Dorset Council is looking to adopt the Purbeck Local Plan at its Committee meeting on 18th July 2024. The Planning Inspectors issued their final report on 7th May following the Examination of the Purbeck Local Plan. Having considered the consultation responses. The Inspectors have found that:
‘…the duty to cooperate has been met and that with the recommended MMs, FMMs and SMMs set out in the Appendix, the Purbeck Local Plan satisfies the requirements referred to in Section 20(5)(a) of the 2004 Act and is sound.’
The Appendix to the Inspector’s report lists the finalised Main Modifications to the submission draft of the local plan.
To avoid delay and maintain delivery of the Purbeck Local Plan, the draft revised Community Infrastructure Levy charging schedule has been withdrawn from public examination. An Exceptional Circumstances Relief Policy for the Purbeck charging area has been prepared and will be implemented at some point after the adoption of the Purbeck Local Plan.
The Plan introduces a policy preventing new homes in the National Landscape area (formerly known as the AONB) becoming second homes, and a requirement for a 20% contribution to off-site affordable housing provision for schemes of 2 to 9 dwellings in the areas outside Wareham, Upton and Lytchett Minster.
Associate Director Alan Davies stated; ‘This is welcome news after such a long a protracted examination process starting in January 2019 when the Plan was first submitted for examination – not helped in part by the Poole Harbour nitrates and phosphates issue. The Plan policy preventing a new residential property in the designated National Landscape (Formerly known as AONB) becoming a second home covers most of Purbeck south of Wareham. It will be interesting to see how this Policy and the Biodiversity Net Gain requirements on new developments are monitored and enforced.’
