Introduction

The Parish Council are sponsoring a Neighbourhood Plan for the Vale of Allen area. The plan will allow for a collective voice to be heard about the local environment, how it can be preserved, protected, developed and evolved.

What are Neighbourhood Plans?

Neighbourhood Planning is about giving local people a say over the future growth of their area. Neighbourhood Plans must conform with National Planning Guidelines and the Dorset Local Plan, and must be agreed by the local community (via a local referendum) before they can be adopted. Once they’re adopted the Plan will have legal force and a strong influence on both the Dorset Local Plan and individual planning consents.

A neighbourhood plan covers:

  • Housing needs and future development
  • The natural environment
  • Our local heritage
  • The adequacy of local infrastructure, like roads, transport, schools and medical and social care
  • Business and employment
  • Leisure and recreation

Our Neighbourhood Plan Process

The following chart shows the overall process for the plan

Chart setting out the overall plan process