How did it all start?
In areas with a parish or town council, the parish or town council will take the lead on neighbourhood planning. They have long experience of working with and representing local communities.
Wareham Town Council considered the idea of developing a Neighbourhood Plan for Wareham at their Annual Meeting in April 2015. The Town Council then applied to Purbeck District Council to proceed with the development of a Neighbourhood Plan for Wareham. Purbeck District Council consulted the public in August 2015 and having received no objections gave the go ahead on 10th October 2015.
Wareham Town Council formed a steering group comprised of councillors, local residents and businesses.
Wareham Neighbourhood Plan Update.
(June 2021)
An independent Examiner has recommended that Wareham Neighbourhood Plan, with a few modifications, proceed to referendum.
The Plan has been some 5 years in the making and if successful at the referendum will shape future development of the Town up to 2034.
The Examiner recognised the effort that has gone into involving local residents and businesses who have helped to shape the Plan. He also notes that Dorset Council has confirmed that there are no exceptional circumstances that would justify a change to the Green Belt boundary at Wareham and concurs with this. The Plan concentrates future development on brownfield land thereby protecting the Green Belt and AONB from development.
The importance of retaining the ground level crossing at Wareham Railway station is also recognised, in view of the widespread community support, and the examiner endorses the inclusion of a policy in the Plan for its retention.
The Town Council is grateful for the support of Purbeck District Council and Dorset Council in preparing the Plan and to residents and businesses for their input.
The next step will be for the Plan to go to referendum and all Wareham residents are urged to take part. The referendum will ask residents if they wish Dorset Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan to help decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area.
The Examiner’s report can be found on the links below;
If you have any queries please contact Wareham Town Council:
Tel: 01929 553006 Email: office@wareham-tc.gov.uk
Wareham Town Council, Wareham Town Hall, East Street BH20 4NS
Revised neighbourhood plan for Wareham.
(October 2020)
The Wareham Neighbourhood Plan is our community’s opportunity to help shape future development of Wareham.
The Plan covers the whole of Wareham including Northmoor, Northport and Carey.
The submission draft Neighbourhood Plan and supporting documents can be found below.
Thank you to all those who responded to the Regulation 14 consultation on the Wareham Neighbourhood Plan which ended on 19th June.
The draft Plan is being amended in response to comments made and will be considered by Wareham Town Council prior to submission to Dorset Council.
Dorset Council will next carry out the Regulation 16 Consultation and arrange for an independent examiner to consider the Plan.
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Wareham Neighbourhood Plan - Basic Conditions Statement – Oct 2020
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SD14: Updated Schedule of Main Modifications to the Purbeck Local Plan - 8 November 2019
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SD131: Council Response to Post Hearing Inspectors Questions - Jan 2020
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AECOM (2020), Wareham Neighbourhood Plan Strategic Environmental Assessment Report - Oct 2020
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Wareham Neighbourhood Plan Habitats Regulations Assessment - Oct 2020
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AECOM (2018), Wareham Neighbourhood Plan Housing Needs Assessment
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AECOM (2018), Wareham Neighbourhood Plan Site Selection Report
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AECOM (2018), Wareham Neighbourhood Plan Viability Assessment
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Cushman and Wakefield (2018) Wareham Town Centre Retail Report, Bristol
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Dorset Planning (2018) Local Green Space Assessment Wareham Neighbourhood Plan
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Dorset Planning (July 2018) Employment Needs Assessment Wareham
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Dorset Planning (12.10.18) Walking and Cycling Routes Background Paper
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Independent Examination of the Purbeck Local Plan - Post Hearings Note - 2020