The adopted Local Development Scheme for Christchurch states that the Council will prepare an Area Action Plan for Bournemouth Airport. However, it has now been decided to incorporate all airport policies within the Core Strategy.

The airport site supports one of the fastest growing regional airports in the UK and is also the largest single allocated employment site in Dorset, with a substantial capacity to accommodate more businesses. It lies within an area of considerable environmental sensitivity, close to the New Forest National Park, incorporating and adjacent to a number of internationally and nationally designated sites of nature conservation importance.

The development of an area action plan for Bournemouth airport was affected by delays to the Core Strategy timetable, itself delayed by the preparation of the Regional Spatial Strategy. The document had particular implications for both authorities given the urban extensions it proposes, and its policies for Bournemouth airport. It has now been decided that the Core Strategy is the most appropriate document for policies guiding development at Bournemouth airport, its infrastructure and control of impacts.

An initial issues and options consultation for the Area Action Plan took place in February 2006. Following the decision to incorporate airport policies into the Core Strategy, the Issues and Options consultation on the Core Strategy in March 2008 included several questions relating to the airport. Responses to the consultation are available on this website.

Evidence gathering

It is an important element of the new planning system that development plan policy is soundly based on evidence. The councils are engaged in a number of major studies to support future policy contained in the Bournemouth airport area action plan. These include:

• A study of the potential role of the airport in the sub-regional economy
• An ecological impact study of future development options
• A transport assessment
• Evidence gathering on other issues such as landscape impacts, noise and infrastructure

This evidence will be produced as a series of background papers, which will be added to this website as they are produced. The council is currently preparing initial background papers on the detailed work programme, results of the first issues & options consultation, contextual and historical information, and policy context.

Policy Advisory Group

In order to inform the evidence gathering process and production of the Core Strategy, the council has formed an advisory group of key stakeholders. The role of this group is to include those who are likely to have information that will inform the evidence gathering process. It is not intended to include all those organisations that will have an interest in the Core Strategy, nor is it intended to circumvent the normal consultation process. The group currently comprises:

• Christchurch Borough Council (Planning, Transport & Economic Development officers)
• Dorset County Council (Planning & Transport Officers)
• Borough of Poole
• Bournemouth Borough Council
• East Dorset District Council
• Hurn Parish Council
• Bournemouth Airport
• Manchester Airport Developments Ltd
• The South West Regional Development Agency
• Government Office South West
• Bournemouth, Dorset & Poole Economic Partnership
• Natural England
• Environment Agency
• Highways Agency
• The Malmesbury Estate

How you can get involved

It is easy to keep up to date with what is going on in terms of the councils' Local Development Framework. Both councils maintain an LDF contact database which allows us to inform residents and stakeholders of consultations on any document which might interest them. To ensure we have your details, and that you don't miss out on events and consultations on the LDF, simply contact us on the address, telephone or e-mail below.

Contact us:

If you have any comments or queries about the Bournemouth Airport planning policies generally or wish to have your details added to the LDF database, then please contact the Planning Policy team. See contact details below.

• Name: Planning Policy (Christchurch)
  Email: planning.policy@christchurch.gov.uk
  Tel: 01202 495017
  Fax: 01202 495108
  Full details for Planning Policy (Christchurch)