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Dorset Heathland Joint Development Plan Document

Local Planning Authorities in south east Dorset are working towards a long term strategy to protect designated heathlands by managing the pressures of development through the production of a Joint Development Plan Document (DPD).

Once adopted, this document will supersede the Dorset Heathlands Planning Framework that has been in place since 2007.  It is planned to be adopted by April 2014 following the Preferred Option and Pre-Submission public consultation stages and examination in public during 2013.

Preferred Options Consultation

Since the Issues and Options public consultation in 2007, Bournemouth, Christchurch, East Dorset, Poole and Purbeck Councils have been undertaking further research and monitoring the impacts of those projects that have been implemented by way of the Dorset Heathlands Interim Planning Framework. The Councils are now in a position to publish their preferred approach and draft policies to balancing protection of the Dorset Heaths whilst enabling appropriate development to support the social and economic needs of the resident population of South East Dorset.

The consultation was hosted by the Borough of Poole and ran for a period of 8 weeks from 1 February until 28 March 2013.  Thank you for the comments we have received.  The consultation documents containing the preferred approach and draft policies are still available to view:

The comments made during the consultation period can be viewed through the Borough of Poole's  Online Consultation System (opens in a new window) .

Previous Consultations

A joint consultation was undertaken on the Dorset Heathland Joint DPD Issues and Options document by the Borough of Poole on behalf of Bournemouth, Christchurch, East Dorset, Purbeck and Poole Councils which closed on the 29 October 2007.  The representations have been considered and have informed the next stage of the document's production, the preferred options.  The documents are still available to view:

Background to the Dorset Heathland Joint DPD

The Dorset Heaths are a vital part of the natural environment of south east Dorset contributing to the area's special qualities. Over time the expansion of the towns and villages in south east Dorset, afforestation and agricultural practices have resulted in the loss of substantial areas of heathland. Today, those areas that remain are afforded the highest level of protection as European wildlife sites whilst also providing access to countryside for the urban population. The protected sites cover an extensive and fragmented complex of sites from Warmwell near Dorchester in the west, to Verwood and Alderholt in the north, through Poole and Bournemouth to Christchurch in the east and across the northern half of Purbeck in the south.

In Summer 2006, the local authorities whose areas include designated heathland were warned by English Nature (now Natural England, the Government's advisor on nature conservation), that scientific evidence was showing that housing development within a wide area around heathland was likely to have a significant cumulative effect on them.

We have put in place an Interim Planning Framework which seeks developer contributions towards a package of mitigation measures to offset the adverse effects of additional residential development.  We have agreed to develop a long term strategy for the protection of designated heathlands through the production of the Dorset Heathland Joint DPD. This allows for more detailed consideration of mechanisms and measures that may contribute to the appropriate and necessary mitigation of residential development proposed to 2026.

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© Christchurch District (B) and East Dorset District and Purbeck District

© Christchurch District (B) and East Dorset District and Purbeck District

© Christchurch District (B) and East Dorset District and Purbeck District

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