West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland Local Plan Review Issues and Options Consultation

1. West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland Local Plan Review Issues and Options Consultation Moreton / Crossways Joint Working Group 21 March 2017

2. Outline • Background • Why we need to review the local plan • Crossways & Dorchester • What are the options for Crossways (and Dorchester)? • Issues and Options Consultation: so far • The exhibitions • Next steps

3. Background

4. West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland Local Plan The local plan was found sound by the inspector in August 2015 and adopted in October 2015 In relation to the review the inspector said: • “a review should be in place no later than 2021” • “it is imperative that an early review is undertaken to identify additional land capable of meeting housing needs to the end of the current plan period (2031) as well as the broad location for development in the five year period thereafter” (i.e. to 2036) What overall level of provision needs to be made to 2036? • Rolling forward the local plan’s annual requirement (775 dpa) for 5 more years, plus the shortfall to 2031 means we looking for 4,520 additional homes in total

5. West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland Local Plan What did the Inspector say about Crossways? • “Without substantial enhancements to transport links, I do not consider it is a particularly sustainable option for meeting the longer term needs of the county town” What did the Inspector say about sites at Crossways? • “The Council’s preferred site (Site B - south of Warmwell Road) is the best direction for development at Crossways” • “Site D (to the north-west) would extend the village into more open countryside” • “Site A (to the north) would be contained by the railway line” … “my inspection of this area leads me to conclude that it is of sufficient merit to warrant consideration as a location for longer-term development” ”

6. Crossways

7. Proposals in the Current Local Plan The main development south of Warmwell Road (CRS 1) should be subject to a masterplan and should provide • Community facilities (e.g. village hall) • Highway improvements • Suitable Natural Alternative Greenspace (SANG) to mitigate potential adverse impacts on nearby heathlands • Measures to mitigate nutrient loading on Poole Harbour Policy CRS 2 encourages joint working with Purbeck as further development has been proposed just beyond the West Dorset boundary

8. Local Plan Review - Site selection process • Have considered all realistic options • 360o look at each larger settlement: • Dorchester and Sherborne as recommended by the Inspector • also Weymouth, Bridport, Beaminster, Crossways, Portland and Lyme Regis • Refined down to broad options for consultation • Will then be further refinement based on: • Further technical work • Responses to consultation • Sustainability assessment

9. Crossways – main constraints

10. Crossways – 360 Degree Search

12. Crossways – Site Options

13. Dorchester – main constraints

14. Dorchester – Broad Areas of Search

16. Dorchester – Site Options

17. Starting the Review

18. More work taking place on… • SHLAA update – addendum completed • Landscape sensitivity • Heritage assessment • Building on previous work • In discussion with Historic England • Transport • Transport study for Moreton / Crossways area completed • Studies to assess implications for other site options, including Dorchester have started • Dorchester town centre transport and movement study and parking study in preparation

19. Issues and Options Consultation • Members agreed the issues and options document ‘for the purposes of public consultation’ only – no commitment to any sites at this stage • Consultation began on 06 February 2017 • The main local plan review webpage is - https://www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/local-plan-review • A more detailed background paper is online here - https://www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/media/219556/Crossways-Issues--Options-Background-Paper/pdf/20170120_-_Crossways_-_Background_Paper_-_Final.pdf • Responses need to be in by 03 April 2017

20. Exhibitions • 10 consultation events were organised including: • Crossways Village Hall: 07 March 2017 • South Walks House, Dorchester: 27 February 2017 • Charminster Village Hall: 24 February 2017

21. Exhibitions • Attendance at local exhibitions was: • Crossways: 230 • Dorchester: 86 • Charminster: 244 • Overall attendance at all 10 exhibitions was: 1,172 people

22. Exhibitions • Attendance throughout the day at Crossways

23. Next Steps • Consultation continues until 03 April 2017 • Responses will be analysed and taken into account in developing ‘preferred options’ • Further technical work will feed into the process • National policy is being reviewed and will feed into the process • The number of option sites will be reduced to more closely reflect the identified need • Not all sites identified at ‘issues and options’ stage will be needed

24. Next steps • Preferred Options – we hope to consult later in 2017 (or early 2018) • Final draft local plan review prepared and submitted for examination – 2018 • Member commitment to site allocations and revised policies sought at submission stage • From submission onwards the process will be guided by the local plan inspector • Adoption programmed for 2019 • Allows flexibility to meet inspector’s deadline of 2021