Residents have chance to shape their community

Residents of West Stour have the opportunity to shape their community through the development of a Neighbourhood Plan.

Dorset Council has received a request from Stours Grouped Parish Council for the approval of a Neighbourhood Area, which is the first formal stage of preparing a plan. The application and supporting information can be viewed on our website at https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/neighbourhood-area

Neighbourhood plans were introduced in the Localism Act 2011 and aim to give residents more say in the future use of land and buildings in their area. For example, the plan can say where new homes, shops or offices might be built, or where important green spaces might be protected.

Neighbourhood plans, like all planning documents, benefit from being reviewed from time to time to ensure they are still relevant and continue to meet local needs. If the plan is supported by a local referendum, it will be used to inform decisions on planning applications across West Stour in conjunction with the National Planning Policy Framework and the adopted Local Plan.

Residents who have any comments about whether this is the right area for the Neighbourhood Plan to cover can send them to the Spatial Planning Team at Dorset Council by Wednesday 25 March 2026.

Once the plan is written, it will be consulted on locally and submitted to Dorset Council for independent examination. It will also be subject to a local referendum to make sure it has the support of local people.

Cllr Bartlett, Cabinet member for Planning said:

“Residents in West Stour have a great chance to plan the future of their area.

“While Neighbourhood plans have to align with the Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework, they are an important part of the planning process.

“Neighbourhood plans reflect a community’s vision for the future of their parish and provide parish residents with a voice in the planning process.

“Anyone who wishes to have their say on the neighbourhood plan area can do so by sending their comments to the council.”

Residents can comment by post at Spatial Planning, County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester, DT1 1XJ or email neighbourhoodplanning@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

Those interested in helping with the preparation of the Neighbourhood Plan can contact the Parish Clerk by email at clerk@stours-pc.gov.uk

Any parish council or parish meeting that might be interested in forming a neighbourhood plan should contact neighbourhoodplanning@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk for more information.