Find out the latest information about the Purbeck Local Plan
We are reviewing the Purbeck Local Plan. Once adopted, the plan will be used to approve or refuse planning applications and will set out the vision and objectives for the Purbeck area. We set out our timetable for preparing planning policy documents in the Local Development Scheme.
Beverley Doward BSc, BTP, MRTPI was appointed as an independent planning inspector by the Planning Inspectorate to undertake an examination of both the Purbeck Local Plan and the CIL Charging Schedule however Ms Doward retired in early 2022.
The new inspectors for the plan are Susan Heywood and Gareth Wildgoose and the CIL Charging Schedule will be examined by Jameson Bridgwater.
Helen Nolan is the Programme Officer; she assists the inspector in ensuring the smooth and efficient running of the examination process.
Local plan examinations and the planning issues that they deal with can be complex. The Planning Inspectorate have prepared a short guide for those who may be participating in an examination for the first time. If you have any further queries relating to the process of examining the Purbeck Local Plan please contact the Programme Officer.
Contact us
Any queries about the examination should be sent to Helen Nolan, the Programme Officer.
Programme Officer for the Purbeck Local Plan
Name: Helen NolanEmail: helen.nolan@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Tel: 07773 615820
Full contact details
Correspondence
Correspondence between the inspector, representors and the council is exchanged through the Programme Officer. For transparency and information purposes all documents will be published.
Table of correspondence to Representors from the Inspector and the council - updated October 2019
Hearing sessions
The CIL Charging schedule will be examined after the Local Plan. Details about these hearing sessions will follow later.
Limited Seats are available at all Hearing Sessions for the General Public and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
Hearing sessions information
Previous hearing sessions programmes for Matters A-I from July to October 2019
Examination Documents Library
The Examination Library sets out the documents, statements and other relevant correspondence issued after the submission of the Purbeck Local Plan. This will be updated with all documents issued by the Inspector and submitted by Purbeck District council (now Dorset Council) and other parties throughout the examination process. Documents issued by the Inspectors are prefixed with abbreviation COR and those submitted by the council and other third parties with the abbreviation SD. The documents relating to the consultation on Proposed Main Modifications are prefixed with the abbreviation MMCD and those documents relating to the consultation on Further Proposed Main Modifications with the abbreviation FMMCD. There are 8 sections:
- SD132-Council's opening statement
- SD131-Dorset Council's reply to Inspector's post hearing questions - 28 January 2020
- SD130a-Dorset Council's response to actions from August and October hearings - response to Action 96 updated 30 January 2020
- SD130-Dorset Council's response to actions from August and October hearings - updated 11 November 2019
- Previous action schedules SD111 and SD84
- SD116-Dorset Council's response to actions raised at August hearings - updated 3 October 2019
- SD113-Additional documents list since first week of hearing sessions
- SD14 - updated main modifications schedule - updated 21 November 2019 (Please note, the modifications are the council's suggestions to the Inspector only and should the Inspector consider the Plan sound with modifications then the exact wording will need to be agreed with the Inspector and a final version of this document will be prepared for consultation.)
Council's response to changes in Planning Practice Guidance
Matter A: Legal Compliance and Procedural Requirements
- SD62-Additional Statement for Matter A, Issue 4, Sustainability Appraisal
- SD89 - Proposed amendments to the HRA - updated 12 August 2019
- SD91-council response to actions 8, 9 and 10 - updated 1 August 2019
- SD92-Addendum to SA - updated 18 November 2019
- SD96-Appropriate assessment statement - updated 2 August 2019
Matter B: Housing Need and requirements
Matter C: Green Belt
- SD93-Mitigation Strategy Green belt - updated 12 August 2019 and also MATTER A
- SD93-Appendix - Summary of visitor monitoring Upton Country Park SANG
- SD93-Appendix - Summary of visitor monitoring Bog Lane SANG
- SD93-Appendix - Summary of visitor monitoring Frenches Farm SANG
- SD93-Appendix - Natural England Advice Note
Matter D: The Strategy for Development
- SD85-Housing Need - updated 12 August 2019
- SD86-Review of Sources of Housing Supply - updated 12 August 2019 and also MATTER E
- SD88-Review of Capacity of Small Sites - updated 12 August 2019 and also MATTER E
- SD94-Explanation of housing numbers at Moreton Station - updated 12 August 2019
- SD99-List of extant planning permissions around Crossways
Matter E: Housing
- SD87-Purbeck revised 5 year Housing Land Supply report - updated 5 September 2019
- SD95-Proposed changes to care provision - updated 12 August 2019
- SD97-Key viability issues summary - updated 2 August 2019
- SD98-Estimation of affordable housing from small sites and windfall - updated 12 August 2019
- SD115-Planning the care provision in Purbeck - council's response to actions 33, 34 and 47
- SD117-Viability update during the examination stage
- SD118-Wareham Neighbourhood Plan update for Inspector
- SD119-Wareham Neighbourhood Plan Examiner Letter 10/09/19
- SD121-Natural England Letter to Wareham NP Examiner 08/10/19
- SD122-Changes to Five Year Supply Information Summary updated 14/10/19
- SD123-Building Better Lives Purbeck Scheme
- SD124-Wareham Neighbourhood Plan Supply 08/10/19
- SD125-Revised Trajectory updated 14/10/19
- SD126-council clarification re Land Supply 09/10/19
Matter F: Environment
Matter G: Economy
Matter H: Infrastructure
Matter I: Implementation, Delivery and Monitoring
Representors response to changes in Planning Practice Guidance
Documents submitted by Representors (following receipt of council's documents - Post Submission)
- Matters A-E further comments received by 10 September deadline - updated 1 October 2019
- Matter A: Legal compliance and procedural requirements
- Matter B: Housing need and requirements - none received
- Matter C: Green Belt
- SD90-Green Belt boundary changes at Morden 22 July 2019
- Matter D: The strategy for development - none received
- Matter E: Housing
- SD120- Wareham Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group Statement 08/10/19
- Matter F: Environment
- Matter G: Economy - updated October 2019
- SD128-Wessex Water Summary Statement and the council's response (and Dorset Innovation Park, Local Development Order: Statement of Reasons - a document referred to in Council's response)
- Matter H: Infrastructure
- SD127-Rachel Palmer statement 11/10/19
- Matter I: Implementation, delivery and monitoring
Habitats Regulations Assessment
- SD64-Natural England Letter
- SD71-Urban Heath Annual Heathland report 2017-2018
- SD72-Trends in Nightjar, Woodlark and Dartford Warbler
- SD73-Habitats Regulations Assessment Issues and Options 2015
- SD74-Habitats Regulations Assessment Options 2016
- SD75-Habitats Regulations Assessment New Homes for Purbeck 2018
- SD76-Habitats Regulations Assessment for Purbeck Local Plan One
- SD78-Poole Harbour Recreation Background Paper
- SD79-Dorset Heathlands SPD Oct 2015
- SD80-Nitrogen Reduction Poole Harbour SPD
- SD81-Draft Poole Harbour Recreation SPD
- SD82-HRA Core Strategy Pre submission draft Oct 2010
- Ecological Deliverability Report Sept 2015
- Ecological Deliverability Report May 2019
Green Belt
- SD56-Green Belt Study 2018 - Pre submission
- SD66-Anomolous Boundary at Jennys Lane, Lytchett Matravers
- SD67-Email from council to Mr Holden
- SD83-Assessment Alternative Non Green Belt sites
Housing
- Lytchett Matravers Ecological Appraisal - Land East of Wareham Road
- Lytchett Matravers Ecological Appraisal - Land at Blaney's Corner
- Lytchett Matravers Ecological Appraisal - Land at Flowers Drive/Sunnyside Farm
- Lytchett Matravers Flood Risk Assessment - Land East of Wareham Road
- Lytchett Matravers Flood Risk Assessment - Land at Blaney's Corner
- Lytchett Matravers Flood Risk Assessment - Land at Flowers Drive/Sunnyside Farm
- Lytchett Matravers Landscape and Green Belt Study - Land East of Wareham Road
- Lytchett Matravers Landscape and Green Belt Study - Land at Blaney's Corner
- Lytchett Matravers Landscape and Green Belt Study - Land at Flowers Drive/Sunnyside Farm
- Upton Preliminary Ecological Appraisal
- Upton Flood Risk Assessment
- Upton Landscape and Green Belt Study
- Second Homes Background Paper November 2017
AONB
Sustainability Appraisal
- SD02-Pre submission Sustainability Appraisal Report
- SD51-Sustainability Appraisal non technical summary June 2016
- SD52-Sustainability Appraisal full version June 2016
- SD53-Sustainability Appraisal non technical summary January 2018
- SD54-Sustainability Appraisal strategic Environmental Assessment Report January 2018 consultation
- SD68-Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report 2013
- SD69-Sustainability Appraisal issues and Options 2015
Spatial Strategy
Policies Map
Transport
- SD100-Purbeck Spatial Modelling April 2016
- SD101-Moreton/Crossways/Woodsford traffic Impact Assessment Dec 2016 (AM Peak)
- SD102-Moreton/Crossways/Woodsford Traffic Impact Assessment Nov 2016
- SD103-Wool Transport Strategy and Assessment March 2015
- SD104-Wool Queue Length Analysis Technical Note August 2015
- SD105-Moreton Transport Statement September 2015
- SD106-Phase 1 Strategic Road Network Transport Modelling July 2017
- SD107-Phase 2a Strategic Road Network Transport Modelling January 2018
- SD108-Phase 2b Strategic Road Network Transport Modelling January 2018
- SD109-Highways England Statement re: Purbeck transport Modelling January 2018
- SD110-Transport Background Paper January 2018
Dorset Council
Matters, issues and questions
Dorset Council responses to Inspector's matters, issues and questions:
- Matter A: Legal compliance and procedural requirements
- Matter B: Housing need and requirements
- Matter C: Green Belt
- Matter D: The strategy for development
- Matter E: Housing
- Matter F: Environment
- Matter G: Economy
- Matter H: Infrastructure
- Matter I: Implementation, delivery and monitoring
Representors' further comments in response to Inspector's Matters, Issues and Questions
- Matter A: Legal compliance and procedural requirements (updated 3 July 2019)
- Matter B: Housing need and requirements
- Matter C: Green belt
- Matter D: The strategy for development
- Matter E: Housing part 1 - updated 18 July 2019
- Matter E: Housing part 2 - updated 18 July 2019
- Matter F: Environment
- Matter G: Economy
- Matter H: Infrastructure
- Matter I: Implementation, delivery and monitoring
Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) section
- MOU between Dorset Council and Savills on viability related issues for housing sites around Wool Oct 2019
- MOU between Dorset Council and Wyatt Homes on viability related issues for Lytchett Matravers and Upton Oct 2019
- MOU between Dorset Council and the Moreton Estate on viability related issues for Moreton Station/Redbridge Pit Oct 2019
- MOU between Dorset Council, Wyatt Homes and Natural England relating to housing sites around Lytchett Matravers
- MOU between Dorset Council, Charborough Estate and Natural England relating to land at Morden Park corner
- MOU between Dorset Council, Moreton Estate and Natural England relating to land at Moreton Station / Redbridge Pit
- MOU between Dorset Council and Savills relating to housing sites around Wool
- MOU between Dorset Council, Wyatt Homes and Natural England relating to land at Upton
You can view the Purbeck Local Plan submission documents. They can also be viewed at Dorset Council's offices at Westport House.
Documents summarising the development of the CIL charging schedule and priorities for spending January 2019 can be found on the Community Infrastructure Levy review page.
After receiving Inspector Doward’s Post Hearing Note the council has prepared Main Modifications to the submission draft local plan and conducted a consultation on Proposed Main Modifications (MM). Documents and correspondence relating to MM are presented under the relevant heading on this page.
Proposed Main Modifications (November 2020 to January 2021)
- MMCD1 - Composite schedule of Proposed Main Modifications
- MMCD2 - Purbeck Local Plan (2018-2034) policies map(s)
- MMCD2a - Bere Regis inset map
- MMCD2b - Lytchett Matravers inset map
- MMCD2c - Swanage inset map
- MMCD2d - Morden inset map
- MMCD2e - Wool inset map
- MMCD2f - Wareham inset map
- MMCD2g - Dorset Innovation Park inset map
- MMCD2h - Key to maps
- MMCD3 - Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA)
- MMCD4 - Sustainability Appraisal of MM (SA)
- MMCD5 - 5-year Housing Land Supply 2020
- MMCD6 - Infrastructure Delivery Plan
- MMCD7 - Errata for Proposed Main Modifications
- MMCD8 - Dorset Council response to The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020
Responses and council’s consultation response document
- COR12 - letter dated 20 April 2021 from Inspector Doward relating to assessment of local housing need and the council’s consultation response document for MM
- COR13 - letter dated 10 June 2021 from Inspector Doward summarising her consideration of the issues raised on MM, the review of evidence relating to the local plan and the information needed to support revision to MM
- SD133 - letter dated 24 June 2021 from the council in response to Inspector Doward’s earlier letter, including a review of the evidence underpinning the local plan
- COR14 - letter dated 25 June 2021 from Inspector Doward responding to the council’s earlier letter
- SD134 - letter dated 7 July 2021 from the council providing on an update on the preparation of documentation and giving a view on the nature and scope of a consultation on revisions to MM
- COR15 - letter dated 22 October 2021 from Inspector Doward in respect to housing land supply and timescales for preparation of the evidence referred to in her letter of 10 June 2021
- SD135 - letter dated 3 November 2021 from the council in response to Inspector Doward’s letter of 22 October
- COR16 - letter dated 24 November 2021 from Inspectors Doward and Heywood agreeing to a consultation on further proposed main modifications
After considering issues raised in MM the council prepared Further Proposed Main Modifications (FMM) which principally related to: Policies V2 (Green Belt) and I5 (Morden Park holiday park and strategic suitable alternative natural greenspace). Documents and correspondence relating to FMM are presented under the relevant heading on this page.
Further Proposed Main Modifications (December 2021 to January 2022)
- FMMCD1 – Interim Mitigation Strategy for Heathland Habitat Sites (2018/19 to 2023/24)
- FMMCD2 – Sustainability Appraisal
- FMMCD3 – Habitats Regulation Assessment
- FMMCD4a – Interim heathland mitigation projects Memorandum of Understanding between Natural England and Dorset Council, November 2021
- FMMCD4b – Memorandum of understanding between Dorset Council and Dorset Wildlife Trust, September 2021
- FMMCD4c – Memorandum of understanding between Dorset Council, Wyatt Homes and Natural England, September 2021
- FMMCD4d – Memorandum of understanding between Dorset Council and Bournemouth Canine Association, August 2021
- FMMCD4e – Memorandum of understanding between Dorset Council and Moreton Estate, November 2021
- FMMCD5a – Inset map for Morden
- FMMCD5b – Overview map
- FMMCD5c – Key for policies maps
- FMMCD6 – ‘Errata: Interim Mitigation Strategy for Heathland Habitat Sites (2018/19 to 2023/24)
Responses and council’s consultation response document
- SD136 - letter dated 4 March 2022 from the council informing Inspector Heywood of the need to reflect on responses received to the Further Main Modifications consultation
- SD137 - letter dated 4 April 2022 from the council informing Inspector Heywood of the Chief Planning Officer’s letter on nutrient pollution of habitat sites, the need for minor changes to policies maps and offering a view around the need for further hearing sessions
- COR17 - letter dated 8 April 2022 from Inspector Heywood relating to hearing sessions to consider issues relating to FMM, nutrient pollution of habitat sites, errors in local plan policies maps, 5-year housing land supply and the council’s website
- SD138 - letter dated 13 April 2022 from the council informing Inspector Heywood of lack of 5-year housing land supply and asking for clarification as to whether the plan could continue or not. Also informing the Inspector of the council's work with Natural England around phosphates
- COR18 - letter dated 19 April 2022 from Inspector Heywood informing council of other plans that have been adopted without a 5-year housing land supply, confirming the need for further hearing sessions relating to Morden Park and the need for a consultation on the policies maps
- COR19 - letter dated 24 June 2022 from Inspector Heywood in response to the publication of the Purbeck 5 Year Housing Land Supply 2021
- COR20 – Notice of Independent Examination Hearing Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 20212 Statutory Instrument No. 767 Regulation 24
- COR21 – ‘Examination of the Purbeck Local Plan (2018-2034)’, ‘Agenda for Further Public Hearing Session (Policies I5 & V2 – Morden Park)’ (5 July 2022)
- COR22 - letter dated 19 August 2022 letter from Inspectors Heywood and Wildgoose seeking council response on issues relating to nutrient pollution of Poole Harbour habitat site, and an updated programme for the preparation of any further papers and evidence relating to the local plan’s examination (Local Development Scheme)
- SD139 - council’s technical paper dated 2 September 2022, outlining its position on nutrient pollution to Poole Harbour habitat site and the implications for housing land supply in Purbeck
- COR23 - letter dated 7 September 2022 letter from Inspectors Heywood and Wildgoose seeking further clarification on nutrient pollution of Poole Harbour habitat site and housing land supply in Purbeck
- SD140 - council paper on Policy I6: Wareham integrated health and social care 23 September 2022, briefing the Inspectors of its proposals for Main Modifications to Policy I6
- SD141 - council update on housing land supply dated 7 October 2022, responding to the Inspector’s queries on housing land supply in Purbeck
- SD142 - letter dated 25 October 2022 from the council updating the Inspectors on a new Local Development Scheme, its broad response to nutrient pollution of Poole Harbour habitat site and its plans to undertake a consultation on issues/errors relating to local plan policies maps
- COR24 - letter dated 1 November 2022 from Inspectors Heywood and Wildgoose raising actions with the council on nutrient pollution of Poole Harbour habitat site, assessment of local housing need and Policies I5 (Morden Park) and V2 (Green Belt)
- SD143 - letter dated 18 November 2022 from the council responding to the Inspectors letter of 1 November, including updated assessment of local housing need (SD144), paper on employment uses (SD145) in Poole Harbour catchment and an update on delivery of interim mitigation projects (SD146) for Dorset heaths habitat sites
- COR25 - letter dated 24 November 2022 from Inspectors Heywood and Wildgoose seeking clarification from the council on the date when it expects to finalise the joint position statement on nutrient pollution and an updated five-year housing land supply assessment which reflects the latest local housing need assessment
- SD147 - council's revised 5-year housing land supply 2 December 2022 in response to the Inspectors letter of 24 November with a revised assessment of 5-year housing land supply which takes account of an updated local housing need assessment dated 18 November
- SD148 - council’s joint position statement 7 December 2022 responding to an action in the inspectors letters of 1 and 24 November 2022 with a statement on nutrient pollution in Poole Harbour.
- COR26 - letter dated 16 December 2022 from the Inspectors responding to the council’s joint position statement (dated 7 December 2022) with the following issues/queries: raising specific concerns around the preferred approach to safeguarding against adverse effects on Poole Harbour habitat site, seeking confirmation that the other options referred to in the statement could still be pursued, raising a specific question in respect to Option 2, seeking an indicative timetable for updating the nitrogen reduction in Poole Harbour Supplementary Planning Document, and asking for evidence that Natural England supports the approach to safeguarding against adverse effects on Poole Harbour habitat site. (After considering Inspectors’ letter of the 16 December 2022, and a change to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill (amendment reference NC77), Natural England have updated their position presented in the statement of the 7 December 2022. Amendment NC77 includes changes to the thresholds which trigger the requirement to improve the performance of existing wastewater treatment works. Natural England have suggested that the council would need to revisit the safeguarding approach presented in the joint position statement following this amendment to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill).
- SD149 - letter dated 12 January 2023 from the council outlining its response to Natural England’s revised position following an amendment (amendment reference NC77) to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill and updating the Inspectors on its response to the actions listed in their letter of the 16 December 2022
- SD150 - letter dated 19 January 2023 from the council providing its response to some of the queries/actions raised in the inspectors’ letter of the 16 December 2022 and explaining when it intends to respond to the remaining queries/actions
- COR27 - letter dated 16 February 2023 from the Inspectors responding to council’s letter of 19 January 2023 asking us to respond to issues relating to the use of a restrictive condition to control qualifying development within the Poole Harbour catchment. The Inspectors’ letter also seeks clarification on our approach to viability considerations/affordable housing contributions, clarification in respect to the role of the existing Nitrogen Reduction in Poole Harbour Supplementary Planning Document, asks for confirmation that the joint position statement relating to nutrient pollution will be updated and seeks an update on when the Inspectors will receive draft addendums to the local plan Habitats Regulation Assessment and Sustainability Appraisal
- SD151 - letter dated 17 March 2023 from the council providing its response to the queries/actions raised in the inspectors’ letter of 16 February 2023
- SD152 - letter dated 4 May 2023 from the council providing an update to the Inspectors on a change to its position on the nutrient pollution issue following a meeting with government earlier in 2023
- COR28 - interim findings and next steps 24 May 2023 from the Inspectors in response to the councils letter of the 4 May, including their interim findings on: housing need, housing requirement, housing supply, Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace, nutrient pollution in Poole Harbour, Wareham integrated health and social care and changes to local plan policies maps. The Inspectors statement also outlines their views on next steps for the examination of the Purbeck Local Plan
- SD153 - update on local housing need July 2023 prepared by the council as part of its work on housing land supply for the Purbeck area and in response to the Inspectors’ letter outlining interim findings and next steps (24 May 2023)
- SD154 - Purbeck area updated five-year housing land supply April 2022 prepared by the council as part of its work on housing land supply for the Purbeck area and in response to the Inspectors’ letter outlining interim findings and next steps (24 May 2023)
- SD155 - Breakdown of anticipated yields from different sources of housing land supply prepared by the council as part of its work on housing land supply for the Purbeck area. The breakdown of yields relates to housing allocations in adopted and emerging local plans in addition to other sources of housing land supply identified elsewhere (including five-year housing land supply report and Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment)
- SD156 - Additional modifications document prepared by the council to show the current list (as of November 2023) of those additional minor modifications which do not materially affect the local plan’s policies. These additional modifications have not been published for comment and do not form part of the consultation on Supplementary Proposed Main Modifications