On July 21st, 2026, Dorset Council published a notice of intention to commence local plan preparation under the new plan-making system. What does this entail for planning with Dorset?
To start, the new Local Plan-making system was introduced in March 2026. It sets out a (hopefully) clearer pathway to the formation of local plans and introduces new regulations and 3 ‘gateways’ for Councils to pass through at different stages of the process. The intention of these ‘Gateways’ is to show where problems have arisen within the local plan process before the final examination: in that way, it provides a smoother route to final approval of the Local Plan.
With Dorset Council engaging with this new process, they are currently undergoing the second stage of new Local Plan formation, which is the Scoping Consultation (regulation 20, within the new regulations). This stage is to establish the public view on what the local plan should cover, and how to engage with the public on further local plan stages. Importantly, it is not for site allocations or a draft plan: This is simply establishing the broader scope of the plan.
An important facet of this new process is the inclusion of the new National Planning Policy Framework, which came into effect in August 2026. The New NPPF is now used for this new plan-making process and thus will inform any upcoming policies. Of course, at this early stage the new local plan has no weight on the basis that it doesn’t yet contain anything; but as we adjust to the new NPPF and see how it is used in decision-making in Dorset, this provides invaluable information on how it may shape the emerging Local Plan.
Please contact us if you would like Chapman Lily Planning to respond to Dorset’s consultation on your behalf.
