Joint Local Plan Review for West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland
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Joint Local Plan Review for West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland INITIAL ISSUES AND OPTIONS CONSULTATION FEBRUARY 2017 West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland Local Plan Review Foreword We are delighted to introduce the review of the West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland joint Local Plan. Although it is only a short time ago since the examination and adoption of the joint Local Plan, the inspector who examined the plan said that the councils should prepare an early review. This review needs to identify additional land capable of meeting housing needs to the end of the current plan period (2031) as well as the broad locations for development in the five year period thereafter (to 2036). The inspector pointed towards Dorchester and Sherborne as locations for future growth, but we have also considered a range of options in our coastal and market towns. Government planning policy has changed on a number of issues including the introduction of ‘starter homes’ and ‘self build and custom housebuilding’ aimed to fulfil the Government’s priority to build more homes. We are therefore addressing these issues too. This first consultation document presents the issues relevant to the plan area today and seeks your thoughts on the different options that we can take. It is important to remember that these are ‘options’ which will be refined at a later stage - there is no commitment to any one solution at this point. The review of the adopted local plan is just starting and we are keen to seek as many different views as possible before we go any further. Your views are really important to us and the feedback we receive will guide decisions as the plan progresses towards examination and adoption. Councillor Ian Gardner Executive Portfolio Holder for Planning, West Dorset District Council Councillor Ray Nowak Briefholder for Environment and Sustainability, Weymouth & Portland Borough Council HOW TO GET INVOLVED Terms explained in glossary at the end of this document Dates of consultation Dates and venues where drop-in events are held Email address: [email protected] Telephone: 01305 252386 South Walks House, South Walks Road, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1UZ Page | 1 West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland Local Plan Review Foreword .................................................................................................................................. 1 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................... 3 2. Context ....................................................................................................................... 7 3. A Vision for the Area ................................................................................................ 10 4. Level of Growth – Housing ...................................................................................... 13 5. Distribution of Development ................................................................................... 16 6. Development at Dorchester .................................................................................... 25 7. Development at Sherborne ..................................................................................... 34 8. Development at Weymouth ( and Chickerell) ......................................................... 42 9. Development at Beaminster .................................................................................... 50 10. Development at Bridport ......................................................................................... 57 11. Development at Crossways ..................................................................................... 66 12. Development at Lyme Regis .................................................................................... 74 13. Development on Portland ....................................................................................... 81 14. Development at Yeovil ............................................................................................. 89 15. Affordable Housing .................................................................................................. 95 16. Self Build Housing .................................................................................................. 100 17. Level of Growth – Employment land ..................................................................... 102 18. Protection of Employment Sites ............................................................................ 106 19. Retail and Town Centres ........................................................................................ 110 20. Green Infrastructure .............................................................................................. 113 21. Design .................................................................................................................... 117 22. Coastal Change ...................................................................................................... 121 23. Wind Energy ........................................................................................................... 124 24. Glossary.................................................................................................................. 126 Page | 2 West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland Local Plan Review 1. Introduction CURRENT ADOPTED LOCAL PLAN 1.1 The current local plan was adopted by West Dorset District Council on 22nd October 2015 and by Weymouth & Portland Borough Council on 15th October 2015. The local plan is the basis upon which planning applications are considered. 1.2 The current plan covers the period 2011-2031. It contains policies against which all planning applications can be assessed and site specific allocations of land for development to meet future housing and employment needs across both West Dorset and Weymouth & Portland. It establishes that 775 new homes per annum and a total of 60ha of employment land are to be delivered in the period up to 2031. 1.3 Preparation of the adopted local plan began in 2011, following an agreement between the two councils to prepare a joint plan. The plan was submitted for independent examination in 2013 with the examination hearings held in November and December 2014. The inspector’s report was received on 14 August 2015 and the plan was subsequently adopted by both councils. INSPECTOR’S REPORT KEY POINTS 1.4 The inspector recommended a number of modifications necessary to enable the plan to be adopted. These are summarised as: Acknowledgement of the need for an early review of the Local Plan by 2021 to ensure provision of sufficient housing land for the remainder of the plan period; Changes to the level of housing provision and revision of the five year housing land supply position; As part of the review process identify a long-term strategy for development in the Dorchester area and reappraise housing provision in Sherborne; Remove reference to a trunk road service area as part of park and ride proposals at Dorchester. DUTY TO COOPERATE 1.5 The ‘duty to cooperate’ requires local planning authorities to engage ‘constructively, actively and on an ongoing basis’ with one another in the preparation of plans, and have regard to each other’s relevant activities. 1.6 Weymouth & Portland Borough shares its boundary with West Dorset District with the duty to co-operate being addressed principally by the preparation of the joint local plan. West Dorset District also shares boundaries with East Devon, North Dorset, Purbeck, and South Somerset local authority areas. 1.7 The inspector highlighted “three areas where administrative boundaries influenced development options”. Through the review, the councils will work together across Page | 3 West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland Local Plan Review administrative boundaries to plan for the housing, transport and infrastructure that local people need in the areas of: Lyme Regis/Uplyme working with East Devon District Council Crossways/Moreton working with Purbeck District Council Edge of Yeovil/Sherborne working with South Somerset District Council THE NEED FOR REVIEW 1.8 The main recommended modification was that the councils undertook an early review of the plan because the inspector considered that “there is insufficient land to meet housing needs to the end of the plan period”. The inspector said “I therefore recommend a review should be in place no later than 2021, if not earlier, to avoid development having to be allowed in locations which are not favoured or are in less sustainable locations”. 1.9 The inspector explained that the purpose of the review was “to identify additional land capable of meeting housing needs to the end of the current plan period” (i.e. to 2031) “as well as the broad location for development in the five year period thereafter” (i.e. to 2036). 1.10 The inspector also commented that “the Local Plan fails to give sufficient emphasis to the sustainable role of particular settlements and the contribution they could make to meeting development needs” and that “a modification is required to ensure the councils identify further development options at specific settlements as part of an early review”. The inspector suggested that the councils should “identify a long-term strategy for development in the Dorchester area and reappraise housing provision in Sherborne”. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE DIDN’T PROVIDE A REVIEW BY 2021? 1.11 In England and Wales, the local plan sets out in broad terms what type of development is acceptable and where. Planning decisions