Dorset Local Plan Redux

Published: 12 October 2026

Many of you will remember our efforts late last year in responding to the proposed Dorset Local Plan, in which Fontmell Magna Parish was earmarked for a potential 105 new homes. The PC and many individual parishioners responded online and by email to the consultation process.

This attempt to produce a Local Plan has stalled, and now has been restarted from scratch. We are told that our previous responses have been retained and will, if relevant, be considered when this version gets to the appropriate stage. In the meantime, Dorset Council have published a new timetable for this new Local Plan, the first stage of which is now in progress.

This involves a 'scoping' consultation, the deadline for which is October 26th 2026. The Parish Council are looking very carefully at this and are formulating our response, but individual parishioners can also submit their comments.

If you wish for a bit more of an explanation we have prepared a document you can download here [FMPC Consultation on Dorset Local Plan Scope] which includes a list of the questions forming the online questionnaire.

For the full details and to submit your responses go to Dorset Council's website https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/w/dorset-council-local-plan-consultation