Mampitts Community Hub car park planning approval confirmed
A Section 73 planning application to amend the approved plans for the Mampitts Community Hub has now been approved by Dorset Council.
The application relates specifically to the location and layout of the car park at the hub site on Mampitts Green. The revised design was developed in response to concerns raised by people living near the site, particularly about traffic on Maple Road and how the car park would be used. The approval means the updated layout can now move forward as part of the wider project.
What the approval means
Following a public consultation in October 2025 and a resolution at the Full Council meeting in November 2025, the Town Council submitted a Section 73 application to Dorset Council. A Section 73 application is a request to make a change to an existing planning permission. In this case, the council asked for approval to move the car park to the north-west corner of the site, away from the roadside.
The revised design followed feedback from residents who felt the original ring-parking layout could lead to difficult vehicle movements and make it harder to ensure the spaces were used only by visitors to the hub. A majority of respondents to the consultation supported the new layout.
The approval means the revised car park design will now form part of the overall Mampitts Community Hub project. The council will continue to move the project forward using the updated layout that reflects feedback from people living near the site.
The Mampitts Community Hub is planned as a new multi-use facility for the east of Shaftesbury. It will provide a space for residents to meet in a café and hall area, alongside landscaped outdoor space. The hub will also support local groups, wellbeing activities, family programmes, training sessions and small community events.
Cllr Greg Williams, Chair of the Mampitts Advisory Committee, said:
“We asked people what they thought, and most residents told us they preferred the new layout. We’re pleased we’ve been able to take that feedback on board and move forward with a design that works better for the community.”
What happens next?
The next step is to appoint a main contractor through an open, single-stage tender process. The tender is now live, with a submission deadline of 20th April 2026. After the tender period closes, submissions will be evaluated and further updates will be shared as the project moves into the next stage.
Further information will continue to be published on the council website as the project progresses. Keep up to date with news of the development on Mampitts Community Hub page.
