Melbury Abbas & Cann Neighbourhood Plan 2022 to 2038

Overview

Melbury Abbas & Cann Parish Council has prepared a neighbourhood plan.  Dorset Council must arrange for its independent examination.

Before the examination, Dorset Council must consult on the neighbourhood plan for a minimum period. This is a Regulation 16 consultation and will take place between 11 April and 30 May 2025 (inclusive). 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.

To view the plan, click on the image below. It will open the plan in a new browser tab.

The plan is accompanied by the following technical documents:

• Consultation Statement
• Basic Conditions Statement 
• SEA screening report
• HRA screening report

The plan is also accompanied by the following evidence base documents:

• Melbury Abbas & Cann - Design Guide
• Melbury Abbas and Cann - Housing Needs Assessment
• Melbury Abbas and Cann - Site Assessment Report
• Site Assessment Report - Appendix A - Site Appraisal Pro-forma
• Environment, Landscape Character and Vistas Topic Paper
• Heritage Topic Guide
• Transport Topic Paper
• Links to further evidence (online table managed by the parish council)

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. 

Why your views matter

This consultation is an opportunity for individuals, organisations and businesses to comment on the plan. 

All representation 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.

If the examiner finds that the neighbourhood plan meets all these requirements, or can be modified in order to meet them, then a public referendum will be held. This is normally limited to voting-age residents within the neighbourhood plan area. 

If the plan receives a positive referendum result, its policies will be used to make decisions on relevant planning applications in the parishes of Melbury Abbas & Cann alongside other appropriate development plan policies.