There are several tiers of policy:

• At the national level, the government sets policies that apply across England
• At the regional level the Regional Planning Assembly sets policies that apply throughout the south west region
• At the county level, Dorset County Council sets policies on minerals and waste and on transport, that apply across Dorset
• At the local level, the district or borough councils set out their planning policies in the form of the Local Development Framework (formerly known as the Local Plan), that apply throughout their area

Each tier of policy has to be consistent with the tiers above - in this way central governments' aims are reflected in local policies.

The county council and districts/boroughs and neighbouring councils of Bournemouth and Poole also work together to provide other information such as:

• Comments on draft national and regional policies
• Background technical evidence (such as on the natural environment, housing and the economy) to support local policies, and
• Joint policy documents which involve more than one local authority

• National planning policy

  At the national level the Government issues guidance in the form of planning policy statements and circulars

• Regional planning policy

  When enacted, the Localism Bill will mark an end to regional planning. Draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) for the South West Region never reached the stage of replacing existing Regional Planning Guidance (RPG10), which continues to represent the regional spatial strategy until the Localism Bill abolishes all regional strategies.

• Dorset County Council Planning Policy

  The county council prepares planning policy to guide the location of development.

• Joint planning policy work

  The county council is involved in the development of many aspects of planning policy.

• Local planning policy

  Local development frameworks and local plans set the planning policy at the local level for district and borough authorities. These are prepared by individual authorities, but a series of local development framework documents are now also being created jointly between the districts, boroughs and county council. Local development frameworks and local plans also set minerals and waste policy at the county council level.

• Local plans - minerals and waste

  This section explains the work of Dorset County Council as Minerals and Waste Planning Authority.

• Planning policy explained

  Find out more about planning acronyms, planning jargon and a glossary of terms to better understand planning policy.