Neighbourhood Plan

Information & Evidence    Committee    Projects  The Neighbourhood Plan

What is The Neighbourhood Plan?

The Neighbourhood Plan is all about shaping the future of our town. Each and every one of the policies we are proposing are based on months of research, evidence gathering and consultation. Before submitting our plan proposal to the Local Planning Authority, we must bring it to it to the attention of people who live, work or carry business in the neighbourhood area.

Referendum Result

The Shaftesbury Neighbourhood Plan referendum was held on Thursday 6 May 2021 and asked residents: “Do you want Dorset Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Shaftesbury to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?”

A majority voted in favour of the neighbourhood plan (YES votes: 1556; NO votes: 216). The turnout was 26.9%. More details regarding the results, plus details of the other elections and referendums that took place that day can be found here.

As a result, the plan will now proceed to Cabinet on 22 June 2021 where a decision will be made on formally making the Shaftesbury Neighbourhood Plan part of the development plan for the area covered by Shaftesbury Town Council (the Shaftesbury neighbourhood area).