Making the plan
The Stinsford Neighbourhood Plan was made (adopted) by Dorset Council on 21 June 2022. Following a majority 'yes' vote in the referendum, the decision was taken to make the Stinsford Neighbourhood Plan part of the development plan for the Stinsford neighbourhood area.
The Decision Statement and the 'made' Stinsford Neighbourhood Plan are available online and will be made available to view at the council's offices at County Hall, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1XJ during normal opening hours.
Referendum Result
The Stinsford Neighbourhood Plan referendum was held on Thursday 5 May 2022 and asked residents: "Do you want Dorset Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Stinsford to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?" From an electorate of 261 there was a turnout of 124 (47.5%). The result: In Favour. YES votes 113 (91.1%) and NO votes 11 (8.9%). The full referendum results are also now available.
The plan will now proceed to Cabinet on 21 June 2022 where a decision will be made on making the Stinsford Neighbourhood Plan part of the development plan for the Stinsford Neighbourhood area.
Referendum
Dorset Council has agreed with the findings of the Examiner’s Report and the referendum will now take place on Thursday 5 May 2022. Documents relating to the referendum are listed below:
The information being made available is:
- a Summary of Representations submitted to the examiner
- the Examiner's Report
- the Stinsford Neighbourhood Plan 2021-2038 (referendum version)
- the Decision Statement which includes a statement by the local planning authority that the plan as proposed meets the basic conditions
- the Information Statement which includes general information as to town and country planning including neighbourhood planning and the referendum
Decision to proceed to referendum
Following the successful examination of the Stinsford Neighbourhood Plan, Dorset Council agreed to enable the plan, as amended, to proceed to referendum. The council released a Decision Statement to this effect.
Neighbourhood Plan Examination
On 2 February 2022, the examiner wrote to Dorset Council and Stinsford Parish Council to issue his Examination Report.
An independent examiner Andrew Mead BSc (Hons) MRTPI MIQ has been appointed to examine the Stinsford Neighbourhood Plan.
The examiner wrote to us and Stinsford Parish Council on the 6 December 2021 to clarify several initial procedural matters. On 14 December 2021 Dorset Council and Stinsford Parish Council received a letter from the examiner to ask a number of questions and a joint response was submitted to the examiner on the 8 January 2022.
As part of his examination of the plan, the examiner has to consider whether the plan meets certain basic conditions and satisfies legal requirements.
The basic conditions are set out in the legislation, and are intended to ensure that neighbourhood plans fit within their wider context. The plan must:-
- have regard to national planning policies and guidance
- contribute to achieving sustainable development
- be in general conformity with the strategic policies of the development plan ie the West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland Adopted Local Plan
- be compatible with European Union law and human rights obligations
- not breach the requirements of Chapter 8 of Part 6 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017
The examiner will provide a review of the plan and make recommendations in accordance with the 2011 Localism Act and related regulations.
If the neighbourhood plan is supported by a local referendum, it will be used to make decisions on planning applications.
Representations received to the submitted Stinsford Neighbourhood Plan
As the local planning authority, Dorset Council was required to consult on the plan review before the examination took place. This consultation took place for six weeks from Wednesday 13 October 2021 until Wednesday 24 November 2021. The responses received during this period can be viewed below.
| Document Reference | Response |
|---|---|
| STIN01 | Jane Ashdown |
| STIN02 | Rodney Alcock |
| STIN03 | |
| STIN04 | CPRE |
| STIN05 | Department for Education |
| STIN06 | Dorset Council |
| STIN07 | Gloucestershire County Council |
| STIN08 | Highways England |
| STIN09 | Historic England |
| STIN10 | Kingston Maurward College and Estate |
| STIN11 | Vivian Ledger |
| STIN12 | Marine Management Organisation |
| STIN13 | Neil Matthews |
| STIN14 | Natural England |
| STIN15 | Alistair Nesbit |
| STIN16 | |
| STIN17 | Robin Potter |
| STIN18 | Linda Poulsen |
| STIN19 | Andy Stillman |
| STIN20 | Solmaz Tavsanoglu |
Consultation on the Submitted Plan
As the local planning authority, the council is required to consult on the plan proposals before the examination takes place. The consultation process will run from Wednesday 13 October until Wednesday 24 November 2021 (midnight). This is an opportunity for individuals and organisations to raise concerns they have about the plan with regard to the content and how it has been prepared. An independent examiner will be appointed and any concerns will be passed on to them for consideration as part of the examination process.
The Stinsford Neighbourhood Plan is available to read together with the supporting documents which are as follows:
- Stinsford Neighbourhood Plan 2021-2038
- Consultation Statement, August 2021
- Basic Conditions Statement, August 2021
- SEA & HRA Screening Report, February & July 2021
Supporting evidence:
- Stinsford Housing Needs Assessment (HNA), AECOM, 2019
- Kingston Maurward Masterplan 2019-2029, July 2019
- Dorset Road traffic collision data - Crash Map data
- Strategic noise mapping data
- Geology map
- Stinsford Neighbourhood Plan Area Designation Map
- 2011 Census results for Stinsford, Area Profile for Stinsford
- Dorchester Area Cycle Map, Dorset Council
- Dorset Explorer mapped constraints, Dorset Council
- Dorset Road traffic collision data website
- Dorset’s Ecological Networks
- Dorset Heathland Consultation and Advice Areas, Natural England
- Dorset Heathlands Planning Framework 2020-2025 Supplementary Planning Document, Dorset Council, April 2020
- Great Britain’s Light Pollution and Dark Skies, CPRE
- Green Guide to Specification, BRE
- Historic Maps, Ordnance Survey / National Library of Scotland, 1842-1952
- Landscape Character Assessment, Dorset Council
- Manual for Streets
- National Character Area profiles, Natural England, September 2014
- National Heritage List for England
- National Planning Policy Framework and relevant planning practice guidance
- Nitrogen Reduction in Poole Harbour, April 2017
- North of Dorchester Heritage Impact Assessment, LUC for Dorset Council, January 2021
- Planning Obligations Guidelines, West Dorset District Council, February 2010
- Puddletown, Stinsford and Lower Bockhampton and Tolpuddle Conservation Area Appraisal, December 2007, West Dorset District Council
- The Book of Stinsford, Kay Kearsay and Mike Cosgrove, 2008 – printed copy only
- The Environment Agency’s approach to groundwater protection, Environment Agency, 2018 (Version 1.2)
- The Green Guide Explained, BRE Centre for Sustainable Products, 2015
- Thomas Hardy’s Wessex website
- Trends in Natural Capital, Ecosystem Services and Economic Development in Dorset. Bournemouth University, Poole, UK Newton, A.C., Watson, S.C.L., Evans, P., Ridding, L., McCracken, M., Anger-Kraavi, A., and Bullock, J. (2019)
- Walks: A Mellstock (Poems) Walk, Thomas Hardy Society
- West Dorset Landscape Character Assessment, West Dorset District Council, 2009
- West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland Local Plan, October 2016
Other supporting evidence can be viewed on the Stinsford neighbourhood plan website.
If you wish to comment please fill in the Response Form below by the end of Wednesday 24 November 2021.
Please email to NeighbourhoodPlanning@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk or post to:
Spatial Planning, County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1XJ.