Swanage Neighbourhood Plan

What is Neighbourhood Planning?

“Neighbourhood planning lets communities create legally binding plans or permissions that protect character areas, green spaces and community facilities, and shape where and how development happens in their area, provided they align with local and national policies and are approved by a local referendum.”

Neighbourhood planning gives communities direct power to develop a shared vision for their area and shape how it grows in the future. Local people can decide where new homes, shops, and offices should be built, what they should look like, and what infrastructure should be provided.

A Neighbourhood Plan sets out policies for the use and development of land and, once approved in a local referendum, becomes part of the statutory development plan, meaning it must be considered when deciding planning applications. Neighbourhood Development Orders and Community Right to Build Orders can grant planning permission directly for specific developments.

Neighbourhood Plans and Orders must be in general conformity with the strategic policies of the local authority’s Local Plan (Dorset Council) and comply with national planning policy. Together, they provide a powerful set of tools for communities to plan for the type and location of development that meets their needs, while aligning with the wider area’s strategic priorities.

Having an adopted Neighbourhood Plan also means that the community receives a larger share of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) from chargeable developments. The share increases from 15% (for communities without a Plan) to 25% once a Plan is in place.

Why is this needed in Swanage?

“We have a unique opportunity to shape Swanage’s next chapter. A Neighbourhood Plan lets us decide where new homes, shops, and offices should go, and helps protect the character of our special town.”

Swanage faces growing pressures, including an aging population, demand for new housing, and development and infrastructure challenges. National government policy is also driving higher housing targets across Dorset.

Neighbourhood planning gives the community a stronger voice and a shared vision for how Swanage should develop, linking with the current Swanage Local Plan (SLP), and the Purbeck Local Plan (PLP), and helping define our place in the new Dorset Local Plan, now in preparation.

The former Purbeck District Council prepared the SLP jointly with Swanage Town Council and the Swanage Town & Community Partnership. This was formally adopted by the former District Council in June 2017. The SLP sets out a vision for Swanage and provides the strategy for the delivery of development and supporting infrastructure within Swanage. However, it only covers the period to 2027, and with Dorset Council’s new Dorset Local Plan underway and currently being consulted upon (which will supersede both the SLP and the PLP once adopted). It is now time to look ahead and consider replacing the SLP with a Neighbourhood Plan to guide development and infrastructure for at least the next 15 years.

It is developed by the local community and must be endorsed by residents at a referendum before it can be adopted This will involve a formal consultation on the written Draft Swanage Neighbourhood Plan, to take place in early 2026.

Who is leading the preparation of the Swanage Neighbourhood Plan?

The preparation of the Swanage Neighbourhood Plan is being led by the Swanage Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group. This is a sub-committee of the Town Council’s Planning and Consultation Committee. The Steering Group comprises of six town councillors and up to six community representatives with relevant skills and experience. Currently the Steering Group’s community representatives include members of Sustainable Swanage, Planet Purbeck, the Purbeck Society, and the Swanage Community Housing Group.

Over the past eighteen months, the Steering Group has been undertaking research and gathering evidence in order to create a list of policy ideas for the Swanage Neighbourhood Plan.

Neighbourhood Plan Policy Themes

The policy themes that are under review for inclusion in the Draft Swanage Neighbourhood Plan include:

1. Swanage Settlement - Assessing how sustainable development principles can be applied, and modification of the settlement boundary to incorporate new housing allocations where necessary.

2. Housing Mix - Reviewing the appropriate mix of dwelling types and tenures based on identified local housing needs.

3. Development Sites - Seeking views on constraints and opportunities of potential development sites.

4. Town Centre - Proposals to enhance the town centre and improve its vitality and viability.

5. Townscape Character - Safeguarding existing designated areas of distinctive local character and inviting comments on report findings that identify the value of undesignated heritage assets and areas of special character in Swanage.

6. Open Space and Recreation - Safeguarding existing designated open spaces (that have not been classified as local green spaces) and identifying and seeking comments on potential new spaces, to ensure sufficient locations throughout the parish for sport, recreation and leisure activities.

7. Local Green Spaces - Safeguarding existing designated local green spaces, seeking comments as to why these spaces are considered special, and identifying and seeking comments on potential new green spaces for protection.

8. Community Facilities - Identifying what community facilities should be safeguarded and improved where needed and where possible.

Get Involved with the Swanage Neighbourhood plan!

Dorset Coast Forum has been appointed by Swanage Town Council to undertake engagement with the community, and to hear and record your views on proposals for the Draft Neighbourhood Plan.

There are several ways to get involved:

👉 Complete the online survey - paper copies will be available at the Swanage Information Centre and the Town Hall, or please contact us and we will send a paper copy to you.

👉 Drop in to a community event Explore maps, displays, and talk to the team in person. No booking needed.

Thursday 25 September, The Focus Centre, 3-7pm
Wednesday 1 October, All Saints Church Hall, Ulwell, 10-2pm
Wednesday 8 October, Herston Village Hall, 3-7pm
Wednesday 15 October, Emmanuel Baptist Church, 10-2pm

👉 Stay connected Check this website and follow our social media channels for the latest updates.

Please note: You must register before completing and submitting a survey. This step helps to prevent spam and duplicate responses, ensuring the integrity and reliability of the survey results.