Dorset Council Local Plan - scoping consultation 2026

6.1.1.    Evidence has been gathered to support the preparation of the Dorset Council Local Plan since April 2019.

6.1.2.    Much of the evidence which has already been gathered or is being reviewed will remain relevant to the preparation of the local plan. Evidence to support the preparation of the local plan should: 

• be proportionate and relevant – this means ensuring that it is focused on local circumstances without being overly long or complex
• avoid unnecessary duplication – should not recommission new evidence when existing evidence suffices 

6.2.1.    These evidence studies are recent, remain broadly robust and can continue to guide the preparation of the local plan:

• Grid Capacity Assessment – Constraint Analysis (2023)
• Dorset Retail, Leisure and Town Centres Study Update (2026)
• Dorset Council Town Centre Health Check 2023/24 (2025)
• North Dorchester Heritage Impact Assessment (2021)
• Dorchester Employment Strategy (2025)
• Level 2 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment, Weymouth (2023)
• Resource Assessment for Renewable Energy (2025)

6.2.2.    This evidence provides up-to-date information on retail, town centres, employment provision, flood risk in Weymouth and renewable energy opportunities. They are considered sufficiently up to date to support plan preparation. 

6.2.3.    Evidence will be periodically reviewed to ensure that it remains relevant and to ascertain the need for updates through the plan making process and any subsequent reviews.

6.3.1.    These evidence studies remain relevant but require updating to reflect changes in national policy and other changes:

Legal and environmental assessments

• Strategic Environmental Assessment
• Habitats Regulations Assessment
• Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment – the scope of the update is still under review in consultation with the Environment Agency
• Landscape and Heritage Sensitivity Assessments – the council is satisfied that existing assessments remain robust but consider that further settlement-based assessment is required to ensure that the preparation of the local plan is guided by a comprehensive evidence base
• Extended Phase 1 Ecological Surveys – the council expects developers and landowners to complete appropriate ecological surveys to inform the plan making process

Development strategy

• Strategic Green Belt Assessment – with Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council the council is preparing an updated assessment which takes account of the changes to national planning policy and guidance including a requirement to define grey belt

Housing and land supply

• Five-Year Housing Land Supply Position Statement – updated annually
• Dorset and BCP Local Housing Needs Assessment – the council is working on an assessment with BCP Council which will be published as soon as it is complete
• Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment – the council recently published a new accommodation assessment in April 2026
• Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA)
• Traveller Land Availability Assessment
• Settlement Hierarchy Background Paper

Employment

• Employment Land Study – the council is working on an assessment with BCP Council which will be published as soon as it is complete
• Employment Land Availability Assessment

Infrastructure and viability

• Dorset Council Local Plan Viability Assessment
• Alderholt Traffic Modelling Report (2021) – this remains relevant but will need to be updated to take into account baseline assumptions

6.3.2.    These evidence papers remain relevant but need to be updated to align with:

• revised national policy and guidance (particularly Green Belt and housing requirements)
• latest population, housing and employment forecasts
• updated site availability information
• current environmental and ecological conditions
• new infrastructure and viability requirements

6.4.1.    These evidence papers are no longer relevant due to their age, changed assumptions, superseding evidence, or significant changes in policy and circumstances:

• Active Dorset Playing Pitch Strategy Assessment Report (2019) – the council is working on updated replacement evidence which will be published as soon as it is complete
• Active Dorset Draft Strategy and Action Plan (2019) – the council is working on updated replacement evidence which will be published as soon as it is complete
• Strategic Identification of Wind Farm Sites (2020) – the published Dorset Renewable Energy Assessment (September 2025) supersedes this evidence paper

6.5.1.    As part of this review of evidence the council has also considered whether there are any potential gaps in the evidence which it is gathering to support the preparation of the local plan.