Dorset Local Plan
Dorset Council is currently consulting on how it could meet development needs across the Dorset Council area between 2026 and 2043. This feedback will help shape the Local Plan. Once adopted, the plan will guide planning decisions in Dorset.
You can find all the details, including a masterplan for the North Dorchester Garden Community here: https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/dorset-is-changing.
The Parish Council held a public meeting on Monday 8 September 2025 to seek residents' views on how they wished the Parish Council to respond to the consultation, with a focus on the North Dorchester Garden Community. The presentation is attached below.
Dorset Council have announced a series of drop in events during September to enable members of the public to look at the proposed options and discuss these with officers. The dates can be found below.
The closing date for responses is 13 October 2025.
Previous consultation
In early 2021, Dorset Council consulted on options for inclusion in the Local Plan for the whole of the Council's area.
One of the options consulted upon was DOR13: land north of Dorchester. The majority of this site is located within Stinsford parish and Stinsford Parish Council unanimously object to development on this site.
Stinsford Parish Council agreed its corporate response to this consultation on 8 March 2021. This is attached below.