Have Your Say on Dorset's Future: Local Plan Scoping Consultation Now Open

Dorset Council has launched a scoping consultation on its new Local Plan, the document that will shape where new homes, jobs, infrastructure, and community facilities are built across Dorset for years to come. Once adopted, it will be used to decide planning applications across the whole of Dorset.

At this early stage, the council is asking what should the Local Plan contain, and how should the council engage with communities as it's prepared? This is not yet a consultation on specific sites or development proposals but this early stage matters because getting the scope and the engagement approach right shapes what follows, and communities that engage now are better placed to influence what comes next.

The consultation runs from 21 September to 26 October 2026. The easiest way to respond is via the online form at Dorset Council's Local Plan Scoping Consultation page. Paper copies are also available at County Hall and Dorset libraries on request.

If you have questions or need help completing the survey, contact the Planning Policy team on 01305 838334 or email planningpolicyconsult@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk with "Dorset Local Plan Scoping Consultation 2026" in the subject line.

The deadline is midnight on 26 October. Anonymous responses cannot be accepted.