Fontmell Magna submits revised Neighbourhood Plan for examination

Fontmell Magna Parish Council has been reviewing its Neighbourhood Plan, and has now submitted a revised version for examination. This comes four and a half years after the original Fontmell Magna Neighbourhood Plan was adopted.

The plan has been reviewed by local people, and agreed by the parish council, who feel confident that the updated plan continues to reflect the hopes and views of the local community. 

Neighbourhood plans were introduced in the Localism Act 2011 and aim to give residents more say in the future use of land and buildings in their area. For example, the plan can say where new homes, shops or offices might be built, or where important green spaces might be protected. Neighbourhood plans, like all planning documents, benefit from being reviewed from time to time to ensure they are still relevant and continue to meet local needs.

If the neighbourhood plan review is approved following examination, it will be used to make decisions on planning applications in consultation with the National Planning Policy Framework and the adopted Local Plan.

Dorset Council is required to consult on the plan review before the examination can take place.

People who live, work or run a business in the parish of Fontmell Magna have until Friday 11 October to submit comments regarding the revised neighbourhood plan. The plan and any comments received to the consultation will then be passed on to an independent examiner to consider.

Cllr Shane Bartlett, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Planning, said:

“It takes a tremendous amount of work to create a Neighbourhood Plan. It takes even more commitment to review a neighbourhood plan once the first one is adopted. I congratulate all involved for their ongoing hard work.

“Neighbourhood plans give local communities a real say in how their area should change over time. I would therefore encourage anyone with an interest in the future development of Fontmell Magna to view the proposed changes to the neighbourhood plan and submit any feedback they may have.”

The plan can be viewed online. The website can also be used for submitting comments.

Copies of the draft neighbourhood plan will also be available for public inspection at: Shaftesbury library (for details on opening hours, tel: 01747 852256); the Fontmell public house (tel: 01747 812208) and the Fontmell Magna Village Shop (tel: 01747 811201).

Anyone commenting on the plan should let the council know if they wish to be kept informed of the progress of the revised Fontmell Magna Neighbourhood Plan.