Regional Spatial Strategy Update

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Purbeck District Council submitted representations to the Secretary of State's (SoS) Proposed Changes to the Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West in October 2008. The SoS was due to publish a final decision in June 2008, but this has been delayed until 2010 at the earliest. Further details on this delay are set out in a letter from Government Office for the South West of the 25 September 2009.

The Council's representations focussed on the increase from 2100 dwellings in the draft RSS to 5150 dwellings in the Proposed Changes, including 2750 dwellings proposed for Lytchett Minster (The 'Western Sector'). In response, the Council along with Natural England and Dorset County Council commissioned an assessment of the impact of the proposed development upon protected habitats. The Footprint Ecology study concluded that the proposed Western Sector is likely to have an adverse affect upon the integrity of the heathland and should therefore not be allocated.

The Council awaits the decision of the SoS with interest. As government is currently re-evaluating the Sustainability Appraisal the Council has requested that further consideration is given to the Council's representations and the Footprint Study to ensure the Habitats Regulation Assessment is robust.

Background

The South West Regional Assembly comprising councillors from each local authority is responsible for putting together the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS)
The RSS sets out housing numbers and areas of growth for all districts in the South West.
In considering all the options for future housing development in the region, a number of urban extensions were explored by the strategic authorities (Dorset County Council, Bournemouth and Poole Unitary Authorities) including the land around Lytchett Minster and Lytchett Matravers. 7000 dwellings were originally explored but ruled out by an Atkins Study on nature conservation and transport infrastructure grounds. Lower growth scenarios of 2500 and 3000 dwellings were also ruled out due to substantial investment requirements.
The South West Regional Assembly’s Draft RSS was published for consultation in June 2006. It gave Purbeck a requirement to deliver 2100 dwellings (105 dwellings per annum). The Western Extension was not included.
During the consultation, Bloor Homes put forward a proposal for a development of 2,750 dwellings around Lytchett Minster. Other development proposals were also put forward for different areas of Purbeck.
The Draft RSS and consultation responses were then subjected to an Examination in Public, held in Exeter during Spring 2007, conducted by a Panel of Inspectors appointed by the Secretary of State. At the session concerning development in South East Dorset, the Panel called for a discussion on the possibility of a Western Extension. This was strongly opposed by Purbeck District Council, Lytchett Minster and Upton Town Council, Natural England, Dorset Wildlife Trust, RSPB, CPRE, Dorset County Council and South West Regional Assembly, with reference to robust evidence on transport infrastructure and nature conservation constraints. Only Terence O’Rourke, planning consultants representing Bloor Homes, spoke in support of the proposal, but did not provide any robust evidence to the Panel.
Following the Examination, the Panel reported their findings to the Secretary of State in January 2008 (The Panel Report is a public document).
The Panel recommended a new policy SR7.4 (page C50) increasing the housing requirement for the period 2006-2026 for Purbeck as follows:
2,750 dwellings within the “Western Sector” Search Area
2,400 dwellings within the remainder of Purbeck
The Panel has therefore recommended a 146% increase in housing in Purbeck from 2100 dwellings in the Draft RSS to 5150 dwellings.
The Secretary of State has reviewed the Panel Report and published the Proposed Changes to the RSS for public consultation from 22 July 2008 to 24 October 2009.
Purbeck District Council submitted representations of objection principality to the proposed increase in housing from 2,100 to 5,150 dwellings.
View Purbeck District Councils Draft Representations by using the link below under 'internal links'..