Published on Thursday 14 March 2024
People in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole will be able to comment on the draft BCP Local Plan from next week.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council will launch a consultation on its draft Local Plan on Wednesday 20 March, which will close at 1pm on Friday 3 May 2024.
The consultation will be available at: haveyoursay.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/bcp-draft-local-plan
This first BCP Local Plan sets out the council’s ambitious strategy for growth until 2039. It allocates sites for 24,000 new homes and 72 hectares of employment land, along with detailed planning policies which will guide decision making for all future development. It also includes 33 individual ward policies, which all BCP Councillors have had the opportunity to help shape and develop.
Local Plans are documents prepared by local planning authorities in consultation with their community, which set out a vision and a framework for the future development of an area. Before a local plan can be formally adopted and brought into use, it must be subject to an ‘independent examination’ by an inspector appointed by the Secretary of State. The local planning authority sends the plan to the Planning Inspectorate for examination, after consultation has taken place, and when they think it is ready for examination.
The council’s Planning Policy and Consultation teams have undertaken significant engagement with residents, businesses, community groups, planning agents, developers, young people and ward councillors in developing this draft BCP Local Plan since 2019.
Cllr Vikki Slade, Leader and Portfolio Holder for Dynamic Places, said: "This Local Plan provides a clear and sustainable vision for our area, whilst recognising and valuing the heritage of all three towns.
"Bringing forward a new Local Plan for the BCP area is a significant milestone and, once adopted, will provide clarity and consistency to our decision making. It will also align with BCP Council’s emerging new Corporate Strategy and Vision.
“I urge people interested in the future of our area to read the draft plan and provide their feedback during the consultation period. It really is the people’s chance to tell the Planning Inspectorate what they think.”
From Wednesday 20 March, the consultation will be available online at haveyoursay.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/bcp-draft-local-plan.
Representations will also be accepted by email to bcplocalplan@bcpcouncil.gov.uk or in writing to us at: BCP Local Plan, Planning Policy, BCP Council, Civic Centre, Bourne Avenue, Bournemouth, BH2 6DY. Paper copies of the Draft Local Plan and surveys will be available to complete and submit at BCP Council Civic Centre in Bournemouth, as well as Poole, Christchurch, Kinson, Boscombe and Rossmore Libraries.
All comments received during the formal consultation period will be passed onto an Independent Examiner from the Planning Inspectorate for consideration as part of the formal examination process.
Cllr Margaret Phipps, Lead Member for Local Plan Delivery, added: “It is vital our Local Plan stands the test of time and I’m confident that it will. We’ve done all we can to engage people in the process, including all ward councillors.”
All information; including supporting documents and evidence base will be published next week alongside the draft BCP Local Plan.
Once adopted, the BCP Local Plan will replace the three Local Plans currently serving the BCP area.
The following text was added on 20 March 2024:
The draft Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule will be consulted on at a later date.
We have decided to delay the consultation on this document. We want to reflect upon the updated evidence, in the form of the March 2024 Viability Assessment. It provides some recommendations for CIL charges that differ from the Draft CIL Charging Schedule that was agreed by Council on 9 January 2024. We intend to take a new version of the Draft CIL Charging Schedule through our committee process to seek agreement to consult upon the proposed new CIL rates. We anticipate this consultation will take place later in Spring/Summer 2024.