A new Dorset Heathlands SPD has been adopted for the period 2020-2052. It covers all of BCP Council and parts of Dorset Council. Unsurprisingly it looks remarkably like a roll forward of the old one, but it does contain some subtle differences in approach – including differentiating between strategic and local Strategic Accessible Natural Greenspace [“SANG”]. Despite some calls for a clearer ratio based approach to SANG provision, the document continues base provision on the potential ‘attractiveness’ of a particular SANG – something that involves a more qualitative assessment.
Chapman Lily Planning submitted representations on behalf of a number of high profile national and local companies. Brett Spiller, Director at Chapman Lily Planning commented: ‘We were delighted to see that officers acceded to many of our suggested changes, which we believe will assist in the smooth operation of securing financial contributions towards Heathland mitigation and the delivery of enhanced SANGs. We were particularly pleased to see references made to SANG’s in private ownership and the Canford Park SANG, which we helped deliver and opened in 2019, held up as a good example’. Of interest to those developing locally will be the tariffs – which rest at:
Interestingly mitigation in the eastern part of Dorset will now follow Purbeck in absorbing financial contributions with CIL.