The Wareham Neighbourhood Plan was made (adopted) by Dorset Council on 8 November 2021.

Following a majority 'yes' vote in the referendum, the decision was taken to make the Wareham Neighbourhood Plan part of the development plan for the Wareham neighbourhood area.

The decision statement and the 'made' Wareham Neighbourhood Plan are available online and will be made available to view at the council's offices (address below) during normal opening hours when the offices reopen to the public.

Dorset Council

County Hall

Dorchester

Dorset 

DT1 1XJ 

Referendum Result

The Wareham Neighbourhood Plan referendum was held on Thursday 30 September 2021 and asked residents: "Do you want Dorset Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Wareham to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?"  There was a turnout of 1268 (26.8%).  The result was in favour of the plan with

YES – 1145 votes – 90.5%

NO – 120 votes – 9.5%

The full referendum results are now available.

Referendum

Dorset Council has agreed with the findings of the Examiner’s Report and the referendum took place on Thursday 30 September 2021. Documents relating to the referendum are listed below:

The information being made available is:

Decision to proceed to referendum

Following the successful examination of the Wareham Neighbourhood Plan, Dorset Council agreed to enable the plan, as amended to proceed to referendum. The council released a Decision Statement to this effect.

On 9 June 2021 the examiner wrote to Dorset Council and Wareham Town Council to issue his examination report. As part of his examination of the plan, the examiner had 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 Purbeck 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 provided a review of the plan and made recommendations in accordance with the 2011 Localism Act and related regulations.

An updated version of the neighbourhood plan which incorporates the policy modifications identified in the examiner's final report will be submitted to the council.  After considering the updated neighbourhood plan the council will then take a decision on whether to refer the plan to referendum. It will publish its decision on this page of its website. 

If the neighbourhood plan is supported by a local referendum, it will be used to make decisions on planning applications.

Wareham Town Council have provided an update to the progress of the plan following the examination. For more information see the Wareham Neighbourhood Plan.

The examiner wrote to us and the Wareham Town Council on the 18 March 2021 to clarify several initial procedural matters and to ask a number of questions.

We wrote back to the examiner on 21 April 2021 in response to those questions.

Wareham Town Council wrote back to the examiner on 22 April 2021 with their general response and their response regarding the Railway Crossing and Housing requirements information.

The examiner has subsequently written to Wareham Town Council regarding Local Natural Greenspaces.

In response, Wareham Town Council have now provided the examiner with all the responses received from all parties to the additional LGS consultation.  The Town Council have consequently requested that the site in question (Site 0) is withdrawn from the Neighbourhood Plan.

Wareham Town Council wrote to the examiner on 11 March 2021 to address a number of issues raised in the Regulation 16 consultation responses.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation have provided further clarification on 7 April 2021 to their representation submitted to the Regulation 16 Consultation.

Representations received to the submitted Wareham Neighbourhood Plan

As the local planning authority, Dorset Council was required to consult on the plan before the examination took place. This consultation took place for eight weeks from Friday 18 December 2020 to Friday 12 February 2021.  The responses received during this period are below.

Wareham Neighbourhood Plan Responses Table
 Identification Number  Name
  WA01 Wessex Water
  WA02 Highways England
  WA03 National Grid
  WA04 Office for Nuclear Regulation
  WA05 Southern Gas Network
  WA06 Gloucestershire Council
  WA07 Dorset Area Ramblers
  WA08 Wareham Town Trust
  WA09 North Wareham Action Group
  WA10 Welbeck Land
  Welbeck Land (Annex A and Annex B)
  WA11 Mr I Baggs
  WA12 Ruth Warren
  WA13 Historic England
  WA14 Dorset Council

Consultation on the submitted plan

The Wareham Neighbourhood Plan was originally submitted to Purbeck District Council (now Dorset Council) in October 2018.  The plan was withdrawn due to issues raised at the examination.

The Wareham Neighbourhood Plan has since been amended and consultation has taken place in respect of the submission version of the new Wareham Neighbourhood Plan. 

As the local planning authority, the council is required to consult on the plan proposals before the examination takes place. The consultation took place from Friday 18 December 2020 to Friday 12 February 2021. It provided an opportunity for individuals and organisations to make any comments they have about the plan with regard to its content and how it has been prepared. An independent examiner will be appointed and any comments will be passed on to him/her for consideration as part of the examination process.

The Wareham Neighbourhood Plan is available to read together with the supporting documents which are as follows:

Supporting evidence

Other supporting evidence can be viewed on the Wareham neighbourhood plan website