Parish Planning in North Dorset ‘Developing a pro-active dialogue’ Planning Guidance Note

North Dorset District Council is committed to the promotion and support of Parish Plans. The Council considers that the establishment of Parish Plans is highly beneficial in providing a focus for local communities to positively affect the places where they live, as well as benefiting the Council in terms of improving dialogue with its local communities, which helps in producing better Council policies.

The Council’s Planning Policy Panel considered a draft Planning Guidance Note on the 12th February 2007, which was produced in order to clarify the Council’s position on Parish Planning. This draft was widely consulted within the District over a period of 6 weeks and led to the final draft which was adopted by the Council’s Cabinet in May 2007.

The adopted Guidance Note sets out the Council’s commitment to the production of Parish Plans, explains the ‘new planning system’ and sets out how Parish Plans will be considered in the production of the Council’s Local Development Framework (LDF) which will eventually replace the District-Wide Local Plan. It also sets out the general format of a Parish Plan (based on the Countryside Agency’s guidance) for those councils which have not yet produced a Plan, and sets out the relationship between Parish Plans and other District and Community Plans.

The document ‘Parish Planning in North Dorset, Developing a pro-active dialogue’ is available to view by clicking on the link to the right. Also, you can download a copy of the guidance note ‘Community Planning in North Dorset Key Features’ which sets out the features of both Parish Plans and Village Design Statements within North Dorset. ‘Hardcopies’ of both documents can also be sent to you or your town or parish council; please write to ‘Planning Policy’ at the Council’s usual address, phone the Planning Policy team on 01258 484201 or email planningpolicy@north-dorset.gov.uk with your request.