Residents from the Upper Marshwood Vale area will have the opportunity to shape their community through the development of a Neighbourhood Plan.
West Dorset District Council has received a request from Upper Marshwood Vale Group Parish Council for the approval of a Neighbourhood Area, which is the first formal stage of preparing a neighbourhood plan.
The application for the neighbourhood area was consulted on from 23 June to 25 July 2015.
Now the Neighbourhood Area has been designated by the district council, the parish group can develop its Neighbourhood Plan.
Producing a Neighbourhood Plan gives local communities the power to shape the development and growth of their area; helping to deliver the homes, jobs and facilities that their community needs.
Once the plan is written, it will be consulted on locally and submitted to the district council for independent examination. It will then be subject to a local referendum to make sure it has the support of local people.
Cllr Ian Gardner, West Dorset District Council Portfolio Holder for Planning, said: “Now that the Neighbourhood Area has been designated by the district council, the Upper Marshwood Vale Parish Group can develop their neighbourhood plan .”
Cllr Jacqui Sewell, West Dorset District Council Ward Member for Broadwindsor, said: “This is an opportunity for residents of the Upper Marshwood Vale area to have a say on how their community develops.”
Upper Marshwood Vale Neighbourhood Area covers the parishes of Bettiscombe, Marshwood, Pilsdon and Stoke Abbot.
Any parish council or parish meeting that might be interested in preparing a neighbourhood plan should contact [email protected] for more information.
