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Planning policy

When decisions are made on planning applications they have to be judged against the planning policy applicable in the area.

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
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