Christchurch and East Dorset Local Plan Part 1 - Core Strategy

The Christchurch and East Dorset Local Plan Part 1 - Core Strategy sets out the broad development strategy for the councils until 2028, and contains the main vision, objectives and planning policies to make the strategy happen.

The Core Strategy is part 1 of the Christchurch and East Dorset Local Plan and set targets for the provision of new housing and employment for a period up to 2028, as well as setting out general policies in relation to provision of facilities, transport, and protection of natural and historic features. All of the other Local Development Documents within the Local Plan (formally the Local Development Framework) will have to conform to it. Christchurch Borough Council and East Dorset District Council worked in partnership to deliver this plan.

Monitoring the Plan

You can find information regarding the monitoring of the adopted Core Strategy at the following pages:

• Annual Monitoring Reports - Christchurch and East Dorset
• Five year housing land supply - Christchurch and East Dorset

Christchurch and East Dorset Local Plan Review

Prior to the forming of the forming of the unitary councils Dorset Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, Christchurch Borough Council and East Dorset District Council began work on a review of the Local Plan. The intention was to fully review policies contained in the Local Plan Part 1 - Core Strategy from this page and older "saved" policies from the Christchurch Borough Local Plan 2001, and the East Dorset District Local Plan 2002, and consolidate these into a single plan.

The review process stopped when the two unitary councils began work on their respective local plans.

Adopted Core Strategy

Following receipt of the Inspector's Report, Christchurch Borough Council and East Dorset District Council adopted the Core Strategy at council meetings on the 22 and 28 of April 2014 respectively. The following adoption documents are now available:

• Christchurch and East Dorset Adopted Core Strategy
• Christchurch and East Dorset Core Strategy Adoption Statement
• Sustainability Appraisal Adoption Statement
• Sustainability Report for the Main Modifications to the Core Strategy
• Sustainability Report for the submitted Core Strategy

The Policies Maps have now been updated to reflect the new allocations in the Core Strategy.

Changes to applying Core Strategy Policy LN3 (updated May 2016)

On the 19 May 2016 the Government issued updated guidance on affordable housing and tariff style contributions following the order of the Court of Appeal dated 13 May 2016. It gives legal effect to the policy previously set out in the Written Ministerial Statement of 28 November 2014.

A practice note sets out how the councils will now be applying Policy LN3 'Provision of Affordable Housing' with this updated guidance in place.

Adoption of the Core Strategy - Planning Inspector's Report

The inspector appointed by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to examine the councils' joint Core Strategy has published her report and has found the plan to be sound.

• Christchurch and East Dorset Core Strategy Inspector's Report
• Appendix to the Christchurch and East Dorset Core Strategy Inspector's Report

The Core Strategy was submitted to the Secretary of State in March 2013, and an inspector was appointed to undertake an examination into the soundness of the plan. As part of the examination, hearing sessions were held on a range of topics in September 2013 in Christchurch and Wimborne. Following the hearing sessions the inspector proposed a series of main modifications that she and the councils thought necessary to make the plan sound. These were subject to public consultation between December 2013 and January 2014. The inspector has accepted the modifications and these will now be incorporated into the final version of the adopted Core Strategy.

Adoption of the Core Strategy - advice to applicants

Following receipt of the inspector's report on the Christchurch and East Dorset Core Strategy that found the plan sound, the councils have issued an advice note to provide guidance to applicants for planning permission and their agents on how current and future planning applications will be determined in respect of Core Strategy policies.

The guidance applies from 14 March 2014, and also covers the adoption process and guidance on saved local plan policies which will remain in force after the adoption of the Core Strategy.

Examination of the Core Strategy

Christchurch Borough Council and East Dorset District Council submitted their joint Core Strategy to the Secretary of State on 15 March 2013.

Mrs S Turner RIBA MRTPI IHBC BArch MSc was appointed by the Secretary of State as the Planning Inspector to undertake the Core Strategy Examination in Public.

The Examination in Public page provides the full set of examination and other documents.

The submission of the Core Strategy was agreed by the full councils of East Dorset on 25 February 2013 and Christchurch on 26 February 2013.

Where we have come from with the Core Strategy - previous consultations

There have been a series of public consultation stages for the Christchurch and East Dorset Core Strategy, for which the documents and the comments received on them are still available:

• Schedule of Main Modifications to the submitted Core Strategy, consulted on between 11 December 2013 and 22 January 2014
• Schedule of Proposed Changes to the Core Strategy Pre-Submission, consulted on between November and December 2012
• Core Strategy Pre-Submission, consulted on between April 2012 and June 2012
• Core Strategy Options for Consideration, consulted on between October 2010 and January 2011
• Core Strategy Issues and Options, consulted on between March 2008 and May 2008

If you would like further information on the Core Strategy, please contact us: