Fontmell Magna Neighbourhood Plan 2017 to 2031 - First Review

Overview

Fontmell Magna Parish Council has prepared a review of its neighbourhood plan. It has sent the draft plan to Dorset Council to arrange for its examination. 

• Fontmell Magna Neighbourhood Plan 2017 to 2031 - First Review (draft July 2024)

Dorset Council must now consult on the submitted neighbourhood plan for a minimum period of 6 weeks. This is a Regulation 16 consultation and will take place between 30 August and 11 October 2024 (inclusive). To respond to the consultation, see below. 

The neighbourhood plan is supported by the following mandatory documents:

• Consultation Statement
• Basic Conditions Statement
• SEA Screening Report
• Modifications Statement

The current Fontmell Magna Neighbourhood Plan (made November 2018) and its supporting evidence base documents are available on the Fontmell Magna Neighbourhood Plan web page. A side-by-side comparison of the current neighbourhood plan and the proposed updated neighbourhood plan is available on the Draftable website. 

If you have difficulties accessing any of these documents, or would like to respond in an alternative way, please contact us using the details on this page. 

Representations made at this stage can include a request to be notified of Dorset Council's decision under regulation 19 in relation to the neighbourhood plan. 

All comments received during the consultation period will be made available to the independent examiner. The examiner will consider whether the plan meets certain basic conditions and satisfies other legal requirements. The basic conditions are:

• is it appropriate to make the plan, having regard to national planning policies and advice contained in guidance issued by the Secretary of State;
• does the plan contribute to achieving sustainable development;
• is the plan in general conformity with the strategic policies of the development plan for the area (in this case, the North Dorset Local Plan Part 1);
• the plan does not breach the requirements of Chapter 8 of Part 6 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017; and
• the plan does not breach and is otherwise compatible with EU obligations and human rights requirements.

As this is a neighbourhood plan review, the examiner will consider whether the changes are so significant or substantial as to change the nature of the plan. A referendum on the plan may be held if the examiner concludes that the nature of the plan will be changed.

If the revised plan successfully passes all the above steps, it will replace the existing neighbourhood plan. Its policies will be used to make decisions on relevant planning applications in Fontmell Magna parish alongside other appropriate development plan policies.

Why your views matter

This consultation is an opportunity for individuals, organisations and businesses to comment on the plan. To be effective, comments should focus on whether the updated plan meets the basic conditions, as outlined above. All comments made during the consultation period will be made available to the examiner. The deadline for comments is Friday 11 October 2024 (midnight).

What happens next

The 6-week consultation period is now over. All comments received during the consultation will be made available to the examiner and will be published on Dorset Council's website.