Dorset Council has published its Local Plan Options Consultation 2025, setting out where thousands of new homes, employment land, traveller sites – and even areas for wind and solar power – could be located over the next two decades.
The consultation documents for housing here https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/documents/d/guest/appendix-a-opportunity-sites-for-housing include site-by-site suggestions for every town and village across the Dorset Council area. Wherever you live, this is the document that will shape your community’s future.
This is the first opportunity to see the draft proposals and to have your say before decisions are made.
What is the Local Plan?
Every council must set out a long-term strategy for where housing, jobs and infrastructure should go. Dorset’s Local Plan will guide development across the county for the next 15–20 years.
Why does it matter?
The draft identifies potential sites for:
- 50,000 new homes by 2040
- Employment land for businesses
- Gypsy & Traveller sites
- Renewable energy projects including wind and solar farms
Last month, our Dorset Insider column warned that housing targets have doubled under the new Labour government. Dorset must now build 3,283 homes a year – up from 1,700. That means the 25,000 homes already planned are not enough; a further 25,000 must be found.
Brownfield sites will still be prioritised, but the council has confirmed that land in a new ‘grey belt’, as well as open countryside, may also be used.
How can I respond to the Dorset Local Plan?
The consultation runs from 18th August to 13th October 2025.
- You can read the full consultation documents, including the site options for each town and village, on Dorset Council’s website: Dorset Council Local Plan Options Consultation 2025.
- Responses can be made online, via paper form, or at drop-in events being held across Dorset throughout September and October.
Why you should act now
The sites listed in this draft are not yet final – but once included in the adopted Local Plan, they will shape Dorset’s landscape and communities for decades to come. If you care about what gets built in your town or village, now is the time to look at the proposals and submit your views.
