Data protection
Please note, any data collected will be retained and processed in accordance with Dorset Council's privacy policy.
Submissions may be made public. By responding to the consultation, you are accepting that your response and the information within it will be in the public domain, and that it may be disclosed if requested under the Freedom of Information Act/Environmental Information Regulations. Any published information will exclude contact information but will identify individuals by name. Please avoid including personal or sensitive information within your responses to the questions.
It is necessary for us to collect some personal information, such as your name, email address and postcode. These details are required to ensure authenticity and so that, if you wish, we can contact you about the local plan in the future. If you would like to be kept informed about the local plan, please ensure you opt in to sign up to our mailing list, using the question found on the 'Your Details' page.
Your information will be retained by the council in line with its information retention schedule.
Interests
- Homepage
- Planning
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